Nov. 21, 2024 Press Release for Positive Space at The Old Fashioned in Denison, Iowa:

For Immediate Release, Arcadia, Iowa, November 21, 2024

Arcadia Artist Featured at Special Event in Denison Dec. 6

Arcadia, Iowa artist Lee Shiney will present new work at The Old Fashioned in uptown Denison during December. Titled “Positive Space,” the show opens with a reception Friday, December 6 from 4–10 pm in conjunction with a special “End of Prohibition Party” and continues through the month of December during regular business hours of 4–10 pm Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.

Located upstairs in the old Denison American Legion Hall at 1211 Broadway, “this warm, inviting space is perfect for showing this new work,” Lee said. “The historical vibe from the high ceilings and original brick walls is a nice counterpoint to these large, colorful, abstract canvases.” He says Positive Space is a play on the term “negative space,” an important element in art and design. “And it’s sometimes expected for artists to focus on the negative with a gritty, dark style, to hold a mirror up to society. I’m looking for something different by simply trying to bring color, lightness, and some positive energy to the equation. I’m doing it for me, and I expect it resonates with at least a few people.”

The Old Fashioned has been open since April of this year. The cocktail bar features specialty prohibition-era cocktails, as well as mocktails, wine, and beer. It is located in a former second-level speakeasy which operated while the International Order of Odd Fellows owned the building in the early 1900s, before the American Legion established themselves in the building. Under the current ownership of Dustin Durbin, the space is open to the general public for the first time in history. “We love making The Old Fashioned special for our patrons,” said Durbin. “Our monthly art shows have been going since May, and they’ve proven popular for local artists as well as enthusiasts and buyers.”  The Old Fashioned can be contacted on their Facebook page, or by calling 712-263-5626. 

###

About Lee Shiney:

Lee Shiney is a painter, photographer, kinetic sculptor, and mixed media artist. He employs homemade turntables, spray devices, and paint dripping machines as some of the mechanics used in his alternative painting processes. Over the last 20 years, he has a history in numerous solo and group art shows in the Wichita, Kansas and Kansas City areas, as well as art education. Formerly a lifelong Kansan, Lee Shiney and his Iowa-raised wife, Lajean, moved permanently in 2016 to the old Ar-We-Va school building in Arcadia, Iowa, repurposing it into their home and studio spaces. 

Contact Information:

Lee Shiney: 712-790-4290, www.leeshiney.com/press, b52@leeshiney.com

The Old Fashioned Cocktail Bar: 712-263-5626, 1211 Broadway, Denison IA 

Previous: