Houston art collectors came together Saturday night at Blossom Street Gallery to view the latest works by the members of KAXM Artists Group, an art agency founded by Deborah Shelton. Expecting to find new additions of original fine art and photography to add to their collections, patrons fell in love with the offerings. Maybe it was the fervor of the impending shopping season, or maybe it was the showcase of natural talent. Whichever the case, art flew off the walls of Blossom Street Saturday night.
   
Photographer Sam Li, whose works focus on far-away travel destinations to places people dream of visiting, was the favorite for Mike Romero a collector from Clear Lake. “Sam’s work is astonishing. He shoots places that you may have seen while on vacation, but he captures them in such a way that makes you want to go back as often as you can, and maybe even live there. I am definitely a fan.” Mr. Romero proved his appreciation for Li’s work by purchasing three pieces, including, Coliseum Lights, Hapsburg Castle, and Angelic Embrace.

The vibrant works of Honduras-born artist Ciro Flores surprised guests. I overheard one woman gasp, “Is that painted on cardboard? I’ve never seen anything like it. How creative!” Flores lightheartedly refers to himself as a “green” artist. “As long as I have a pen or pencil or some kind of paint, I will create on anything.” Flores isn’t joking. Two pieces Los Pecados de una Noche and Todos Nos Estan Viendo are painted on cardboard, La Muerte de un Profeta is acrylic on newsprint, and even more surprising Interactive Listening is an acrylic painting on a meeting agenda.

Bree Stillwell Craft debuted Virgo, the newest piece from her Modern Women of the Zodiac series. The display of the series was edgy and original, much like the artist herself. The women of the series project such a feeling of independence, that guests seemed to unconsciously correct their posture and walk a bit taller after having seen them. “The series is so personal to me, that I almost hate to sell them!” Bree laughed, “but the woman who purchased Leo loves her as much as I do…so it’s okay.”

At times it was difficult to break through the crowd in front of Levi Rosen’s post-cataclysmic oil paintings. The pieces such as Dancing to a Nuclear Sunrise and They Called Me Fat Man…Then It All Disappeared, inspired in-depth conversations of nuclear war and the hope of life after such an event. “I didn’t expect to be taken on such an emotional journey,” one viewer admitted. “Levi’s paintings force you to think about things that you really don’t want to think about…but then he offers hope of a new day dawning all in one painting. I’m not sure how he does it, but I love it.”

As I inched my way through the crowd, another close-knit gathering caught my eye in the corner room. It’s common to see people stand a few feet away from artwork to get the “whole picture”, however it’s a bit unusual to see a group huddled together just inches from a piece. I patiently waited my turn, and then I understood. Michael Craft’s photo Bob Marley Bar is not the average wave-crashing beach scene you’d find in a travel brochure. As I studied the piece, someone next to me whispered, “It doesn’t seem real, does it? It must be a painting…a place like that couldn’t really exist…could it? I have to meet the photographer.”

As an art lover and collector myself, I am drawn to pieces that have special meaning or an interesting story behind them. Joel Genel’s wood sculpture Revenge On Ike is such a piece. “This is from a tree that fell in our yard during Hurricane Ike. The hurricane took so much away from so many people that I wanted to find a way to give something back…take my own revenge on Ike.” The combination of vengeful carvings and merciless use of paint color enticed me into buying. That’s when I noticed the bright red SOLD sticker.

It taught me a valuable lesson: Artists can show up fashionably late, but buyers should arrive early.

The KAXM Artists Group show will remain on display at Blossom Street Gallery until Friday November 13. The gallery is located at 4809 Blossom Street with daily hours of 11 am to 5 pm. For after-hours appointments, or to schedule a private viewing, please contact gallery manager Melissa Watson at 585-737-9524.