CALL FOR ARTISTS: ARBORETUM!

CALL FOR ARTISTS: ARBORETUM - CLOSED!
Thanks for applying!

Participating artists announced soon!

The light was waning as he scraped the edge of a sharp rock again against the bleeding birch. It was becoming hard to see, but it was important that this message be finished before nightfall. "Let this be a warning to you," he muttered under his breath. The lines stacked up in a vertical tower, just like hap-hazard scars of an old, stitched wound, sap beginning to ooze from the fresh cuts. The papery bark of the birch curled away from the cuts just barely. The message was clear.

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ARBORETUM
An exhibition about botany: Genetics, Enchanted Forests, and Designed Garden Spaces
Opens March 23 • 7-10pm
CALL FOR ART ENDS FEBRUARY 28

Oghams were the early medieval alphabet of the Irish during the 1st century - 9th century AD and is a representation of letters corresponding with the trees of Ireland, Wales, and Southern England. Each letter not only held symbolism represented by the glyph, but the inherent qualities of the woods they represented. Whether the medieval language was first created as a secret way to send messages by druids, or as an alternative to the latin script, the true reason remains unknown, but the glyphs can still be found preserved in old churchyards of the British Isles.

The importance of trees goes way beyond their mythology. The rich ecosystems within old growth forests are expansively diverse and complex. The woodlands help provide infinite habitats for creatures, support highways of connective fungal networks which transport energy, nutrients, and information through the forest floor. These are places where time stands still and we can see a window into how life on our planet would be without the presence of man. Here, in the forests, we find elements that house the fundamental basis for new medicines, and the presence of natural chemicals that assist in cancer research. There are amazing sustainable and unique food sources found here that are nowhere else on the planet.

This March, we are looking to investigate the nature of botany and will be offering additional programming, lectures, and podcast content around how tree and plant life influence our world. We'll talk with furniture designers about the history and aspects of hardwoods, learn about sustainable harvesting techniques and the impact of global deforestation, learn about the presence of leaves in heraldry, and the homeopathic benefits of certain leaves, flowers and seeds. 

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We are looking for artists that wish to investigate trees with us, in any aspect of their importance. 

Artists wishing to create a small piece of work for the exhibition - less than 8 x 10 in any medium (digital or original,) please submit your links below in the comments! (please do not send emails as they sometimes get lost in the shuffle!)

The work will be displayed in our brick & mortar gallery in Minneapolis as well as permanently archived on the Light Grey Art Lab exhibition site, priced by the artist, with our standard gallery commission of 60% / 40% in favor of the artist. We do offer printing services to help people that would like to submit without having to ship a piece, as well as frame rental for those interested. More information about print on demand services or other show specifics will be sent to all participating artists as soon as the jurying is complete!

If you'd like to be involved and create a piece of work for this upcoming show, please put your name, email, and links to your work online below in the comments section by FEBRUARY 28th! We will be jurying the exhibition as the entries are received and we will be notifying all participating artists via email with more information about the exhibition timing, sending artwork, and the other participating artists by March 2!

Example:
Lindsay Nohl
hello@lightgreyartlab.com
lindsaynohl.com

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Dates to consider!
February 28: Call for art ends
March 2: Artists Announced on or before this date via email, blog & social media. Artists receive all show info via the artist log-in page.
March 14 - 17: All artwork due to the gallery. (Digital and original works)
March 23: Exhibition opening reception at Light Grey Art Lab in Minneapolis and online!

This is a VERY FAST call for art, as we have a lot going on at the gallery this month! But, if you are quick and you would like to be a part of the show, please apply in the comments!

Questions? Send us a note! Hello@lightgreyartlab.com

Interview with Ceramic Artist Samantha Longley

Meet Samantha Longley, a Minneapolis-based ceramic artist who subverts traditional pottery with unique, fluid flourishes. Samantha attended a liberal arts college in St. Paul, originally for painting, but discovered a "profound relationship with clay" in her second year. She now lives in Brooklyn Park, where she also houses her studio. Read more after the break!

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Based on your artist statement, your relationship to your craft is very spiritual (not necessarily in a religious way, but in your connection to nature, the universe). Where do you find the intersection of ceramics and this spirituality? 

It's interesting that I chose ceramics, something so tactile and messy, to talk about something transcendent- but I actually think it is a perfect marriage. Being a spiritual person isn't always about transcending and getting out of your body, or out of this world in order to contact something pure; I believe the pure spirit, that flow of the divine is actually within and all around right here, right now, indwelling and constantly colliding with this world, in the nitty gritty, the unexpected and the mundane.

I think this physicality can be seen as something to be escaped from most of the time instead of embraced, which is why clay is my muse. The process is not glorious; it's messy, frustrating, very physically involved, and rarely works the first time- but it creates a space for me to confront and embrace all my humanness.  It is an expansion of myself in both directions; the somatic involvement pioneers the space for my spirit to open as well (sort of like yoga). It is a beautiful, mysterious, intriguing, and seemingly contrasting harmonization that I constantly seek and find a lot in my studio (the meeting of physical and spiritual that I talk about in my statement) and I get to provide a literal picture for others: infusing dirt with energy and idea and life. Ceramics is how I practice this harmonization and attempt to diverge from my regular dualistic living. 

How do you subvert traditional forms (cups, pots, etc.) to convey these feelings? 

Perfection is not something I strive for in my life or my forms. I have often heard adjectives like "wonky" or "smushed" or "distorted" to describe my work, which I fully embrace. There is a Japanese world view called "wabi sabi" which can be, very simply, translated as "beauty in imperfection, humility and impermanence", but it is much more than that; it is an entire way of being. The aesthetic that tries to contain its essence really challenges western notions of glamour, showiness and symmetry; Wabi Sabi ceramics can feature cracks, distortions, and asymmetry and yet, they are treasured and appreciated for their imperfections. My pots don't look like typical, traditional pottery that is found, which is how I have found a home in the Wabi Sabi aesthetic and mindset. My work is intentionally distorted, sliced, carved and crumpled in hopes of being more true to life which is full of movement, ebbs and flows, imperfections, and is absolutely beautiful when it humbly embraces those things. 

What’s your process usually like? Do you have a specific shape in mind when starting a piece, or do you let it form as you work? 

With my unique forms especially, it is hard to picture exactly what the outcome will be. For these functional forms, I begin with the right amount of clay (about 1 lb for a mug or tumbler), then start by throwing a cylinder on the wheel. When I get close to completing the base object, I sort of stretch it to its limit and hold the top of the form while the wheel is still spinning; this causes the clay to twist and create a lovely soft movement that is unique to every piece; it sort of looks like a wave or moving piece of fabric. Then, if I did it right, the clay will hold its form and it will be frozen in movement forevermore. 

With my newer, more sculptural works that I cut into, I usually begin with an idea and a sketch, but the beauty of ceramics is that you can't always control it. Sometimes it will take you down a different path, and I like to ride that wave. It's good to have a starting place, but if I am trying to follow a 2-D sketch exactly, I don't feel like I'm being true to the nature of the medium and the movement I’m trying to capture; like trying to carve a line around a 3-D form. How to follow a flow around its curves is something you figure out in the moment. 

 

What is it like to be a Minneapolis-based artist? What makes this community unique? 

Being an Minneapolis artist is the best! I love making connections with fellow artists through sales and arts events- it's actually really easy to do since these folks are some of the nicest, most open people I know. I think what makes this community unique is that it feels like a community, not a competition. As creatives, we have an instinctively deeper understanding of one another and can easily bond over the joys and hardships of working as an artist. All of the makers I've met seem so open to connection and are very genuine people; it has helped me to open up and feel proud of my work and comfortable just as myself. I have been so encouraged and embraced by fellow artists in the community, even while working out of a secluded home studio. I'm so proud of this community, the creative, earnest, and beautiful work they make; I love that it is my home! 

Where do you see your practice going in the future? Do you have any dream projects you’d like to work on? 

My hope is to become more and more committed to my work and practice and to move into a larger studio space outside of my home within the next few years. I don't have a clear picture of what I imagine for my future, but I don't let that hinder me from progressing; just as my work begins with a small idea, then grows and evolves and leads me on, so do my dreams. 

Who are some of the other local makers whose work you’re really excited about? 

I love to see what other ceramic artists are doing around me, how they’re being innovative and original within the same medium. I am intrigued by Brett Fruend's extravagant aesthetic exploration in function and just wish I could reach through screens and touch his crystal formation cups forever. I'm also a huge fan (and collector) of Adam Gruetzmacher's work (note from ed. - see our interview with Adam here). It always seems fresh, like he's constantly innovating and never bored with the process. It's really inspiring to me. Autumn Higgins brings me into those quiet, sweet everyday moments with her gorgeously illustrated pots, and I am always inspired by Liz Pechacek's fascination and play with form. 

On a 2D note, I am also really digging Kelsey Oseid's (Kelzuki) fantastic illustrations lately! I love having those beautiful depictions of nature around; they make me so happy and I could look at them all day! I also enjoy Michelle Brusegaard's (MBMB) frankness and play with design over anything and everything. Before I leave the house I am usually wearing my edgy witch's finger power necklace by Betty Jager (3 Jag Design) and/or some beautiful lichen filled jewelry by Sudify. I am a proud owner of a lot of really superior local art and goods. 

See Samantha Longley's work in Winterland, and visit her website here! 

Winterland Opening Recap

The opening of Winterland was incredible! Thank you so much to all of the participating artists, both in the main show and our one-night pop-up shop! We are so happy to see all the new and familiar faces, and to see so many people making it out even in this cold weather! 

Sarah Evenson and Jennifer Bowman, two of the artists in our pop-up shop, enjoying each others company 

Keeli O'Brien and Puck Saint Comics

The pop-up shop featured local artists selling prints, zines, pins, handmade sets of runes, and more. 

Julia of Bingley's Teas demonstrating Gongfu Cha

We were also thrilled to have our neighbor Bingley's Teas in the gallery, demonstrating the Gongfu Cha way of making tea for anyone interested in participating. Our friends at Common Roots Café also provided a tasty tray of baked goods for refreshments. 

Kelsey Oseid (Kelzuki) and her family 

Adam Gruetzmacher with his handmade ceramic works

We got to see many of our Minneapolis maker friends at the opening as well, and it was wonderful chatting with them about their products and processes! 

If you were able to make it out, we hope you had as good of a time as we did! If you weren't able to stop by, the show will be up through February, and you can also find all of the participating makers' collections on the Winterland webpage. 

For more photos from the opening, check out our Flickr page here!

Interview with Ceramic Artist Adam Gruetzmacher

Meet Adam Gruetzmacher, a craftsperson and ceramicist living in St. Paul, Minnesota. Originally from Oshkosh, Wisconsin, Adam attended the University of Wisconsin-Stout, graduating in 2010 with a BFA in Studio Ceramics. Read more about his practice and what drew him to the medium below!

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Hi Adam, How long have you been working in ceramics? What brought you into it?

Counting college, I’ve been working with clay for about 12 years. I like the act of making and it is important that my efforts result in something useful. I was attracted to clay in school because it was the most challenging and demanding medium.  I am never bored and never stop learning.

What is your studio space like?

My studio takes up the majority of the basement of our 1200 sq. ft. house in St Paul. It has a finished ceiling, tile floor, and plenty of florescent lighting. It’s not the dreamiest studio in the world, but very real, very functional, and I feel lucky to have it.

Do you have any philosophies attached to your craft? How important do you see the act of creating handmade goods in this day and age?

As someone who makes useful objects there are three planes of thought that I reference. Firstly, I rely on my applied arts education wherein the foundations are based squarely on the concepts of design.  Secondly, I strongly relate to the ideas and tradition behind craft and craftsmanship, which informs my approach to the materials that I use and the way in which I make.  Thirdly, I reflect on my values as a person to ultimately evaluate my work and add an element of humanity.  I am successful when I have made a well-designed, well-made object that I feel is an honest distillation of my personal values.

What is your process usually like? How did you develop your individual techniques? 

I use traditional wheel throwing and forming techniques, mixed with some occasional cutting and altering to create linear structure in some forms.  I think the repetition associated with any traditional craft naturally leads to the development of technique, which is visible in the finished piece. As the maker grows more skilled in his or her craft, the work more closely reflects the person who made it. This process of developing identity through the physicality of the work is a special aspect of handcrafts.

What is it like to be a Minneapolis-based artist? What makes this community unique? 

There is no better place in the country to be a potter.  There is a lot of studio pottery history in this specific region of Minnesota and there is great public support for the continuation of the craft. I feel lucky to have ended up here.

Where do you see your practice moving towards? Are there any new techniques you’d like to try in the future? 

I am open to anything when it comes to my practice.  In the last couple years I have become interested in carving green wood spoons.  I don’t know a lot about my family, but I have a collection of spoons and scoops used by my grandmother and likely made by my great uncle- and it feels good to practice a craft that can connect me in some way with the history of my family.  The more materials and craft concentrations that I explore, the more I understand the cultural and personal importance of the act of making useful things by hand- no matter the medium.  

Are there any other local makers whose work you’re really excited about?

I’m excited about the broader art and craft scene in Minnesota.  It seems like this state is covered in people who make things by hand either to explore new ideas or maintain and rediscover craft traditions that do not exist anywhere else in the country.  We have a wonderfully supportive public and it’s exciting to be a part of it all. 

You can see Adam's work in the Winterland show in the gallery or on our website, and visit his website here!

Winterland Opening Next Friday!

We invite you to join us next Friday, January 26th from 7-10pm for the opening reception of Winterland! We are thrilled to host this exhibition that celebrates Twin Cities-based creative endeavors, small businesses, and creatives of all types!

Come check out their artisanal soaps, hand-beaded jewelry, carved spoons, furniture, original illustrations, sculptural objects, ceramics and more! All works will be available for purchase during the opening reception -- come meet the artists, support their business, and celebrate the community!

You can see the full list of participants and details on the Facebook event page here. 

Winterland is about the craft, process, and ethos of each creative. 

Samantha Longley is a ceramic artist from Minneapolis; her porcelain wares are handmade on the potter's wheel and given a unique twist... literally. The soft movement, individual to each piece, is gently and purposefully given while the work is fresh on the wheel. Her work is an exploration of form and a celebration of beauty in the imperfect.

Simple Soaps is a women-owned company based in Saint Paul, MN, founded with the mission of putting better, simpler, more naturally beautiful skin care products into people’s hands. They will be showcasing a variety of bath and body products.

Kelsey Oseid is an illustrator, author, and amateur naturalist based in Minneapolis, MN. Her gouache illustrations focus on natural history subjects like taxonomy, biodiversity, and taxidermy, as well as related subjects like astronomy and the ways humans relate to the natural world.

Work featured above by Taute Co., Dottir, and Jenna Freimuth
Winterland is sponsored by Common Roots Cafe and Bingley's Teas

Light Grey Book Club

Light Grey Book Club
Sunday, January 28th @10:30-12pm
$5 donation/free for students with ID

Bring your own book
A non-traditional book club for people that want to have coffee, tea, and conversations about great books. 

Join us on January 28th for our first book club at Light Grey! We’ll gather around the table for a fun morning discussion about big concepts, characters, tangents, and nerd out about some of our favorite subjects with lovely people! Bring the book you are reading — nonfiction, fiction, biographies, art books, comics, etc. all welcome! We look forward to finding new content and getting to know each other a little better through out ideas and favorite stories!

All are welcome, so feel free to invite friends and book lovers!

Young Mystics: Tarot Journaling

Young Mystics: Tarot Journaling
$5 / free for students (just bring your ID) — drop ins welcome!
RSVP here!
THURSDAY, January 18th @ 6:30 - 9:00pm
Instructor : Lindsay Nohl

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Join us for a two and a half hour workshop in understanding the Tarot and it's many uses as a predictive, reflective, and therapeutic tool. This workshop will cover how to use Tarot to reach the deepest recesses of our minds via automatic journaling. We will discuss how to use the Tarot as a vehicle for introspection, and learn how to build a daily journaling practice that is easy, freeing, and insightful. We will discuss effortless ways of connecting with the cards, how to look for symbols and signs within the imagery to help draw out our own subconscious themes, and what re-reading our own writings can do to improve mindfulness and personal progress. One and three-card introspective mini readings will be discussed during the workshop as well to improve depth in our journaling exercises.

This workshop is one in a series of Tarot workshops / meet-ups at Light Grey. Look for more upcoming Young Mystics classes and related make-and-take workshops this year! We plan on hosting some study groups, related get-togethers and more for people looking to explore their mystical side.

Tarot is mysterious --- with it's esoteric symbolism, loaded imagery, archetypal characters, and taboo connotations. This workshop will explore the different ways of using Tarot, and how to decide the best way to approach using Tarot to enhance your self-understanding. 

This workshop is for beginners AND practiced readers and is an opportunity to revisit one's practice amongst like-minded folks and to introduce new reading techniques. 

We’ll practice reading with a few new spreads in class, so participants can practice their new knowledge with others!

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This class is open to beginners and beyond - anyone interested in discussing the symbols and stories within the Tarot should stop by!

THINGS TO BRING:
Bring your deck or use one of ours!
Bring a notebook and writing utensil to take notes!

This event is open to the public, so feel free to bring a friend!

Class is $5 / Free for students (just bring your ID).

Feel free to RSVP online on our Facebook Event Page HERE

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About Young Mystics:

Light Grey Art Lab's Young Mystics meet-ups allow curious minds to explore metaphysical and mystical concepts with an enthusiastic and encouraging community of individuals with backgrounds in art, symbolism, philosophy, Tarot, and other esoteric interests. Classes are held every two-three weeks at Light Grey on a variety of rotating subjects! Check the Facebook page for upcoming events. All events are drop-in and open to the public! Everyone is welcome!

Winterland + Pop Up at Light Grey Opening Reception

Winterland Exhibition +
Pop-Up at Light Grey
An exhibition about makers and their craft
Opening Reception: Friday, January 26th • 7 - 10pm

Join us for the opening reception of Winterland, January 26th, as we celebrate exceptional makers in our community! The exhibition showcases work that blur the lines between product design and art, craftsmanship and aesthetics. Winterland focuses on the processes behind the craft, the ethos driving the makers to explore the materials and forms they create, and the experiential aspect of consumable works by those that use the items. The exhibition includes ceramic, wood, and leather goods, jewelry, cosmetics, handcrafted furniture, screen prints, original artwork, sculptures and more! The brands and individuals showcased exemplify the spirit of creativity and innovation present in our local community.

Winterland featured businesses and makers: SgotB, Wolfram Studios, Mandy by Mandy, North Shore Wools, Homesteading Bliss, Vevang MPLS, Redcruiser, Dottir, Adam Gruetzmacher, Taute Co, Samantha Longley Clay, Sudify Jewelry, Florence Oliver, Simple Soaps, The Bitter Buffalo, Strey Designs, Larissa Loden, Abbeys House, Local Produce LLC, Wood & Stone Designs, Forefolk Studio, Woolhouse Designs, and Elixery

Winterland featured artists: Jennifer Davis, Steph Kunze, Tenderheart Studio, Jenna Freimuth, Kim Bogeman, Kelzuki, Elana Schwartzman of Fontlove Studio, Anne Ulku, Gallow (Teagan White and Erica Williams), Alanna Stapleton, and Jesse Lindhorst. 

Pop-Up at Light Grey: Sarah Evenson, Jennifer Bowman, Fiona Avocado, Lucy Comer, Alex Mitchell, Puck Saint Comics, Alexis Politz, Keeli O’Brien, Nathan Motzko, Ari Mulch, and Alex Conkins, Kira Night. 

This event is free and open to the public. Come celebrate the local makers, creators, and businesses!

This event is sponsored by
Common Roots Cafe and Bingley's Teas

A Look Back: Light Grey Art Camp PNW (Vancouver Island + Olympic Nat'l Park)

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Back in May of this year, we had the privilege of heading out to the Pacific Northwest with a bunch of incredible makers and all around rad human beings as we camped under the stars on Vancouver Island and in the heart of Olympic National Park.

On the island, we woke to the sounds of Seals and Sea Lions of in the distance and filled our bellies before setting off on our daily adventures. We explored parts of the Ucluelet Wild Pacific Trail, had serene walks in massive old growth forests teeming with moss, and a rainy day in Tofino (on just about the most picturesque beach imaginable) where we donned our wetsuits and had a private surf lesson from the Surf Sister Surf School. In the evening, we huddled around the fire and conversed about anything and everything under the sun before crawling into our sleeping bags to prepare for the next day's coming adventure. 

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After ferrying back across to Port Angeles, WA we met our awesome group that was going to join us in exploring the Hoh National Rainforest and the beaches of Western Washington. We visited the Makah Museum up in Neah Bay, Hiked the trails near Cape Flattery, and made lunch in the field as we sat among endless piles of driftwood on Ruby Beach. In the evenings, we'd swing by the Sol Duc Hot Springs for a much-needed soak in the warm water before returning to camp for dinner.

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A huge thanks to everyone who came along and helped make these trips incredible. We really miss telling stories around the fire, eating our "chicken-ish" stew, and singing along to 80's music in the van with all of you! 

Make My Holiday 2017 Partners

MAKE MY HOLIDAY PARTNERS ANNOUNCED!

Thanks to everyone that signed up for our 2017 creative swap! Below are your partners!
If you've never participated before, here is some info for how to proceed!

1. Reach out to your partner and introduce yourself! Feel free to tell them a bit about what you like, what kind of creative work you do, and anything else you think would be fun. It's always nice getting to know someone through their interests, things they collect, stuff that is kind of fun and personal, and anything else you think makes you, you!

2. Make sure to ask for your partner's address!

3. The art swap is open to any type of creative work! You do NOT have to make something new or custom, but we find that most people decide to do something special for their partners! As long as you made the thing you send, it's perfect.

4. Make sure to send out your gift before the end of the year so your partner can celebrate with you! If you think you'll be late, make sure to check in and tell your partner when they can expect a package. As we all know, the holidays are a time to travel and we wouldn't want anyone to miss receiving their package.

5. If you'd like, tag #lgalmakemyholiday or @lightgreyartlab on any images you share online! We'd love to see what you received / made for your new friends!

** If you have any trouble reaching your swap partner, let us know and we can try to help!

THAT'S IT! Happy swapping and thanks for being a part of this year's Make My Holiday!
Questions? Send us a note! Hello@lightgreyartlab.com

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Thomas Boguszewski
ThomasBoguszewski@gmail.com
Sarah Clement
hello@sarahclement.com

Nkauj Vang
nkauj.vang@gmail.com
Catherine Florendo
catherineCflorendo@gmail.com

Jasmine Noseworthy
Persaudjasminenpersaud@gmail.com
Rachel Beenken
Rachelbeenken@me.com

Teneille Eldering
teldering17@gmail.com
Rebecca Bradley
Rebecca.bradley@mail.com

Sarah Andrews
andrewsso@vcu.edu
Kristin Tipping
tippingkristin@gmail.com

Dana Edwards
ellofayne@gmail.com
Leslie Pyne
lpynelib@gmail.com

Kaitlin Wadley
kaitlinwadley@gmail.com
Bevan Breaux
bevanbiko.Illustration@gmail.com

Mariyka Auber
mariykaauber@gmail.com
Kira Night
hello@kiranight.com

Clarissa Filice
thewildforlorn@gmail.com
Steph Stilwell
info@stephstilwell.com

Cleonique Hilsaca
hello@cleonique.com
Tricia Beal
tricia.beal@creativecatsstudio.com

Casey Hunt
hunt.casey@gmail.com
Sophia Pappas
sophiamariepappas@icloud.com

Kelsey King
kkingart@gmail.com
Joi Yao
jyao@mcad.edu

Kathleen Jennings
kathleen.jennings@gmail.com
Cheyanne Cote
cheyannecoty@gmail.com

Jordan Patrzalek
patrzalekj@gmail.com
Lauren Cooper
lecooper94@gmail.com

Melissa Matulic
melissamatulic@gmail.com
Nellie Robinson
nelliearobinson@gmail.com

Sarah Stringhetta
sarah.stringhetta@gmail.com
Maarta Laiho
MaartaLaiho@gmail.com

Emily Herr
emily@herrsuite.com
Simina Popescu
simina.popescu356@gmail.com

Elena Resko
elenaresko@gmail.com
Mike Jasnowski
mjasnowski@gmail.com

Joli Grostephan-Brancato
jgrostephanbrancato@gmail.com
Jen Taylor
jen.taylor.draws@gmail.com

Judit Neubauer
neubauer.judit@gmail.com
Sayada Ramdial
sramdial25@gmail.com

A. Kirsten Nielson
Akrissnielson.illustration@gmail.com
Rio Burton
rioburton.illustration@gmail.com

Nicole Filiatrault
Myowlhasantlers@gmail.com
Justin DeVine
jlawdevine@gmail.com

Sarah Spencer
hello@spencerillustration.com
Kaija Thorson
Kaijalea@gmail.com

Lavi Lyons
demiboylion@gmail.com
Ahmed omar
Ahmediomar15@gmail.com

Moonie Tyler
moonietyler@gmail.com
Rebecca Woods
myousa@gmail.com

Casey Shaffer
thecapturedspy@hotmail.com
Zach Nienhuser
zachnien@gmail.com

Holly Carton
holly.carton@yahoo.com
Monica Davila
monica.c.davila@gmail.com

Hannah Burton
hnnh.burton@gmail.com
Anastasia Longoria
longoriaartwork@gmail.com

Claire Gaulin-Brown
gaulinbrown@gmail.com
Hannah Jerrie
han.jerrie@gmail.com

Colin Klotzbach
colinklotzbach@gmail.com
Leigh Ann Gagnon
wrenegadepress@gmail.com

Alison Arens
alison.arensmn@gmail.com
Nynke van Zwol
Info@nynkevanzwol.com

Stephen Kissel
hello@stephenkissel.com
Clarisse Tanjo
Clarissetanjo@gmail.com

Anuja Pothireddy
hey.anuja@live.com
Vicky Leta
vickyleta@gmail.com

Kitsch Harris
kitschharris@gmail.com
Sarah Boley
sjaneboley@gmail.com

Victoria Skellan
victoriaskellan@gmail.com
Jeszika Le Vye
Jeszika.art@gmail.com

Sophie Meehan
meehansp@tcd.ie
Eliz Tremblay
Tremblay.elizabeth@gmail.com

Aldy C. Aguirre
aldywalks@gmail.com
Amanda Graham
Amandajgraham88@gmail.com

Robert Kelsey
robertkelseyillustration@gmail.com
Whitney Sherman
ws@whitneysherman.com

Kim Valentinsson
kavityart@gmail.com
Courtney La Forest
courtney@courtneylaforest.com

Nona Racho
nonaracho@gmail.com
Susan Green
Beagairbheag@netscape.net

Natalie Shaw
Natalie@nataliemshaw.com
Virgil Franklin
vfranklin@mcad.edu

Ashley Caswell
ashley.e.caswell@gmail.com
Carrie Hirsch
carriealyson@gmail.com

Alek Newton
aleknewton@gmail.com
Calvin Bauer
cbauerart@gmail.com

Darla Okada
darlaOkada.art@gmail.com
Timothea Canny
Timotheaaidan@gmail.com

Leanna Cruz
lea89cr@gmail.com
Megan Porch
flightofmagpie@gmail.com

Kimberly Lesik
kmlesik@gmail.com
Ashley Masog
ajmasog@gmail.com

Marlowe Dobbe
marlowe@dobbe.com
Valentina Filic
xangelusnex@gmail.com

Jessica Le
hello@jessledesign.com
Daniela López
Danielapantufla@gmail.com

Catherine Miller
cmmiller.coldpress@gmail.com
Jenna Kass
jenna@jennakass.com

Jillian Judkins
JillianLJudkins@gmail.com
Hayley McNab
hmcnab@mcad.edu

Devin McKernan
Devin.mckernan@gmail.com
Hailey Coogan
hailey.coogan@telus.net

Maegan Capistrano
Maegancapistrano@gmail.com
Wenting Li
wenting.draws@gmail.com

Rin Kageyama
Rmkageyama@gmail.com
Diana Jordan
artofdianajordan@gmail.com

Belinda Morris
belindaillustrates@gmail.com
Lexi Morabito
Ms.Morabito@gmail.com

Jamie Stanley
Owlram@gmail.com
Angela Hsieh
hsieh09@gmail.com

******

Thanks again, everyone!! :D

Make My Holiday 2017!

EDIT: 11/20 --- Thanks again to everyone that entered this year's Make My Holiday Art Swap!
We'll be announcing partners via email shortly! Please check your inbox for more info / your swap partner! Thanks again!

Join us again for our annual Make My Holiday art exchange! 

Every year we gather friends new and old and pair them up to create new pieces of art for each other, all in the holiday spirit! Signing up is easy, just drop your name and email below, and we'll pair you up with another artist from around the world! 

The deadline for signing up is November 20th, and we'll announce your partner on the 22nd. 

Anyone can join, and anything can be made! You're welcome to make your new friend a zine, original drawing, hand-crafted object, or a brand new print, whatever seems fun and personal! 

The only rules are that 1.) You MUST make something for your partner (it's no fun if only one person is on board!) and 2.) You need to organize with your partner in order to get your item to them before the new year! 

When you receive your gift, we'd love to see pictures (and I'm sure your partner would as well)! Feel free to send all photos to calvin@lightgreyartlab.com! 

Sign up in the comments, using this format: 

Lindsay Nohl
lindsay@lightgreyartlab.com

Light Grey Art Lab Annual Cookie Party!

It's the holiday season, time for us to get bundled up, brave the cold, and share holiday treats in a warm and inviting environment. Join us at Light Grey for our annual Cookie Party!

Come to the gallery from 1-3pm and bring a batch of your favorite holiday treats: they can be your family's secret cookie recipe, or your go-to crowd-pleasing lemon bars. Anything is welcome! And of course, be sure to bring a container to bring some home with you!

There will be prizes awarded for achievements such as Most Creative, Most Beautiful, Most Tasty so feel free to push the boundaries of even the most classic recipes and come armed with your cookie of choice!

We'll have hot cocoa and milk, tea and coffee for everyone, so join us for a cozy couple of hours and eat your fill of cookies! Invite your friends and start baking, we’ll see you soon!

Questions? Send us a note! gallery@lightgreyartlab.com

Light Grey Art Camp International: Ireland Culture Tour Recap

A couple weeks ago, we were huddled behind a massive rock at the base of a waterfall. The unmarked path past Magic Road led up to the Mohan Waterfall, where we were surrounded by tall grass, colorful flora, and flocks of sheep. We sat in a mossy opening, reading tarot cards and talking about life. The mist rolled over the mountain and it felt perfect and serene. There were many moments like this -- of raw exploration, of camaraderie, and learning from the landscape and lore. 

We had the opportunity to travel through the southern coast of Ireland with some amazing creatives, Team Turlough and Team Rhyolite, for the Light Grey Art Camp International: Ireland Culture Tour. 

View fullsize

View fullsize

Throughout the program, we traveled around the Hook Peninsula and Copper Coast Geopark, exploring the shipwrecked beaches, picking wild blackberries, observing sea urchins, starfish and tide pools, searching for rocks and stripped quartz, and wandering through old abbeys, graveyards, and churches of the Knights Templar. 

We also visited the mediaeval cities of  Kilkenny, Waterford, and Cork, learning about viking history, trade and imports, and touring through old castles, museums and observation towers. At night, we gathered for family-style meals at the pubs for live music, storytelling and seafood chowder. 

You can see more photos on our flickr pages from TEAM TURLOUGH and TEAM RHYOLITE. You can also find more details about the Light Grey Travel programs here. 

Light Grey Iceland Residency 2018

The Light Grey Iceland Residency program takes place each summer in Iceland, as teams of creatives explore the diverse, lush, and ever-changing landscape by day and learn from one another in artist-led workshops each evening. Artists explore volcanic fields, basalt beaches, geothermal pools, smoking vents, waterfalls, and glacial lagoons. Wandering through the landscape with sketchbooks and cameras in hand, artist have a chance to draw, explore, and learn on site about the history, geology and folklore of the land. The intensive residency workshop program provides an opportunity to share their ideas on creativity, art and design theory, techniques and methods, and a wide variety of global creative themes. 

We are pleased to announce the artist-in-residence for the Light Grey Iceland Residency 2018. Artists come from a wide variety of backgrounds including photography, illustrations, children's books, concept art, animation, art direction, video games, motion graphics, entrepreneurs, and so much more. Artists hail from areas of the United States, Canada, Italy, Brazil, Mexico, England, the Netherlands, India, and beyond.

Click the links below to view profiles of each artist and team.

The Light Grey Iceland Residency Program: Team Andi:  Allison Smith, Daron Nefcy, Heekyoung Jung, Jose Maria Tristan V. Yuvienco, Juan Carlos Solon, Kashmira Sarode, Kasia Wasko, Katie Vernon, Lily Nishita, Lorena, Megan Nicole Dong, Mariela Valentinova Ganeva, Martin Gee, Shaikara David, and Stu Livingston

The Light Grey Iceland Residency Program: Team Ógilt:  Ashley Yeo Yakka, Chelsea Harper, Emerald May Barkley, Douglas Pryor, JayCrosby, Jenn Liv, Jon Tiburzi, Karen J Krajenbrink, Luke Heng, Rayanne Vieira do Nascimento, Shanna Cundal, and Vanessa Port. 

The Light Grey Iceland Residency Program: Team Vatn: Alanna Stapleton, Al Polston, Ashley Mackenzie, Austin Breed, Bina Santos, Danette Beatty, Devon Berquist, Genevieve Santos,  Gonçalo Marques Nobre, Jay John Purugganan, Kennedy Tarrell, Louie Zong, and Patrícia Mafra

The Light Grey Iceland Residency Program: Team Jörð: Alessandra Fusi, Alexandria Neonakis, Asya Aizenstein, Emily Walus, Ilaria Urbinati, Kate Sheridan, Marko Manev, Natalie Dombois, Nick Comparone, Sam Guay, Steven Sugar, Victoria Skellan, Vivianne du Bois, and Wendy Grieb.

The Light Grey Iceland Residency Program: Team Eldur:  Angela Bardakjian, Barry Eckhaus, Blake Kathryn Thomas, Brittany Inglese, Brynn Metheney, Daniella Rosu-Ortiz, Darius Cheong Chau Hong, Dave Murray, Grace Duong, Jenessa Warren, Madeline Faye Potter, Monica Davila, Nina Vakueva, and Rogelio Oswaldo Perez Romero.

The Light Grey Iceland Residency Program: Team Loft: Anoosha Syed, Brigitte La, Caitlin Ono, Cristina Vanko, Ellen Shershow, Delaney Januzzi, Irma Del Valle Nachon, Jessica Mao, Marcella Tamayo, Michael Fong, Miho Tomimasu, Sam White, and Sussana Selici

Artist Interview with Alex Dos Diaz

Meet Alex Dos Diaz. Between working on cover art for the tabletop game Champions of Hara, creating work for the New York Times, and working on his personal project The Ghost Alchemist, he’s plugging through RPG’s and flipping through his collection of art books. Dos Diaz was born and raised in Uruguay before moving to the US at 13, where he would eventually attend the University of the Arts in Pennsylvania, where he currently resides. Read more about Alex's work and interests below, and see his piece in our current show, SWARM! 

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Hi Alex! What's your workspace like? What do you prefer in your creative space? Do you have any collections that help you get inspired? 

Right now my workspace is just the essentials: My desk, iMac, Wacom Intuous and a few books I love to browse through from time to time. I love my space being neat and organized 99% of the time; I can never really concentrate otherwise. I also love to work at coffee shops, especially at the beginning of a project. For that stage in the process I use my iPad Pro and Procreate, which is awesome because I can always go back and forth between my iPad and my desktop. 

As far as collections go (besides my art prints), I love getting my hands on collective works from video game series’ I really enjoy as well as other art books. Seeing the awesome concept sketches of character designs and their all around development is just so cool. Though, I have to say I probably own more of James Jean’s stuff than any other artist.

You make such good use of the digital medium: the color use, rendering, and movement in each piece is absolutely gorgeous. Is working digitally something that came naturally to you, and did you work in other mediums before? 

Thank you, I did and still work in other mediums, mostly Verythin color pencil and mixed media. I used to just draw all the time, which evolved into practicing inking and water color washes. I discovered digital painting back in 2006 (my junior year in high school), when I borrowed a tablet from my art teacher and started to practice outside of school. After I got through my “digitally realistic rendering fever,” I went back to drawing traditionally, scanning the pieces and coloring them digitally, which I did mostly through college. Painting fully digitally is something I pushed myself into getting used to, and it only started in 2015-16. To answer your question, I guess it was and still is something I am working to get better at.

You mentioned that you’re influenced by video games, anime, art nouveau, and baroque art. How do you find a center point between these different influences, and how do you use them to create something truly your own? 

I grew up playing video games and watching anime so that was the thing that started it all. However, It wasn’t until I was in college that I discovered the organic fluidity of Art Nouveau, and the over-exaggeration, beautiful detail, and high contrast that is Baroque art. I don’t really believe anything is truly new or unique, but a remix of pre-existing subjects and styles. However, I believe it’s all about the percentages used in the creation of the work, which varies in every new piece. The trick is not to force a piece to go one way or another; if the subject matter lends itself to the style, then by all means I will incorporate it. As much as I love them all, the truth is there are many things about each of these influences that I don’t like, and that’s where my personal touches and preferences come into the mix.

Many of your pieces are focused on the figure. Are these figures purely an aesthetic subject, or do you try to imagine their backstories and worlds? 

I like to set up a lot of my illustrations much like a sculpture, with a central figure and other symbolic elements around it. I just love the way it looks, which may be due to my design sensibilities. When it comes to Baroque art's influence on me, it is mostly the sculptural and architectural part of the movement that made an impact on me moreso than the painting. In particular, I absolutely love Bernini’s sculptural work. I also love these figures and all the emotion and meaning they can bring to the work. In my more recent pieces, however, I have started to play with more narrative compositions. I guess we will see where that goes. 

Can you tell us about the piece you've created for Swarm? Was there anything new that you wanted to try with this piece, or anything you discovered while working on it? 

I knew from the start that I was going to be doing something more designed and decorative, similar to what I did for the Fortune show. I’ve been really looking forward to spending some more time exploring that style of work, which I honestly really enjoy. I wanted to create something that looked aged and overall more symbolic than narrative. You can definitely expect to see more of it in the future. 

What are your favorite creatures of the dark? If you could become one of them, which would you be?

I find most insects super creepy to be honest, but I would probably chose a moth. Besides the fact that they have really awesome wing patterns, I feel I can relate to a lot of their associated symbolic meanings.

What are some of your favorite films, music, other pieces of media? And who are some of your favorite artists right now?

Blade Runner 2049, Arrival, Baby Driver, and Your Name are some of the more recent movies I’ve seen and really enjoyed. I also pretty much love everything Evangelion, Full Metal Alchemist and Gurren Lagann. I can’t say I am a huge fan of a lot of new anime out there today. Music varies a lot for me; I genuinely love a lot of different music except for country music. However, The Devil Wears Prada, Northlane, Being as an Ocean, Kendrick Lamar and The Weeknd have been some of my go-to’s recently, all mood permitting. My favorite current artists are Tobias Kwan, Molly Egan, Ching Yeh, Alexandra Fastovets, and of course many more.

Do you have any other hobbies that you enjoy? Is there anything you've always wanted to get into but haven't yet (art-wise or just in life)?

I love playing volleyball, lifting weights and playing video games, mostly RPGs of some sort. I also love traveling which was kind of a new discovery after my trip to Japan with LGAL (go team Inoshishi!) I am really excited to travel more soon, that’s for sure.

What would be an absolute dream project for you? Where would you like to see your work applied? 

I would really love to see my personal project The Ghost Alchemist come to life at some point, perhaps even animated… that would be super awesome! Besides that, doing something for a new game like Breath of Fire, Final Fantasy or Castlevania would be incredible too. 

Can you talk about any of your upcoming projects? Anything you’re working on that you’re really excited about?

The Ghost Alchemist is my main priority when I am not doing work for anyone else. I am also working/planning on doing some traditional work, which I am excited about. That being said, it will all fall within The Ghost Alchemist’s realm. 

Anything else you’d like to add? Where can people find your work?

People can find my work on my website www.alexdosdiaz.com, but it is a curated portfolio. If you would like to see my process and all other work, you can follow me on Instagram: alexdosdiaz. Fair warning, though: you might run into the occasional picture of the most adorable dog in the world, Clementine. 

LGAL Iceland Residency - Team Plover

LIGHT GREY ART LAB ICELAND RESIDENCY Mini-recap (3 of 4)
TEAM PLOVER

This year we explored with four unique groups of exceptional creatives from all around the world. Team Plover included backgrounds in photography, animation, product design, freelance illustration, writing, costume design, and more. 

TEAM PLOVER explored the southern coast, visiting diverse landscapes of lava rock, towering bird cliffs, ashy glaciers, hidden waterfalls, geothermal pools and secret lagoons. It was a pleasure to travel with such a vibrant, loving, and enthusiastic group of creatives! Each day we learned about the folklore, history, and geology of the landscape, and at night, gathered around the table to listen to our experiences in the creative field and beyond. 

TEAM PLOVER: Adam Hoppus, Aidan Vitti, Alice Yang, Archana Vikram, Ellen Shershow, Elsa Chang, Jared D Weiss, Jon Lau, Judit Neubauer, Junyi Wu, Michael Manomivibul, and Sasha Jones. 

The topics we discussed included:

• costume design and feature films
• pursuing an authentic creative path
• creating with contrast in content
• personal projects and collaborative efforts
• creative opportunity - I.T. to illustration
• photography and art as social change - artistic voice
• feature animation and character design
• running and managing a creative business
• collaboration, studio partnerships, and accountability
• passion projects and unique characters
• overcoming obstacles and inclusivity

...and much more.

We'll be updating with the other teams as we edit photos! 

Thanks to TEAM PLOVER for exploring with us!

Artist Interview with Grace Kim

Meet Grace Kim, a South Korea-born, Canada-raised illustrator, comic artist, and animator currently working in the world of childrens' animation. "Growing up, I’ve always liked to draw, but when I moved to Canada, drawing intensified because I couldn’t speak any English.  Looking back on it, I think I used drawing as a way to cope with adjusting to a different culture." After attending Sheridan College in the Canadian city of Oakville, Grace lived and worked in Ottawa and Toronto before moving to Vancouver, where she is currently working as a Special Pose Artist at DHX Media. Read more about Grace Kim's work, interests, and her piece in the upcoming show, SWARM, below! 

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What does your workspace look like? What creates the perfect creative space for you and your practice? Do you have any collections or things that help you get inspired?

No matter where I work, I always seem to create clutter.  I cleaned up a bunch of stuff for the photo, but usually there is quite a bit of books and mugs and toys scattered about my desk space. 

I love to have the things that inspire me in close reach of me at all times, because I feel like they give me a creative boost.  Really clean, minimized spaces give me a bit of anxiety and the blank canvas syndrome (the one where you can’t think of what to do).

Usually I have a lot of books on my desk; art books, novels, encyclopedias... Just whatever holds my interest! I also love having a cup of coffee right by me all the time!

You seem to be experienced with a variety of media, what is your favorite to work with? And what is your usual process when approaching a piece? Does it change depending on the medium you’re working with?

My all-time favourite art tools are pen, ink and markers! I love them because the result is immediate and there is less colour mixing involved.

When working on a piece, I usually do a very rough thumbnail, then dive straight into the final product. I'm not very good at restarting or fixing a piece, so If I make mistakes, I usually call them happy mistakes and live with them. It’s part of the beauty of inking! Although if the mistakes are BAD, I will redo a piece, but differently than the one I had been working on before.

You mentioned that you’re an animator for childrens’ television shows, is this something you’ve always been interested in pursuing? Are there things you’ve learned by working in the industry that have influenced your personal work?

I think I’ve wanted to be an animator since grade 4.  Though the work is rather different than what I imagined it to be when I was a kid (no more 2D traditional animation! I didn’t even know what a cintiq [tablet] was), I love working in the animation industry.  I do wonder sometimes what it would be like to do on-paper animation as my job.

Every show I’ve worked on has definitely influenced my drawings to some degree or another. Especially working as a special pose artist, I’ve learned to be more economic and effective with my linework.  However, the themes in my personal work have always been mine, unaffected by the work created at my job. 

Your work always seems to tell a strong story, whether you’re making a comic, a sketch, or a complete illustration. How do you go about crafting these stories, worlds, and characters?

A few years back, I went through a very long art block.  I never knew what to draw, and my sketchbook was full of headshots.  So one day, I promised myself to do more drawings that told a story.  Even if it was just a sketch, I spent more time on the emotion I’m trying to convey.  Now it’s almost become a habit for me to try and draw “stories” instead of drawing mindlessly.  

These stories or ideas don’t always come to me immediately.  I’ll usually draw a character or a surrounding based on something I was inspired by, then I start to build the world based on those drawings.  If I draw a character I like, I want to build a world for it to live in.  If I draw a surrounding I like, I want to inhabit that world with creatures! 

Crop of Bright Night by Grace Kim; See the full piece in SWARM on October 27th!

Can you tell us about the piece you've created for Swarm? Was there anything new that you wanted to try with this piece, or anything you discovered while working on it?

The piece I did for Swarm is actually kind of interesting, because it is kind of an extension of a story I’m working on slowly.  It works as a single piece, but I would love to finish building the story around it.

What are your favorite creatures of the dark? Are there any that you think get an unfair rap?

I love, but am also terrified of insects.  I love watching them in HD documentaries, but when I see them in real life, I freeze like a rock! So I understand when people are scared of bugs, but at the same time I think they’re the amazing.

What inspires you? Favorite films, music, other pieces of media? And who are some of your favorite artists right now?

A lot of things inspire me... Movies, music, books… Since moving to Vancouver, nature has been a big inspiration. I love looking at different types of moss and foliage in the forests. There is something about small intricate vegetation in a vast forest that just draws me in.

I am a big fan of horror movies.  I love Darren Aronofsky and Guillermo Del Toro very much. Their films are amazing because they don’t just focus on horrific images... They explore the beauty within those disturbing moments.

In terms of music, it seems like there are two people living inside me… I love bands like Joy Division, but at the same time I’m a big fan of k-pop.  They’re polar opposites of each other!

Right now, I am really enjoying the art book for Nier:Automata.  So far it's my favourite game this year!

Do you have any other hobbies that you enjoy? Is there anything you've always wanted to get into but haven't yet (art-wise or just in life)?

During the colder seasons, I love knitting/ crocheting. I like making little dolls and giving them to my friends.  I also love playing video games; as an adult, it’s really hard to find the time to binge playing through a game, but I try to free up some weekends so I can just stay home and play all day.

What would be an absolute dream project for you? This can be personal or commercial!

I would love to make my own show or publish a collection of comics some day!  I think it would be really cool to have a brand where my personal works can be kept.  

Can you talk about any of your upcoming projects? Anything you’re working on that you’re really excited about?

I am planning on making some t-shirts this year.  I’ve never done it, and I’m not sure who’d want them, but I want to make them so I can at least wear them with my friends!

I’m also working on a collection of comics this year. One is a slice of life sort of comic featuring one of my characters Worryball, and the other is a comic about a cult!

Anything else you’d like to add? Where can people find your work?

This was fun to write! Thanks for the opportunity.  

If people want to see more of my work, it can be found at:

Twitter @JjacssoKim

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jjacsso/

Tumblr:  http://jjacsso.tumblr.com/

Swarm Opening Reception

Swarm + CALAMITY: Hexes, Plagues, and Prophecies + New Works by Zoe Keller
Friday, October 27th, 7 - 10 PM
Facebook Event

This October, Light Grey Art Lab will be showcasing three new exhibitions in a celebration of nature’s mysteries with the launch of Swarm, Calamity: Hexes, Plagues & Prophecies, and New Works by Zoe Keller, all of which open Friday, October 27th, from 7-10 PM.

Swarm
As Halloween approaches the days get colder, the night gets longer, and the trees transition from lush green to a fiery combination of yellow, orange and red, before shedding their leaves to reveal the barren skeleton underneath. These fallen leaves provide cover and nourishment to all sorts of crawling creatures, who skitter and writhe underneath the surface. Light Grey Art Lab’s newest exhibition, Swarm, aims a spotlight into the shadows, hoping to uncover the beautiful side of the creeping crawlies that lurk underfoot and in the shadows.

Swarm features over seventy artists from around the world, each of whom who have been tasked with portraying all manner of vermin in a new light. Every creature on earth serves a purpose and is incredible in its own unique way, and Swarm brings a sense of wonder, mystery, and beauty to a subject that normally sends shivers down the spine.

Each artist approached their specimen of choice with a curious sense of wonder. Several chose to explore the scientific marvel of their chosen subject, while others celebrated the beauty of the color, patterns, and form. Some used the symbolism inherent to the creature itself to explore the topic from a more spiritual perspective.

“As a soul chooses a vessel to experience life in the physical world, it acknowledges the Sisters of Fate tailoring the thread of life.” says participating artist Alex Dos Dios of his piece featuring the iconic death's-head hawkmoth. “Though time is what limits the physical existence, it does not hold true for the soul. As the physical lives and dies, the soul expands infinitely. It is able to move freely without fear of an end.”

While normally avoided at all costs, Swarm gives a fresh and unexpected look at the unusual creatures that can be found crawling in our attics, lurking in our sewers, or scouring the woods in the dead of the night.

CALAMITY: Hexes, Plagues, and Prophecies
Curated by Minneapolis illustrator Teagan White, CALAMITY: Hexes, Plagues, and Prophecies is a show about what happens when nature and misfortune collide. From environmental catastrophe, invasive species, and natural disasters to poison concoctions, cautionary folklore, and prophecies of the apocalypse, participating artists confront the ways that discord occurs in ecosystems great and small, whether inflicted upon them by a malevolent entity, or as an inextricable part of the natural cycles of life

CALAMITY is a group exhibition featuring the work of thirteen artists from around the world, all drawn to the topic of misfortune and the natural world.

New Work by Zoe Keller
Zoe Keller is a Portland, Oregon based illustrator who uses graphite and ink to create meticulously detailed odes to the natural world. An even mix of landscapes, field guides, and her own memories, Keller incorporates hints of narrative into her natural explorations.

New Works by Zoe Keller is a collection of drawings delving further into Keller’s obsessive exploration of the natural world.

Opening Reception
The opening reception for Swarm, Calamity: Hexes, Plagues & Prophecies, and New Works by Zoe Keller is Friday, October 27th from 7-10 PM and will remain on display through November 24th. The opening reception is free and open to the public, and features artwork, music, and refreshments.

Artist Interview with Lilian Crooks

Meet Lilian Crooks, East Coast resident and creator of bright, graphic works that are simultaneously effectively simple and deceptively complex. Read about her practice, her piece in our current show, PARALLEL, and her various inspirations below! 

Hi Lilian! Tell us a bit about yourself, where did you go to school? What kind of work do you do? What kind of projects have you worked on recently, or what projects are you currently working on? 

I graduated from Maryland Institute College of Art in May of 2016. I grew up in Massachusetts and currently reside in Philadelphia, PA. I'm a full-time graphic designer at a small college and also do freelance illustration. I've been working on "atmospheric comics" (for lack of a better term) in my spare time, and used the same approach for my Parallel piece. They're not part of a major project, per se, but they have been a really fun way for me to experiment with comics-adjacent work without having to commit to sequential art, which I'm not really fond of doing. I've also made pieces for a bunch of zines over the past few months, the most recent being Strut (a retro anime fashion zine) and Ideal (an LGBT art zine). Being out of school and working a 9 to 5 job means I actually have free time now. It's been both really exciting and a little overwhelming, and I've been happy to take the time to create lots of self-indulgent personal work.

What does your workspace look like? What creates the perfect creative space for you and your practice? Do you have any collections or things that help you get inspired?

It's just a small desk at the back of my living room, as unexciting as that is. My work is almost entirely digital, so I rarely need much more than my computer, tablet, and an enormous cup of coffee. I've been told the decor in my apartment "feels like" my artwork, so maybe it's all just one big mood board. I'm an inveterate collector of tchotchkes and thrift store gems, which includes two huge Chinese opera masks that keep an eye on me while I work. I try to keep the space as tidy as possible, as I feel like a messy desk can discourage me from sitting down and getting to work. I keep a bunch of favorite comics and art books within reach for when I need a little inspiration, but wouldn't recommend this as I usually just end up reading them instead of drawing...

What is your process when approaching a piece? Your work is so beautifully poppy and graphic, do you often think about color and shape first or line and form? 

Thank you so much! I definitely focus a lot more on shape and color than I do on line. I start with a mood board (usually on Pinterest) for more detail-specific pieces and fill it with reference pictures and inspiration. I draw a handful of thumbnail pencil sketches before moving on to one slightly more "finished" sketch. I scan that and start laying down blocks of color right away. I rarely create work with line art, so this color blocking step is often where a lot of the real "sketching" and planning happens. Once I have my basic layout of shapes I move on to adjusting colors. This can be a pretty finicky and time-consuming step. I feel that because my work is lineless the colors and values need to be juuuust so. My favorite part is probably the last step, which involves fleshing out details and laying down textures, gradients, and patterns. It brings everything together in a way I find really satisfying.

Do you have any favorite resources, materials, or research materials?  

Right now I'm obsessed with the Internet Archive Book Images gallery on Flickr. It's home to over 5 million scans of antique book illustrations/photographs, and I can easily spend hours trawling it for inspiration. It's a great source for beautiful, gross, and/or delightfully bizarre images that would probably be forgotten otherwise.

Retrofuturist Landscape by Lilian Crooks, created for PARALLEL

Can you tell us about the piece you've created for Parallel? What kind of world did you want to create? 

I was looking at mid-century futurist illustration and really loved the genuine optimism that comes across in many of the landscapes. They envisioned a kind of sleek, modular utopia that both embraced and juxtaposed the natural world around it, and I wanted to create my own vision of the future with this retrofuturist lens in mind. Our present earth feels increasingly marred by centuries of unchecked and unscrupulous corporatism, industry, and technology. It's interesting and bittersweet (and definitely Panglossian) to try to imagine a society that manages to harness technological innovation with the health of the people and the environment in mind. I imagine my parallel world as being a tranquil post-scarcity colony city on a small, distant planet.

Was there anything new that you wanted to try with this piece, or anything you discovered while working on it? 

My Parallel piece is the third "atmospheric comic" I've made, and the entire panel-layout approach is very new and exciting for me! Keeping the entire illustration in mind as I work on each individual vignette is a fun challenge, as is attempting to balance micro and macro to achieve the gestalt effect I'm aiming for. I also tend to prefer making figure-centric work and probably have a tendency to lean on that, so these have forced me to try to create visual interest through environment alone.

What inspires you? Favorite films, music, other pieces of media? Who are some of your favorite artists right now? 

Lately, I've been really interested in German Expressionist films. While my work is pretty bright and colorful, I'm enamored with the way they use light and dark, sharp angles, and stark shapes to evoke a mood. I saw The Night of the Hunter for the first time this year and certain scenes were so strikingly composed that they're more or less crystallized in my mind. My Own Private Idaho and The Ascent also come to mind as films I love and find really visually inspiring! At the moment I'm extremely into the illustration work of Matteo Berton, Vincent Mahé, and Jee-Ook Choi.

Various pieces by Lilian Crooks

Do you have any other hobbies that you enjoy? Is there anything you've always wanted to get into but haven't yet (art-wise or just in life)? 

I do a lot of reading, shamelessly love to watch super trashy reality TV, and I'm involved in work with a local political organization. Art-wise, I'd really like to figure out how to use 3D rendering programs, and have just started to clumsily acquaint myself with SketchUp. I'd also like to work on learning how to create motion graphics in the not-too-distant future. I really, really want to go to one of those gyms (I think you'd call them gyms?) where everything is trampolines and foam pits. 

What would be an absolute dream project for you? This can be personal or commercial! 

Oh, man... What a hard question! I think I'd love to design/illustrate an enormous mural or billboard and be able to see it in person. Or to create an album cover for Young Thug. Maybe illustrate an enormous billboard advertisement for a Young Thug album.

Can you talk about any of your upcoming projects? Anything you’re working on that you’re really excited about?

I hate to say it, but I don't have any major projects on the horizon! This is a really busy season for my design job, so I've been short of time and energy. Once that calms down I'd like to continue my series of "atmospheric comics" and make another A-Z drop cap alphabet poster.

Anything else you’d like to add? Where can people find your work?

Young Thug, if you're reading this, let me design your next album cover.

My work can be found on my website, Twitter, and Tumblr. Thanks so much for interviewing me! I'm incredibly excited to see everybody's work for this show, and it's an honor to be a part of it.

SWARM Artists Announced!

Thank you to everyone who applied to the upcoming SWARM Exhibition. We are thrilled to welcome 70 artist to the print and original exhibition coming this October!

Mark your calendars for October 27th from 7-10pm for the opening reception of SWARM, a solo collection by Zoe Keller, and the exhibition CALAMITY: Hexes, Plagues, and Prophecies curated by Teagan White. More details coming soon!

SWARM Artists:  Adam Pritchett, Adam S. Doyle, Al Polston, Alex Dos Diaz, Amanda Master, Andrew Kolb, Angela An, Angela Taguiang, Asya Mitskevich, Caitlin Ono, Charlotte Gomez, Chelsea Harper, Christina Rycz, Christine Griffin, Christopher Hegland, Claire Hummel, Claire Mojher DeLucca, Cleonique Hilsaca, Crystal Floyd, Douglas Holgate, Eduardo Vieira, Eva Vilhelmiina Eskelinen, Gica Tam, Grace Kim, Holly Avery, Jana Heidersdorf, Jasmin Dreyer, Jess Schnabel, Jeszika Le Vye, Jo Yeh, Jordan Constance Witt, Joseph Magaña, Karina Posborg, Karina Rehrbehn, Kate O’Hara, Katherine Walsh, Kelly Wagner, Kendall Quack, Kora C., Kring Demetrio, Kristin Siegel, Lara Paulussen, Liam Andrew Cura, Lillian Duermeier, Lindsay Nohl, Lynn Scurfield, Maddelyn, Maggie Ivy, Marie Toh, Marion Bordeyne, Matt Hayton, Monica Amneus, Angela Rizza, Olga Chicherova, Paige Carpenter, Peggy Shi, Renée Park, Sam Schechter, Sarah Morris, Shauna Lynn Panczyszyn, Sheena Klimoski, Shelby Hersleff, Syd Weiler, Tim Furey, Tom Weiner, Trisha Previte, Vanessa Port, Wenjia Tang, Wenz Hu, Xib Vaine