On Tuesday, May 22, The Hidden Lantern Bookstore hosts L. Todd Wood, author of the new economic thriller, Currency, for a book signing event from 11:30am to 2:00pm.

CURRENCY

It is said that if you don’t know history, you are doomed to repeat it. Currency combines multiple historical strands that converge on the number one issue of our time: the geographical location of economic and military power in the 21st century. It is a story of power, romance, revenge and international finance, spanning three centuries. The issues Wood addresses could not be more timely.

AUTHOR

The Hidden Lantern Gallery announces the opening of Polished Landscapes: Venetian Plaster Reimagined, featuring Atlanta-based artist James P. Garrett whose work is a perfect match for the Gallery’s aim to present traditional materials utilized in unconventional ways. The exhibition is on view from May 3 to June 9, 2012, with an Artist Reception the evening of Thursday, May 3, from 5:00pm – 7:00pm.

Born in the United Kingdom, Garrett’s training and early career as a painter was of the transatlantic kind, working his way through media and techniques in London and New York. In the mid-eighties, he was introduced to the medium of Venetian plaster, skills for which he honed with leading faux-finishing artisans, producing interior details for clients such as Jackie Onassis, The Rockefellers, Yoko Ono, and Donald Trump.

Yet it took the perspective and boldness that only certain artists possess to take a medium of the decorative realm and bring it to the world of fine art. Garrett’s luminous landscapes that fracture categorization are now featured by gallerists and found in private collections in both this country and abroad.

TECHNIQUE

Modern-day Venetian plaster has its origins in the construction of villas and churches in the lagoon waters of Venice. It replicated the appearance of marble without the dangers of its weight. It is a combination of ground marble and lime, emulsified into a silky consistency. Each of Garrett’s pieces is made of multiple colored layers of Venetian plaster, applied with a variety of trowels, plastering blades and knives. They are paintings devoid of paint, created without a single bristled brush. At early and late stages, Garrett will purposefully wash away surface areas, revealing hidden hues and creating a subtle interplay of color and tone.

The final phases include a vigorous polishing that not only produces a glossy appearance, but also draws out color. A varnish is applied to seal the work and add a desired luster. Garrett intends the works to be frameless, hung as if floating away from the wall. For this he uses sheets of birch wood ply to form the main support with a hidden frame structure behind.

NOT MY MOTHER’S JOURNEY

Twenty years after she lost her mother to breast cancer, Heather St. Aubin-Stout receives a postcard asking her to come back for magnifications of her recent mammogram.  She asks for prayers from her family, friends, and neighbors—prayers not to be cured but for strength and wisdom.

When she is diagnosed she soon faces her memories of what she experienced with her mother’s illness and death.  However, as she deals with her illness and treatments while she and her husband try to parent their three independent teenage sons, she discovers that this is Not My Mother’s Journey.  Heather chronicles her journey with candid honesty discussing her challenges, confusion, and emotions with daily life while dealing with a potentially terminal disease.

Brittania, Brittania. From the shelves of the The Hidden Lantern Bookstore, we’ve made a selection of favorite imports from the British isles. Here’s some perfect reads for your crumpets + tea (from left to right): London: The Novel by Edward Rutherfurd, The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis, Beckham: Both Feet on the Ground by David Beckham + Tom Watt, The English Country House: From the Archives of Country Life by Mary Miers, English Country House Interiors by Jeremy Musson + Paul Barker, George Harrison: Living in the Material World by Olivia Harrison, Georgiana: Duchess of Devonshire by Amanda Foreman, and Nigella Express: 130 Recipes for Good Food, Fast by Nigella Lawson.

The Hidden Lantern Bookstore is pleased to host Mary M. Byrd, co-author of Tonda and TK Friends and President of ZooWorld Zoological and Botanical Conservatory’s Board of Directors, for a booksigning event on Saturday, March 31, from 1:00pm to 5:00pm.

Tonda and TK Friends chronicles the extraordinary relationship between ZooWorld’s former female orangutan and her orange tabby cat, TK (short for Tonda’s Kitty). After the loss Tonda’s mate, the zoo was unable to obtain another orangutan as a companion, and instead, gave TK to her as a pet. The story, documented in the pages of Tonda and TK Friends, drew worldwide audiences through television, radio and National Geographic.

Impossibly delicate and astoundingly beautiful, these works are nothing short of wondrous. Images from the opening night soiree and more of the exhibition’s holdings can be found on the Gallery’s facebook page. While there, please like the Gallery’s profile to stay-in-the-know on exhibition news and special events.

Navigation is on view at The Hidden Lantern Gallery until April 22, 2012.

Images by Brandan Babineaux Photography.

OPENING RECEPTION Thursday, March 15, 5:00pm – 7:00pm

The Hidden Lantern Gallery opens its first show entirely devoted to the medium of sculpture. A rare happening, it presents new work of local artist Laurel Siwicki and artist-in-residence Lauren Carvalho. To mark the occasion, the Gallery will host an Artist Reception on the first evening of show, Thursday, March 15, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm.

Set in the prohibition era of the 1920s, Lindely’s leading character, Mathew Coulter, seeks refuge in a remote Florida beach town to escape his ruthless family who controls the liquor trade in Atlanta. There he meets a ten year-old blind girl, Melanee Dalton, who will lead him on a journey that may be the final salvation for her wayward mother, and Coulter’s own haunted soul.

This Friday from 4:00pm to 7:00pm, Lynn Smith, author of the perpetually sold out 30A Style (our #1 best seller) returns for her second author signing at The Hidden Lantern Bookstore. Lucky us and lucky you!

Released in 2011, 30A Style is a stunning chronicle of the communities that dot Scenic Highway 30A. It opens the doors of twenty-two homes, each a distinct expression of the personalities of its inhabitants and the characteristics of the terrain. Through the pages, readers can discover the rich traditions of the region, meet the forerunners who saw the potential in protecting the natural landscape, and tour New Urbanist towns that prompted the unofficial title of “The Design Coast” for this tidal shoreline.

30A Style is a full-color, 192-page coffee table book, written by Eleanor Lynn Nesmith, photographed by Jean Allsopp, and published by Design 360.

The event will take place during the first evening of Rosemary Beach’s Girls’ Getaway Weekend.