

""Art is not the bread, but the wine of life." John Paul Richter ______________ Blacktop's Studio (TAKE A LOOK INSIDE) 34 East 2nd Avenue Rome, GA 30161 Hours: Tue-Sat 10-4 By Appointment IF NOT OPEN 706-766-5962 Auction Catalog Listings Slotin Folk Art Auctions April 2008, p. 86 March 2009, p. 97 November 2009, p. 100 Read about "Blacktop" in these fine magazines. Spring/Summer 2006 Ma Exhibitions: Rural Arts Show - Rural Arts Center (2005) Folk Art Show - Bowen Center for the Arts (2006) Folk Art From the Bible Belt: The South's Leading Visionary Artist's Show (2008) Folk Art Show - Harris Art Center (2009) For The Birds - Bowen Center (2009) News & Reviews ____________ Links To Other Artist <a We Accept US Currency Only &		"Many years ago, I saw several paintings by Mose Tolliver and Jimmy Lee Sudduth, and recognized that art is not as complex or as simple as it's made out to be, but rather it comes from your heart and soul, not from your mind." BLACKTOP My paintings and drawings are a process of storytelling - bringing and invoking the past and spirits into people and environments. They are also about a way of life, about the struggle of life and the events that have changed our lives. I focus on contemporary social and political issues which include the complexities of relationships. Rural southern scenes of people at work, old houses, churches, baptisms and the struggles of everyday life are my favorite subjects. I have a passion for telling the stories of growing up in the south where the simple pleasures of life are important and cherished." ______________ Alabama native Ken Gentle is a self-taught fulltime artist who began painting at an early age as a way of sharing his experiences of growing up in the South. Over ten years ago he began creating multi-media paintings that include water colors, chimney soot, enamels, and acrylics. These paintings typically start with a base of "black tar" on wood, tar paper, tin or cardboard (hence the moniker “Blacktop"). His style of using a mixture of found objects further complements the stories he tells. At "Atlanta's Slotin Folk Fest" and other folk art shows across the country his paintings have sparked considerable interest. Blacktop's work has been referenced or featured in "Raw Vision", V3 Magazine", "Dining Out", "NY Arts Magazine", "Piedmont Review", and featured in various newspapers. His work was the subject of a public radio interview in the spring of 2007. Additionally, his paintings can be found in numerous galleries, businesses and many private collections around the country. His works are highly sought after by collectors in the U.S. and Internationally. ___________ "Mountain Stream" 24"x 24" Acrylic, Enamel on Tar $485.00 "Pasture" 24"x 24" Acrylic, Enamel on Tar $485.00 "Easter Bonnets" 24"x 24" Acrylic, Enamel on Tar $485.00 "Cross At Calvary" 24"x 24" Acrylic, Enamel on Tar $485.00 "Montgomery Protest" Acrylic on Cardboard 8"x11" $135.00 *"Sweet Tater"* 24"x 24" Acrylic, Enamel on Tar $485.00 "Stray Cat #3" (Angry Cat Series) Acrylic on Cardboard 11"x14" $150.00 Gallery Retro Gallery Biography Representation Contact Press/Reviews Links Blacktop © 1999 - 2010 All Rights Reserved. *The contents of this website* may not be reproduced in any form without written permission from the artist.