RougeArt Story

RougeArt is the realization of a dream that started while facing the stained-glass rose window of the cathedral of Amiens, France. There, Karine Lemoyne a successful professional and native of Amiens, felt the urge to be – authentic, creative, free.

Before RougeArt

In 2007, Karine turned the page on a successful career in banking and left Paris for Houston, Texas to marry her college sweetheart and pursue her dream. Within months of her arrival, she met four women who would help her set her own course: MaryBeth, the short-fuse detonator of creativity, Gika, the friend of balance and values, Sharman, the magician of spiritual comfort and Marie-Pierre a fellow Frenchwoman who reminded Karine of her true color: red (“rouge” in French).

One thing led to another. MaryBeth taught Karine the infinite power of awareness and with that came the consciousness of realization. Gika invited Karine to collaborate on a conference at the University of Houston, marking the origins of an efficient cooperation on organizing events. Sharman introduced Karine to the kaleidoscope Vision of Arts in Houston. Marie-Pierre provided mischievousness, a shared cultural heritage and, sparks of joy.

Karine and Marie-Pierre had met in Linda Payton-Huff’s painting class at the Jung Center. With the encouragement of her husband, Alexis, and her stepson, Bryce, Karine decided to deepen her knowledge of painting and take more risks. She signed up for Margaret Scott-Dobbins’ class and formally resumed her artistic career.

Bones and structure

After much talk with friends and family, Karine developed the vision of a beautiful art space with an interactive exhibit. Gika joined in. From April through June 2008, Karine worked with a coach, Aletta de Wal to strengthen the focus on the Exhibit Concept and clarifies the RougeArt Vision.
A date was set for November 7 through 9.
Karine set out to find a group of like-minded artists.
Eventually, Kay Nguyen introduced Kevin Davis to Karine who when he heard about the concept, offered his space.
In the meantime, Karine worked with Anne Swanson to design the logo based on Karine’s Rougeart painting.

The artists

Kay Nguyen, a talented ceramist, was one of the artists at the UH women’s conference that Karine helped with. Kay offered Karine a red ceramic heart with the word “FAITH” engraved in gilded letters. “After looking at her Faith Heart, I started to paint again after several weeks of not doing any art. Now the heart accompanies me on my journey” says Karine.
Maylis Hopewell-Curie, A fellow Frenchwoman and a talented photographer that Karine met through the association of the French of Houston. “I find much of myself in Maylis’ colored, sometimes mysterious, warm and candid worlds,” says Karine. “She plays with the colors and the shapes which gives a beautiful aesthetic and lively result. She opens many small escape windows into worlds still to be explored.”
Karine Parker-Lemoyne, “The colors and shapes returned in my dreams and on the canvases”.

An authentic encounter

The relationship between artist and public may be sometimes a difficult and even painful encounter. There’s a natural bond with friends and family who are often encouraging and supportive. However, when it comes to the general public the artist experience can be mixed with loneliness; perhaps the public feels the same. When Karine exhibited her work at the Jung Center of Houston in June 2008, her painting, “The shadow House”, attracted attention from small groups of people. “I set out to talk to them,” said Karine. “I hesitated and never connected. I feared interrupting their gathering and never spoke with them. I regretted it. At that time, I experienced myself what I did not want to see happen again”.

RougeArt is a solution to bridge the gap between public and artist and let public experience an intimate connection with the creative process.

As Kay says: “ If you are able to reveal what it took you to create, then the work you bring to the exhibit is more meaningful to the audience ”

In the works

RougeArt is meant to be series of authentic interactive artistic encounters of different types, purposely chosen. Some of the artists under consideration are:

Leslie, Executive Director of the Houston Playback Theatre. She wishes to contribute to RougeArt. She will participate to the writer’s impressions with Marie-Pierre Stien.

Raja, a very gifted jewelry designer; Karine contacts Raja who uncovers her creations and treasures. Raja is French/Palestinian. Her warmth and spontaneity are found in her creations. Her inspirations vary and are always impressed with elegance and originality.

Another concept is at study: Music responding to Art and Dance responding to Art.

To be continued...

The Writers' impressions

Blue Alley - the Journey

Journey by Jerome Vielman 04/15/09

Follow me

I lay everything on my arms and take up anything that is mine

come with me

Do not look back for me because you will never see this old life of me

walk with me

Stepping out of this hallowed door red in full elegance to take on this world

breathe with me

Grasping to take one last breath of normalcy with you this soon to be past life

kiss me

For you will never taste my new lips spilling forth cascading columns of confidence

cling to me

Are you sure you want me to go with canvas and bag on hand and never to see me again?

watch me

Leaving trails of speckled dust for your dreamy eyes to follow me into star ridden skies

leave me be

My destiny lies connected to colored soundscapes orchestrated in new found spaces

depart from me

Forever is a promise with deliberate prose and senseless calculation

set me free

Leave with no regret of this cookie cutter life filled with stuffy corporate bank jobs in white picket fenced house of cards

clutch for me

Embracing this challenge as if it is my best friend who sharpens my life

dance with me

Where freedom is forever aligning bodies with rhythm and reckless abandon

reflect on me

Through trial and triumph driven by perseverance our lives still worth living

envision me

Where ideas unite across the mental landscape mobilizing the world

one canvas at a time

Special Thanks

My husband, for his support, his encouragements, his writings, his contribution in making my vision grow;
Marie-Pierre Stien, my Rouge color inspiration, for her encouragements and her contributions as a writer to the RougeArt story;
MaryBeth Smith who believes in me since the first time we met and transmits me words of faith and realization;
Gika Rector, for her support, her input, her balance, her famous questions, and because she’s Gika;
Kay Nguyen for her support, her heart, her spirit, her spontaneity, and her practical help (very important the practical help);
Aletta de Wal for her coaching method – Artist career training© - which helped to clearly confirm my goals and my motivations;
Anne Swanson for her enthusiasm, her creative ideas and her logo;
Kevin Davis for his interest and involvement in RougeArt, for his creative and marketing senses;
Stan Cutherell for his generosity and believing in the project since the beginning;
Maylis Hopewell-Curie for taking snapshots of the artworks;
Véronique Schlumberger for her interest, presence, feedback and input;
Dustie Lee Hollon for creating a beautiful website for RougeArt;
Margaret Dobbins for her support and her attention to talent;
Michelle Bollom and Sharman Speed for their friendship and their wise thoughts;

Jerome Vielman for his support, his writer's performance and his beautiful poem, Journey inspired by one of my painting, Blue Alley - The journey;
Chris Welsh, Ann Bell, Leslie Gauna, Linda Peyton-Huff, and those I haven't mentioned.

For their friendly and sincere support these last years:
My mother, Josette; my father, Jean-Claude; my grand-father, Georges, my brother, Franck; My friends from France: Anna M., Anne C., Caroline C., Cidalia de C., Delphine H., Elise R., Evelyne R., Geneviève L., Isabelle L., Isabelle P., Isabelle S., Marie-Line T., Marie-Anne V, Mathilde A., Tess H., Benoît R., Gilbert L., Jean-Christophe R., Jean-Christophe B., José B., Pierre M., Pierre N and those I haven't mentioned.

A very special thought to Barbara S.