3 Full Days of Art Events This Weekend!

This week has had me in the studio, framing prints, and preparing for upcoming events.

This Friday, June 7th, I will return to the First Fridays event in the Ellicott City Historic District, from 5 to 9, and will be located in front of Work Play Bark, at 8104 Main St. In the event of rain, I will be inside the shop.

On Saturday, June 8th, I will return to my show at the Howard County Historical Society, also in Ellicott City, from 1 to 5. This show ends in 3 weeks.

Finally on Sunday, June 9th, I will also return to the Second Sunday event, in (you guessed it,) Ellicott City, from 10 to 3. I will be selling my prints at all 3 events, and there are a lot of new ones, so stop by and say hello.

Wiley Purkey

A Day at the Museum

On Saturday, June 1, I will be visiting my exhibit at the Howard County Historical Society Museum from 1 to 5.

Ten new images of Ellicott City, in the form of prints will also be added to the display.

So if you have been waiting for a chance to see the exhibit on a day when I am there, this is your chance.

Remember the exhibit ends on June 29th.

Wiley Purkey

Recycling Way back in 1984

Back in 1984, while I was living at what I like to call "The Scientific Commune" in Woodstock, (Howard County), this painting-sculpture was produced. Much of my work at that time was very modern, having been exposed to computer graphics about 1980. My friend Dale had purchased an IBM System 7 at an auction to salvage what he could of the materials, for what purpose I do not remember. I remember moving it from the truck weighing something like 500 pounds. He didn't seem to have a use for the wiring harness, so I requisitioned it for my purpose. Here is the result of salvaging the harness, and yes I actually sold this to a collector.

Looking For Original Paintings of Ellicott City From the Recent Past

I'm on a quest to locate some of the original paintings that I've sold over the years for the purpose of making prints for sale. It may be a a fool's quest, but if a few can be located, it will be worth it. So much work was destroyed by the 1972 flood, and the 1984 fire, and so much has been lost in other ways. I was never very good at recording my paintings, or even photographing them.

Recent advances in printing technology make it possible to make excellent reproductions of artwork, and prints sell well because they are so much more affordable than originals.

Some information for you detectives... I sold at the Ellicott City Street art festivals from about 1969 to 1979. I sold art at Olin's Art Shop, the Marino Gallery. and the Owl and the Pussycat. A great deal of work was sold at the Margaret Smith Gallery.  I am just asking if you own an original painting of mine, please contact me so I can photograph it.

One specific item that I would like to locate is a watercolor of the interior of Leidig's Bakery. It was sold to Norman Leidig, and since his passing, I imagine it has been sold or discarded by someone that didn't understand what it was. There were watercolors of the iron gate to Lilburn Castle, the Ellicott City Elementary School playground equipment, Mulligan's Hill, oil paintings of the Patapsco Female Institute and so many many others.

If you own or know someone that may have any of my original work, please make them aware of this post. Before I can really move forward with a new body of work, I need to follow this path to see what turns up.

Use the email below to contact me.

wiley@wileypurkey.com

Second Sunday Market - May

We're loading up the car for another trip to Historic Ellicott City. Today we will be at the Second Sunday Market, and will have quite a few new prints on hand.

Sykesville Fine Art and Wine Festival

I will be at the festival today from 12 to 5 selling my prints of Historic Sykesville, and Historic Ellicott City. Stop by and say hello!

The Gardens of Sykesville Exhibit

Press Release –

March 17, 2012

What: Art Exhibition – The Gardens of Sykesville – Wiley Purkey

When: March 18 through June 14, 2013

Where: Sykesville Town House, 7547 Main Street,

Sykesville, MD 21784  • 410 795-8959

Sykesville Town House Hours: Monday - Friday 9-5

The Gardens of Sykesville – Wiley Purkey

Artist Wiley Purkey lived in Historic Sykesville with his wife, Claudia from 1985 to 2005.  Most of his early work is of local historic architecture. After 1990, he turned to painting his own garden and that of his friend, and local historian, Thelma Wimmer, All of the 12 images in this colorful show are of those two gardens. All of the images are archival prints on canvas of original oil paintings.