VISUAL ARTS + MUSEUMS

Salli Babbitt is the best kind of teacher – her students will attest. She is the type of mentor who does not keep her methods a secret -- she shares what she knows. She pushes her students to do their best, and when she thinks they are ready, she invites them to show with her.

Babbitt will exhibit her most recent paintings along with the works of six of her protégés at Canal Street Gallery for an exhibit entitled Personal Perceptions. An opening reception will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 7 and will run through the month at Canal Street Gallery, located at 2219 Canal Street.

“I don’t teach just art, I teach you to do exceptional art,” Babbitt said. “You have to make yours the best of the best.”

Babbitt tells her students that art must pop out from the rest of the paintings on a wall at a gallery. Many of her students show regularly in galleries and art spaces.  Candice Goodwin studied with Babbitt for seven years. “Salli has one of the best eyes as far as giving a critique,” Goodwin said. “She helps your art reach the next level.” Goodwin will join Babbitt’s line-up for the upcoming exhibit at Canal Street Gallery. Also showing their works are invited Lonnie Duff, Bob Pahlka, Dana Speakman, Carol Gregory and Jet Lewis.

“Bob Pahlka loves lips. In fact he has painted lips for 10 years,” Babbitt said. “He event won the right for a pair of his lips to be on a Beyonce video.”

Lewis creates found object sculptures of a variety of shapes. He searches the state for the discarded metal, which becomes the base of his pieces. “He transforms the metal into these feminine shapes and uses multi-media to bring color to the finishes,” Goodwin said.

Duff has worked as an artist for more than 10 years. His abstract paintings have a whimsical quality, and he often comes up with a title first, creating a piece to fit his thoughts.

Speakman’s paintings celebrate color. She uses bright purples and brilliant reds. “Her work is just luscious,” Babbitt said.

Gregory graduated from University of Houston with a BFA in design. She has worked in the design industry for many years and has always been passionate about art.

Goodwin will be exhibiting her unique light boxes and will also create an installation with artist Caroline Roberts.

The paintings Babbitt has selected for the show from her own collection will explore light on canvas in her art for the show. She first started experimenting with encaustics. “The luminous quality of the wax just got to me,” she said. “I wanted to make acrylics capture more light.” She has worked with various media to create jeweled canvases, metallic finishes and pearlescent glazes. “These are paintings that are intended to be explored and savored by the viewer,” Babbitt said.

Attached photos of paintings by Salli Babbitt courtesy of Canal Street Gallery.