Steam Works Closing Party Extravaganza:
June 27th, 8:00 PM - ???
214 South Main St.

Hello Internet(s),

We've wanted to open a gallery here (Farmersville, TX) for a long time. And after what seems an eternity of thought and planning, it's quite surreal that we're so close to our first opening, "Steam Works".

Whatever you want to call it, Retro-Victorian, Stem Industrial, Steam Punk, Retro Future, or what have you, this genre is fun. It's creative, dark, and indicative of all of the ideas and concepts that made most of us fans of art and fantasy in the first place. It comes from a place where everything doesn't have to be perfect to be magnificent. Where the best and brightest still have dirt under their fingernails and a grease stain on their meticulously pressed velvet coat.

When we started talking to artists about this exhibition, we weren't sure how well it would be received. But the response has been overwhelming. This exhibit brings together some of the most well known names in this genre, Studio Foglio and Alex CF to name a few. And the addition of WETA's line of Rayguns is still hard to comprehend for me. Our lineup of artists and pieces is astounding. And any curator in charge of this type of show would be more than happy with the installation we've put together.

But, I'm not. When I think about this genre, I think about a roughness and an attitude that truly drives the motivations behind this kind of work. I can't help feeling that some of the greatest, most imaginative, most innovative pieces of art of this kind aren't being made in studios or being publicized on the internet. They're being hammered on in garages and being crafted with a makeshift oxy-torch in the alley out back. And that's the stuff we'd really like to see.

So consider this an open invitation. A call to artists.

If you think your art belongs in this show, prove it. Now is the time to put up or shut up. If you think that what you've been creating needs to be on display here, take pictures of it and send it to me at jason@thehelixgallery.com. If we like it, we'll arrange to have it shipped here and placed in the show. If you just KNOW that we want to display your piece, mail it to us...

The Helix Gallery
214 S. Main St.
Farmersville, TX 75442

I'm not guaranteeing we'll display everything we receive, but if we like it, we'll make room for it. Either way, make sure you leave us your contact information so we can make sure you get your stuff back.

And hurry up, the show opens in two weeks. We've got a lot of buzz going on for this show. And we can't wait to kick it off. It's been a long time coming, hope to see you here.

J.King
Curator, The Helix Gallery