Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Thanks Melanie!
April/May 2011
King Family Exhibition Space, Boulder, Colorado
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
There will be an opening reception on Friday, January 28th from 6-9pm.
All events are free, open to the public, and handicap accessible.
For more information and gallery hours please visithttp://sites.csn.edu/artga
CSN Fine Arts Gallery on the Cheyenne Campus of the College of Southern Nevada
3200 East Cheyenne Avenue
North Las Vegas, NV
Monday, December 20, 2010
Geographical Divides: Finding Common Ground examines Nevada’s unique visual culture. In this exhibit, Nevada artists have organized a print exchange that would bring two separate groups together to share dialogue, ideas and purposes of Nevada culture in the hopes of understanding and fostering new levels of communication. Such as in any “peace-making” venture, the concept started with dialog that thought to juxtapose pop culture myths like “Area 51”, “The Biggest Little City in the World” and “Sin City” with the harsh reality that Nevada is a state comprised of two major metropolitan communities that is divided by 300 miles of vast desert and pockets of small rural towns. There are notable differences in the style and content of art throughout the state and Nevada’s art communities are not separated by distance of travel alone.
What better venue than to ask artists to start this level of communication through a project? Historically, printmakers are artists who enjoy the sense of community that a printshop creates, and share their images, ideas and techniques with all. They are also able to produce multiples, thus increasing their reach to individuals outside their immediate community in “exchanging” their work. This assembly of printmakers—eight from the north, eight from the south— have produced two prints from each collaboration. Each artist produced an initial plate that was sent to their collaborating partner for further surface and conceptual additions, and then returned for completion. The particular processes and techniques were of the artists own choosing. Through their conversations, they were left free to interpret the idea of “Geographical Divides” as they wished.
Traditionally, artists are isolated creatures, working in private in their studios and workspaces, thinking their own thoughts, contemplating their own images. No one else touches or alters that work. Thus, in this collaboration, the chosen artists are asked to step out of their comfort zone, allowing little known individuals to alter, change, and mar their work. Not an easy task. On the flip note, this idea of changing someone else’s work, creates new possibilities and new resolutions to images, moving their artwork and concept beyond their traditional limits. The collaborating artists receive dual benefit, flexing their own artistic minds, and reaching out to new members of the art community - starting a dialogue in the struggle to understand and create bridges where there had recently been chasms.
Collaborating artists include: Maria Arango, Las Vegas/Lynn Schmidt, Reno; Erik Beehn, Las Vegas/Nolan Preece, Reno; Bobbie Ann Howell, Las Vegas/Galen Brown, Carson City; Daryl DePry, Las Vegas/Sharon Tetly, Carson City; Keith Conley, Las Vegas/Sidne Teske, Tuscarora; Anne Hoff, Las Vegas/Vicki LoSasso, Reno; Jeanne Voltura, Las Vegas/Candace Nicol, Reno; and Juan D. Varela, Las Vegas/Ashlea Clark, Reno
Traditionally, artists are isolated creatures, working in private in their studios and workspaces, thinking their own thoughts, contemplating their own images. No one else touches or alters that work. Thus, in this collaboration, the chosen artists are asked to step out of their comfort zone, allowing little known individuals to alter, change, and mar their work. Not an easy task. On the flip note, this idea of changing someone else’s work, creates new possibilities and new resolutions to images, moving their artwork and concept beyond their traditional limits. The collaborating artists receive dual benefit, flexing their own artistic minds, and reaching out to new members of the art community - starting a dialogue in the struggle to understand and create bridges where there had recently been chasms.
Collaborating artists include: Maria Arango, Las Vegas/Lynn Schmidt, Reno; Erik Beehn, Las Vegas/Nolan Preece, Reno; Bobbie Ann Howell, Las Vegas/Galen Brown, Carson City; Daryl DePry, Las Vegas/Sharon Tetly, Carson City; Keith Conley, Las Vegas/Sidne Teske, Tuscarora; Anne Hoff, Las Vegas/Vicki LoSasso, Reno; Jeanne Voltura, Las Vegas/Candace Nicol, Reno; and Juan D. Varela, Las Vegas/Ashlea Clark, Reno
Geographical Divides: Finding Common Ground is curated by Anne Hoff, Professor of Art, College Southern Nevada and Candace Nicol, Director of Oxbow Press and Instructor at Truckee Meadows Community College. This exhibit is part of the Nevada Arts Council’s Nevada Touring Initiative–Traveling Exhibition Program, and is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Nevada State Legislature. The Nevada Arts Council is a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
"The Geographical Divides Project was an amazing journey. I was able to take myself out of my comfort zone and truely dive into new processes and work with new people. My partner, Juan, was a joy to work with. Even though we had some obsticles to deal with, such as distance, time, launguage barriers and a large age gap, we were still able to punch out some amaizng work and have an amazing time doing it!" - Ashlea Clark
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| Born to Be On Fire Jaun Varela and Ashlea Clark |
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| Bridging the Gap Ashlea Clark and Jaun Varela |
I think I saw it more as a separate process from one artist to the other even though it was collaborative. My partner and I certainly saw each other a few times and had brief conversations in person about our general ideas about the prints. Mostly it was a note here and there via email. I think because of the distance and time management on my part, I had to be intuitive and work quickly to come up with a final concept and image to complete the print I had been given. I think Candace and I worked on things in the same or similar way, and I am sure that is why we were teamed up. Or, because of my time restrictions I think Candace understood and worked in a way that helped me to finish the portfolio. - Jeanne Voltura
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| Pleasure Garden Candace Nicol and Jeanne Voltura |
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| Divided Values Jeanne Voltura and Candace Nicol |
The principle idea behind this project, was to bring two separate groups together, to share dialogue, ideas and purposes to start an understanding and level of communication that had never existed before. Such as in any “peace-making” venture, the road to understanding starts with communication. What better venue than to ask artists to start this level of communication than a project? Historically, printmakers are artists who enjoy the sense of community that a printshop creates, and share their images, ideas and techniques with all. They are also able to produce multiples, thus increasing their reach to individuals outside their immediate community in “exchanging” their work.
Traditionally, artists are isolated creatures, working in private in their studios/workspaces, thinking their own thoughts, contemplating their own images. No one touches or alters that work, but themselves. Thus, in this collaboration, the chosen artists were asked to step out of their comfort zone, allowing little known individuals to alter, change, and mar their work. Not an easy task. On the flip note, this idea of changing some-one else’s work, created new possibilities and new resolutions to images, moving their artwork and concept beyond their traditional limits. The collaborating artists received dual benefit, flexing their own artistic minds, and reaching out to new members of the art community. Starting a dialogue, starting to understand and create bridges where there had recently been chasms.
This has not been a difficult journey, but an enriching and exciting trip. Which I hope for all will not be their last. - Anne M. Hoff
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| Along a Thin Line Anne Hoff and Vicki LoSasso |
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| Synergistic Divisions Vicki LoSasso and Anne Hoff |
"Erik Beehn and I had very few difficulties in resolving any differences we had simply because we are easy-to-get-along-with artists and we were willing to flex our schedules, ideas and techniques. We first laid out a time line and we stuck to it. Both of us had to compromise but we realized this was the best way to finish the job." - Nolan Preece
Well... The most difficult part for myself, which is also the best part in many ways, was the battle for a physical interaction with such a distance between paired artists. That also seemed to me to be the most successful element of the project for myself; Taking me out of my comfort zone, and introducing me to another artist, as well as a part of Nevada I was unfamiliar with. - Erik Beehn
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| Here, There and Between Erik Beehn and Nolan Preece |
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| The Milkman Nolan Preece and Erik Beehn |
I tend to be very flexible when “thinking” a woodcut print and do most of my designing with the cutting chisels. As a consequence, the thought of planning almost froze me and the thought of planning with a partner was fairly unnerving. But, adventurous as I claim to be, I just dove in and realized that my ability to “go with the image” as it develops for my own works was the perfect “training” for this sort of collaboration.
On my own print, I decided on a puzzle approach, thus liberating both myself and my partner from an excess of pre-planning. I actually completely liberated Lynn from any constraints and just gave her four little empty pieces of wood to do as she wished, staying within our chosen theme, of course. But as collaborations go, I couldn’t help but exclaiming: “Oh wow, I didn’t expect that!” when receiving my own little pieces back and when I first got Lynn’s block.
Back to my aforementioned “training” as a professional take-it-as-it-comes printmaker and I was able to adapt to a style and imagery completely foreign to my own. Taking a step in someone else’s world was nothing short of awesome. I worked in a much different way than I’m accustomed to work and yet I learned of myself that I’m adaptable to think in another artistic language without losing my way.
I’m a complete loner, when it comes to art and pretty much otherwise; working with my “partner in printmaking” (Lynn’s words) taught me that working with a partner is really a priceless enlightening artistic adventure. - Maria Arango
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| Urban Rural Interface Lynn Schmidt and Maria Arango |
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| Terra Tribuo Terra Partis (Divided Earth, Shared Earth) Maria Arango and Lynn Schmidt |
I don't know if "a very difficult journey" is altogether accurate for me. Time, and distance were of course hurdles I imagine we all encountered, there was a fair amount of cussing associated with process and getting what I wanted from methods used.
As with any collaboration finding what will work with your partner, what processes, and the discussion of image concepts that have to be designed while learning about the other artist was challenging but not difficult, rather enjoyable actually. In this instance the collaboration was with someone I did not know so it was kind of a "blind collaboration" to be begin with. Galen is an exceptional artist and we luckily have some commonality in our working methods and a certain affinity for Nevada and some parallels in our growing up experiences his in the north mine in the south.
The deadline was a constant factor to get the work and complete edition done, to do work that your partner and project artists hopefully would like to have, to be able to present a work of quality and thoughtfulness were concerns of mine. There were various process problems that came with getting back into working in printmaking methods and relearning some techniques, having time to produce the outcome wanted, and in the end choosing a rather labor intensive method, but that happens often in my creative process and artwork production, always searching for what will work best for the concept. I was fortunate to be able to work with Galen several times over a period of days during the course of the project, that time I think proved to be invaluable, and I still hope my partner is pleased with what we created together. Other partners included Anne, Candace, Erik and Jeannie who were were on hand to provide discussion and assistance when the the battle with time, space, technique and the desire to create art was raging. Thanks to all. - Bobbie Ann Howell
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| Tracks Galen Brown and Bobbie Ann Howell |
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| Nevada Bobbie Ann Howell and Galen Brown |
Monday, November 15, 2010
Bobbie emailed these to me. They are some great photos showing our processes and collaborations.
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| Yep, a little too much Starbucks Coffee which is right around the corner from where Anne teaches. In Jan. 2010, some of us all met in Vegas to start the collaboration. We also printed up half the colophons then, too. Pictured: Candace Nicol and Anne Hoff |
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| Kate is showing us different ideas for the portfolio boxes she is making by hand. Pictured: Kate, Juan, Anne and Candace |
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| Summer 2010 - UP north at Oxbow Press, another gathering of artists working on the prints. Pictured: Anne, Sidne, and Candace |
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| Sidne Teske working out the technicalities of screenprinting. |
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| Anne Hoff drawing an image that will eventually be the screenprinted component to "Synergistic Divisions". |
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| Final layers of "Tracks" by Galen Brown and Bobbie Ann Howell |
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| "Nevada" by Bobbie Ann Howell and Galen Brown |
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| Erik Beehn working on his plate for "Here, There and Between". |
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| Digital component SALLY to Erik Beehn & Nolan Preece's print: "Here, There and Between". |
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| Blend ink on a big roller - for the relief component of "Tracks" by Galen Brown and Bobbie Ann Howell |
Monday, July 26, 2010
Pleasure Garden
Candace Nicol and Jeanne Voltura
4-color etching/gold relief with glitter embossment
Rives BFK white
10”W x 20”H
When I received Jeanne’s linoleum plate of the two women, I was inspired by what we have been discussing all along – the dichotomy of surface pleasures perpetuated in the gaming industry and the rawness of actual life in Nevada; the schema of rugged rurality, conservatism, and religious beliefs. When I started to really think about the image, what kept popping into my mind were the gaudy carpets that Casinos place in their establishments. I thought, “I’m going to place a sampling of one of these carpets in this piece.” I started researching the different carpets and in the end chose the carpet from Atlantis: 1- It’s my favorite casino to go and eat at; and 2- It has a jungle theme, so immediately I was thinking how opposed that is to the Nevada landscape and how it eludes to the original sin which is inspired by the two figures that Jeanne carved out.
When Jeanne saw the finished piece, she wrote to me:
“I like to try to come up with titles ...you have me thinking about the garden idea in the statement you made when you were talking about your ideas...could call it Glitter Garden...also ties to rural life...could call it Golden Garden...or Gold Sparkle Garden...Golden Idle (Idol...Idle means to not move, so its about going nowhere...).... Idle Glitter...Glitter Idol...Glitter Gone Wild...Republic of Glitter...Glitter State.... Glitter Valley...All that Glitters is not Gold...I could keep thinking of things...but here is my thinking...I like the word glitter...but really like your ideas...they need to be woven together in the title somehow...to drive the meaning home...I was also trying to use the notion of conservatism somehow in the title but its too heavy...really like thinking about the pleasure idea...how hotels/gaming create this excessive, non-existent utopia within their establishments...how much that is opposed to the realities of living life in this state...or how life in general is very different...the stripper is a male symbol for selfish pleasure...but the realities of actually being a stripper are quite different...or they can be...I am sure that women who are in the adult entertainment industry get a little more than burnt out working within that realm of providing pleasure for their livelihood...Pleasure Garden would be good too...Pick the Right One could say a bunch about choosing a lifestyle and also the excesses of casinos...like which girl should I choose to marry...when I was making the image the old cliché of thinking of the Madonna whore thing kept coming up in my mind...how men look for a woman that is virtuous but really deep down want her to be extremely sexual in the negative version of that word...also was thinking about the south and north being considered differently. I think that in my mind, I view Reno/Tahoe/Carson City as being represented by the good woman, and Las Vegas being represented by the stripper.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
I had to go see what I had already posted. My topo/puzzle idea came to life when I received Lynn's puzzle pieces. We had talked about keeping the individual images simple and I was pleased with her choice of imagery. Lynn will be pleased to know that the rat transplant went without a hitch (perhaps she can further explain that one!).
Just to refresh, we had gone with the theme urban/rural and how somehow we work things out with natural things when we live on the edge of a city (as Lynn does) or smack in the middle but with an acre of desert "elbow-room" as I do. On a bigger scale, of course, every city in Nevada deals with the issue of sprawling into the habitat of the few and hardy creatures with whom we share our beloved desert.
In any case, with Lynn's images in place, I started sketching in PhotoShop again. I wanted to keep the topo colors and somehow bring out the positive concept of sharing among urban/rural, rather than some of the more negative connotations that come to mind. I decided to add some urban elements since Lynn's critters pretty much took care of the rural part, and after some mulling and browsing, settled on semaphores (traffic lights for US folk :-). The "traffic lights" I picked had a hint of primitive symbols and, rendered in the topo colors, blend in quite nicely without losing meaning. Caution and courtesy, please, when urban and rural meet...
In any case, with Lynn's images in place, I started sketching in PhotoShop again. I wanted to keep the topo colors and somehow bring out the positive concept of sharing among urban/rural, rather than some of the more negative connotations that come to mind. I decided to add some urban elements since Lynn's critters pretty much took care of the rural part, and after some mulling and browsing, settled on semaphores (traffic lights for US folk :-). The "traffic lights" I picked had a hint of primitive symbols and, rendered in the topo colors, blend in quite nicely without losing meaning. Caution and courtesy, please, when urban and rural meet...
The computer is really a luxury when it comes to "sketching" and I don't use it often enough to develop my imagery. When I do, I find it most exciting to change imagery, save stages, tweak elements of design here and there, change color schemes...luxury!
I even changed the "paper" several times to see what the image would look like printed on various choices. Here is the almost-to-be-final image. I need to let it gel for a couple of days and then it should only be about another week or two for carving and printing. My Valley of Fire show concludes next week and I should be able to dedicate myself to this project fully and finish printing by the second week of July.
The sketch, reversed as it will be in print, a little messy in PhotoShop but will clean up and simplify nicely when printed because the woodcut process tends to do that. I think the colors will work well to represent both the topo features and the red/yellow/green of the traffic symbols. The "city grids" will probably also be finer and cleaner in line when cut on wood.
Comments welcomed!
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