Paintings by Little Rock based painter Michael Schaeffer were the focus of The Art Department's latest exhibition, "The Thrill of It All" -- the first of this year's quarterly shows by the Thea Foundation. The show opened Feb. 3 with a reception at Thea in North Little Rock.
The exhibit features large paintings of central Arkansas drag performers. The artist was on hand, as were some of the subjects. Partygoers enjoyed heavy hors d'oeuvres by Ben E. Keith executive chef Shane Henderson, beer and wine and music from a playlist created by the artist.
Schaeffer is a visual merchandiser for Dillard's. "The Thrill of It All" first showed at the home of Dylan and Christie Turk in Bentonville before traveling to Fayetteville Underground and finally making its way to Thea Foundation.
In his artist's statement, Schaeffer said, "Contemporary artists I think fall into two categories: ones who make the world they want, and those who comment on the world there is. I feel like I have always been the latter. As far back as I can remember, my work has been an attempt to slow down the perpetual flow of information that surrounds us all -- a constant investigation of what 'beauty' in our world looks like."
The exhibit will be on display through the end of February. The mission of The Art Department is to engage up-and-coming arts patrons and to help cultivate a community of arts-focused young professionals.
-- Story and photos by
Cary Jenkins
High Profile on 02/12/2017