You Can't Buy a Headline Like This!
Antique Week did an auction report in their issue dated October 1, 2007. Some Cowdery pieces brought the highest prices at the auction.
Museum of Contemporary Art - Hot Springs, AR - Summer 2009
From May through September 2009, Brian Cowdery had a solo exhibit at MOCA in Hot Springs. We met some great people and enjoyed seeing their reactions and hearing their comments. Below is a short article from the local newspaper about the exhibit.
Publication: Hot Springs Sentinel-Record;
Date: Jun 9, 2009;
Section: Arts;
Page Number: 7
Step right up - Circus exhibit is star attraction at MOCA BY ALISON B. HARBOUR
Touring circuses and the lure of the big top take shape in Long Prairie, Minn., artist Brian Cowdery’s colorful exhibit, Two Bit Circus.
Cowdery’s miniature circus parade of 17 vehicles, three trailers and a multitude of accessories, surrounds a 6-footlong circus tent and will show through the summer on the second floor at MOCA, the Museum of Contemporary Art located in the Ozark Bath House.
In deciding on what to title the show, Cowdery thought of admission to a circus in the 1920s or ‘30s that might have been “two bits,” a quarter.
Creating the original designs, which range in size from about 12 inches long to the occasional considerably larger piece, gives the artist a sense of joy.
“From any other medium I have worked with, I have never felt the satisfaction of being able to take a flat piece of sheet metal and turn it into a piece of three-dimensional sculpture. That’s the fun, it’s the impetus to keep doing this kind of thing,” Cowdery said Friday who stopped by MOCA to photograph the exhibit.
“Like most things that are worthwhile, it began by accident and it took on a life of its own and evolved into what it is now,” he said.
After years of fine art painting that was not completely satisfying to him, Cowdery dabbled in nearly every art medium, designed and made furniture and began pinstriping and graphic arts to embellish automobiles and motorcycles.
His curiosity morphed into antique toys, steel stampings and objects that require forming of metal and he became a collector of antique toys, mostly from the 1920s.
For the past 26 years he has designed and made metal toys in a similar style pouring about 40 hours worth of meticulous detail work into each piece.
Cowdery, a self-employed artist for 35 years, found inspiration while working at the Minnesota State Fair. He operated a concession at the fair and watched the daily circus parades, fascinated by the calliopes and human cannon ball.
Now, art collectors often commission Cowdery’s work. One of his patrons purchased the circus exhibit for a Christmas gift and allowed Cowdery to move it to the Spa City for the MOCA exhibit.
At the exhibition’s first showing in April, Cowdery was in town for the gala and grand opening celebration of MOCA, feeling somewhat apprehensive at how patrons might receive his work.
“I am a blue denim, short-sleeve shirt type of guy so the coat-and-tie situations are not normally my favorite, but I must say, I thoroughly enjoyed being at the Gala,” he said.
Watching the reactions to his circus, the sparkle in local art patron Rodney Tillman’s eyes, was “thrilling,” Cowdery said.
The arts scene has often attracted Cowdery to Hot Springs.
Friendly people, the local arts community, and the monthly Hot Springs Gallery Walk events have been a draw to Cowdery and his wife, Marlene, also an artist who fabricated the circus tent. They have made it a point to visit her sister and brotherin-law, local residents Judy and Andy Stanley.
Coming from Minnesota’s cold climate, the Cowderys immediately liked the spa city.
Local artist Carole Katchen was among the first people they met and she encouraged Cowdery’s latest works.
“I am amazed by his attention to detail. Metal is a very difficult medium and I think he is able to recreate an era with his little machines and figures. I hope people take the time to fully examine his circus. It is a wonderful work of art,” Katchen says.
Since that first visit, the Cowderys have driven the 975-mile trip, one way, from Minnesota to Hot Springs about every other month for the last four years timing their visit to take in the gallery walk event.
They are preparing their house in Minnesota for eventual sale to relocate to Hot Springs.
“The more we came down here the more we felt the need to be here,” he said.
“This is the place where I want to spend the rest of my life.”
Date: Jun 9, 2009;
Section: Arts;
Page Number: 7
Step right up - Circus exhibit is star attraction at MOCA BY ALISON B. HARBOUR
Touring circuses and the lure of the big top take shape in Long Prairie, Minn., artist Brian Cowdery’s colorful exhibit, Two Bit Circus.
Cowdery’s miniature circus parade of 17 vehicles, three trailers and a multitude of accessories, surrounds a 6-footlong circus tent and will show through the summer on the second floor at MOCA, the Museum of Contemporary Art located in the Ozark Bath House.
In deciding on what to title the show, Cowdery thought of admission to a circus in the 1920s or ‘30s that might have been “two bits,” a quarter.
Creating the original designs, which range in size from about 12 inches long to the occasional considerably larger piece, gives the artist a sense of joy.
“From any other medium I have worked with, I have never felt the satisfaction of being able to take a flat piece of sheet metal and turn it into a piece of three-dimensional sculpture. That’s the fun, it’s the impetus to keep doing this kind of thing,” Cowdery said Friday who stopped by MOCA to photograph the exhibit.
“Like most things that are worthwhile, it began by accident and it took on a life of its own and evolved into what it is now,” he said.
After years of fine art painting that was not completely satisfying to him, Cowdery dabbled in nearly every art medium, designed and made furniture and began pinstriping and graphic arts to embellish automobiles and motorcycles.
His curiosity morphed into antique toys, steel stampings and objects that require forming of metal and he became a collector of antique toys, mostly from the 1920s.
For the past 26 years he has designed and made metal toys in a similar style pouring about 40 hours worth of meticulous detail work into each piece.
Cowdery, a self-employed artist for 35 years, found inspiration while working at the Minnesota State Fair. He operated a concession at the fair and watched the daily circus parades, fascinated by the calliopes and human cannon ball.
Now, art collectors often commission Cowdery’s work. One of his patrons purchased the circus exhibit for a Christmas gift and allowed Cowdery to move it to the Spa City for the MOCA exhibit.
At the exhibition’s first showing in April, Cowdery was in town for the gala and grand opening celebration of MOCA, feeling somewhat apprehensive at how patrons might receive his work.
“I am a blue denim, short-sleeve shirt type of guy so the coat-and-tie situations are not normally my favorite, but I must say, I thoroughly enjoyed being at the Gala,” he said.
Watching the reactions to his circus, the sparkle in local art patron Rodney Tillman’s eyes, was “thrilling,” Cowdery said.
The arts scene has often attracted Cowdery to Hot Springs.
Friendly people, the local arts community, and the monthly Hot Springs Gallery Walk events have been a draw to Cowdery and his wife, Marlene, also an artist who fabricated the circus tent. They have made it a point to visit her sister and brotherin-law, local residents Judy and Andy Stanley.
Coming from Minnesota’s cold climate, the Cowderys immediately liked the spa city.
Local artist Carole Katchen was among the first people they met and she encouraged Cowdery’s latest works.
“I am amazed by his attention to detail. Metal is a very difficult medium and I think he is able to recreate an era with his little machines and figures. I hope people take the time to fully examine his circus. It is a wonderful work of art,” Katchen says.
Since that first visit, the Cowderys have driven the 975-mile trip, one way, from Minnesota to Hot Springs about every other month for the last four years timing their visit to take in the gallery walk event.
They are preparing their house in Minnesota for eventual sale to relocate to Hot Springs.
“The more we came down here the more we felt the need to be here,” he said.
“This is the place where I want to spend the rest of my life.”
On the Road with Jason Davis - August 2010
Jason Davis from Twin Cities Channel 5 visited Cowdery at his home in Long Prairie, MN and filmed a segment about the things he creates. The video was run several times on Channel 5.
Toys Designed by Artists - Arkansas Arts Center, Little Rock - Winter 2010-2011
Every other year at Christmas time the Arkansas Arts Center hosts a juried international exhibit called Toys Designed by Artists. Brian Cowdery submitted a piece for consideration and it was accepted. Madam Queen is a colorful Gypsy caravan done for a client in Minnesota. The owner graciously allowed Cowdery to borrow Madam Queen for the show, which ran from November 2010 through February 2011.
Alison Parsons Gallery, Hot Springs, AR - November 2012
Brian Cowdery was invited to do a show at Alison Parsons Gallery in Hot Springs for November Gallery Walk. The show was well attended and Cowdery's work was very popular with the crowd.
Toys Designed by Artists - Arkansas Arts Center - Little Rock - Winter 2012-2013
Every other year during the Christmas season the Arkansas Arts Center hosts an international juried exhibit called Toys Designed by Artists. Brian Cowdery submitted another piece for the current show and it was accepted. House Car is a piece Cowdery made for his wife. It has interior features such as bunk beds, stove, booth, and many other details. Toys Designed by Artists ran from November 2012 through early January 2013.
Arkansas Sculpture Invitational Show - North Little Rock - 22 & 23 June 2013
The eighth annual Arkansas Invitational Sculpture Show & Sale Was held on the 22nd and 23rd of June at the Argenta Community Theatre in North Little Rock. 25 Sculptors exhibited a wide range of artworks. Brian Cowdery had 10 pieces in the show.
