Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Terrence Payne - Painter



Terrence Payne has lived and worked in the Minneapolis area for the past fifteen years, building a body of unique and thought provoking work while exhibiting at galleries and universities throughout the united states. His work can be found in private, corporate and collegiate collections throughout the world. Terrence founded Rosalux gallery eight years ago to give local emerging and mid career artists an opportunity to exhibit their work in an environment that would bring them higher visibility while nurturing their artistic callings without the limitations imposed by many commercial galleries. Serving as gallery director since its inception , he has helped over sixty local artists further their art careers through their involvement with Rosalux.

Terrence Payne

tjpayne@comcast.net


You are currently exhibiting as part of the Minnesota Artist Exhibition Program (MAEP) at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. This seems like quite and honor and opportunity. Tell me about the work you are showing there.

I'm showing a group of eight large oil pastel drawings. My drawings are typically portraits of different archetypes defined by the figure in the piece, their costume, action, secondary objects around the figure and a sort of wallpaper pattern behind them which sets the undertone for the entire work. For this show I am using the same pattern in each individual drawing to give an underlying unity to the entire show. I'm hoping that it will read as to how different sorts of personalities react to a similar situation and how what each one brings to a scenario can affect its outcome.



You have a special place in the Minneapolis arts community in that not only are you an artist, but you are also the founder of the Rosalux Gallery, which is one of the relatively few galleries in the twin cities accessible to emerging artists to show their work. Whose work have you shown that you are proud to say you have been able to provide an opportunity for exposure?

I would have to say that I am proud to have been a part of giving any and all of our artists past and present an opportunity for exposure. When I started the gallery I had this idea of creating a space where the artists have an active roll not only in the creation of their work but also in the promotion and exhibition of it as well. By asking that they take on the financial risks of exhibiting their work that also gave them the freedom to do what they wanted to do how they wanted to do it. Specifically for emerging artists I think that this is an extremely valuable experience because they are learning how to write a press release, edit the work in a show, garner and maintain a database of individuals who are interested in their work, put together a portfolio of their work to send out to new markets and begin to build a network of peers to share information with with regards to furthering their careers.

In the time since we opened our first location we have worked with over sixty local artists as members in the group, as well as the many others who have participated in the annual open door exhibition, and through these connection I hope that we have managed to make a positive impact on the local arts scene. The main motivation for Rosalux has always been to act as a tool with which to strengthen the Minneapolis arts community with the belief that by strengthening our artists at how it will create a better impression for all abroad.




Many artists find art to be a solitary experience, where creating community can be difficult. I wonder if you might have a different experience. I referring specifically to the Pilot Arts Group. The Pilot Arts webpage says it was created to provide updates of the “collective and individual endeavors of Pilot Artists.” Can you tell me how this group came together? What advantages have you found by working as part of a collective? Do you have any advice for others who might want to go down this same path?

Pilot is something that grew out of an idea that John Alspach and I had for Rosalux several years ago as a different way of promoting our art in hopes of finding a larger audience for the work of local artists. The basic idea of it being that we would work with a smaller group of artists and buy advertising in national design magazines to promote a website for the group and do one or two shows at alternative spaces each year.

The Rosalux group wasn't ready to give it a go so we decided to work with some other artists who were further along in their careers and would be more comfortable trying some new things. The first show we had was in a vacant storefront in uptown that coincided with our first ads in Dwell magazine and it went pretty well. As time went on and newer less traditional media started to spring up which made more sense for artists to put their efforts into pursuing rather than print ads the group changed its focus to being an annual exhibition collective which seeks out one show a year outside of minnesota.

Our next show is this coming october at the Greyduck gallery in Austin, Texas. Overall I think that pilot has been a great thing for us, its seems to have evolved into more of a guild than a collective in that it is a place for a group of peers to share ideas and experiences and try new things.

What was the best advice given to you as an artist?

I can't remember any specific words of wisdom that I ever received from anyone in particular, but I would like to give a shout out to M.C. Anderson of the former M.C. Gallery which used to be downtown back in the day. It was my first experience showing in a gallery and M.C. tolerated me hanging around and asking annoying questions about the art world which was really where I learned great deal about how things work in the world of art and commerce.




Which Minnesota artists do you enjoy?

eeerghh! I am terrible at remembering the names of artists but I have no problem remembering the images I see. First off, there are none better than Jen Davis, Joe Sinness, and Erica Olson Gross who are my exhibition partners this fall inthe MAEP Galleries at the MIA. I have seen a lot of awesome local art this year but these are a few that have really stuck with me: I have really enjoyed following the design work of Land Land this year, the drawings of Nick Howard, the photos of Areca Roe, and the sculpture of Amelia Biewald. These are some of the artists who have made definite impact on what I am doing right now in one way or another.

If I were to follow you around on an “art day” in Minnesota, which places would we go? What would we see?

We would probably start our day at the MIA looking around and wandering aimlessly waiting for something to spark something for us( I usually go there and do that when I am stuck on an idea or looking for inspiration). then we might stop for lunch at Victors and head over to Andy Ducetts garage and see what kind of weirdness is going on there. next stop is the shiny robot studios in NE to see whats being made up there and probably we would end up at Jim Wrayge's studio in the Northrup King getting drunk and embellishing stories about stupid things we used to do.




What was the last local exhibit you saw and what were your impressions?

I just went to the opening for Tara Costello's new show at Rosalux this past weekend as well as the new shows at SooVac the weekend before which features work by Liz Miller, Justin Stewart, Pam Valfer and Allen Brewer. They were all top notch and the biggest impression I am usually left with after visiting most shows in the twin cities is how lucky we are to be living in a community that turns out and supports its artists as well as the quality of work happening in town on any given day.


Where do you go online for good art resources, whether to find a new artist, or to see what is going on in the art world locally and otherwise?

I like to check out Fecal Face, Tiny Showcase, Artist a Day, and then whatever links I find on Facebook or that get sent to me by other artists.



How do you incorporate your blog, Facebook, and other social media/internet resources into your life as an artist?

I pretty much use my blog as a diary for my own purposes considering the amount of traffic it gets. Its a good place to put up new work and sketches I am working on to see how they fit in with a larger group of work. Facebook is great for sending out invites to shows and spy on what others are doing and I use my website as an online point of reference for others to get a sense of who I am as an artist.

Do you have any exhibits or any interesting things going on in your life or coming up in the near future?

I do, I will be showing in the MAEP galleries at the art institute (MIA) this month with Jen Davis, Joe Siness, and Erica Olson Gross in a show called Flourish which opens October 21st as well as another group show this month in Austin,Ttexas at the Grayduck Gallery with the Pilot Arts Group and that one opens on the fourteenth. Then its back to Rosalux which will be hosting our annual juried competition Open Door this November and I'll be spending the winter preparing new work for a show there this coming April.







Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Beth Loraine Bowman - Painter



Bio~

Beth Loraine Bowman is an American painter born in Detroit, Michigan. She attended Minneapolis College of Art and Design at age 16, later transferring to the College of Visual Arts. She lived in the south of France, studying painting and art history through a program sponsored by Bard College in New York. In 1999, she was awarded a BFA with an emphasis in drawing. She continued to graduate school where she earned her Masters in Art Education degree in 2006. Recently, she earned a graduate certificate in Housing Studies from the College of Design at the University of Minnesota.

She has shown her work throughout the United States and Europe, including three solo shows. Her mixed media images, informed by French Post-war Modernist painting (Tachisme/L'Art Informel), have explored the subjects of memory, place, color experience, shelter/architecture, maternity and forgiveness.

She served on the Metro Council’s Artist Selection Committee for the new Light Rail Transit project for the City of Saint Paul. She participated in the mentorship program with the Women’s Art Registry of Minnesota (WARM), served on the Minnesota State Arts Board’s Artist Initiative Grant Advisory Panel, was on the Board of Three Minute Egg Media in Minneapolis and was the Board President of the College of Visual Arts Alumni Association and currently serves on the University of Minnesota, College of Design’s Alumni Board of Directors.

Her work has been on display at various locations and belongs to many personal collections in the United States and Europe. She lives and works in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

She is the monthly arts correspondent on the Matt McNeil Show on AM950 in Minneapolis.



You have had quite an extensive formal education, from MCAD at age 16, to studying in New York and in France. What were some of the valuable things you took away from your formal education?

I knew I would have a life long commitment to creative pursuits and art-making, so I wanted to acquire a strong foundation. I studied formally in a variety of institutions (private & public art schools) as well as a variety of locations (America & Europe). I wanted to learn everything I could, and have that academic foundation inform my own perspective.

I chose my major/emphasis in drawing because I have always felt that it is the most essential part of making art, of seeing, of solving. My formal education has helped me build a community, a network of support for myself as an artist. I also learned valuable professional skills on how to support my work on various levels (financially, etc.) which has proven to be very useful.


I assume that since you began studying at MCAD at age 16, that your artistic skills developed early. Tell me of your early development.

I attended MCAD at age 16 through the PSEO program. I had a variety of interests as a child but always loved drawing and excelled in art classes. Although I was quite mature and focused, I was not ready for private art school critiques and was discouraged. I almost gave up and was very close to changing my major to architecture. I am so glad I did not because I would've hated to make those tiny little models with glue.


Your bio says that your mixed media images are informed by French Post-war Modernist painting. Can you tell me more what you mean?

I really identify with painting approaches after World War II - especially those in Europe. I love this era of painting because it included a light, intuitive, meditative approach to the work - a lot of mark-making, drawing sensibilities and a sense of adventure.


Having achieved multiple solo shows and have had your work collected in the United States and Europe, what advice would you give other artists who want to follow your path of success? What steps have you taken that have been most successful?

I would say that if you love art making and visual creative problem solving, consider finding the right private art and design school (that specializes in art). The right school will challenge, support and engage you and give you a strong foundation. It is very important to think about your long term commitment to the practice. Art school is expensive and the statistics are depressing - I would say only about 5% of my classmates still practice studio art. It's not easy. If you are dedicated it can be very fulfilling. I am very thankful for my experiences and am very happy that I am able to continue my studio practice.

What are you currently working on? How is this different from past projects?

I am working on a new series of work for a proposal for a J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship in Eastern Europe for 2011. This body of work will differ from previous series in that it will address the notion of the “melting pot” and eastern European culture.

Why did you become an artist?

Probably to rebel. Due to my stubbornness I just keep on going.



What was the best advice given to you as an artist?

“Don’t become a waitress.”

Tell me about your working space and your creative process?

I just received a grant to have my entire second floor renovated. It’s now a light, bright glorious working space. Previous to that I worked in warehouse studio spaces around town.

I typically work in stages: a “gathering stage” where I collect information, images, music, interviews. A “creation stage” where I map out where, how and what size I will place the images. And finally a studio “working stage” where I schedule open time to paint and explore all the research I did to inform the work.


Which Minnesota artists do you enjoy?
Shannyn Joy Potter
Caitlin Karolczak
John Alspach
Gus Gustafson
Neal Perbix

If I were to follow you around on an “art day” in Minnesota, which places would we go? What would we see?

Well this weekend (10/2/2010): “Of Scars” photo exhibit in the warehouse district, Rogue Buddha gallery opening.

Where do you go online for good art resources, whether to find a new artist, or to see what is going on in the art world locally and otherwise?

Twitter. More artists need to be on twitter: talking, sharing ideas and work. Increase the savvy and connectivity. Artists are not exempt.

Do you have any exhibits or any interesting things going on in your life or coming up in the near future?

Yes – Three woman show with
Shannyn Joy Potter (www.shannynjoypotter.com),
Caitlin Karolczak (www.studiosilenti.com) +
Beth Loraine Bowman (www.bethbowman.com)
at the Design Within Reach Minneapolis studio. (Event Invite FB) (Event Invite / Twitter)

23 October 2010 / 6-8pm
After-party @ Barbette on Lake St in Uptown, Mpls


Saturday, October 16, 2010

Matthew Albers - Painter - Altered Esthetics Featured Interview



“My Left Hand Holds Paris” 5’x4’ oil on canvas
Matthew Albars
Altered Esthetics Featured Interview

Name: Matthew J Albers
City/State: Elk River, MN
Email: mjalbers69@gmail.com
MNartist.org profile: www.mnartists.org/Matthew_Albers

Bio~

My name is Matthew James Albers and I’m a “self-taught” emerging artist currently residing in Elk River, Minnesota. My artwork from an early age was inspired through artists that defined Expressionism, Surrealism, Abstract, and Abstract Expressionism. The works of Salvador Dali, Picasso, Van Gogh, and Jackson Pollock would further influence the way I would express, understand, and appreciate the work of others and my own art. I have always been fascinated by getting a glimpse of what’s inside someone’s head, a view through their “eyes”, something which would not be possible to see unless otherwise created.

Tell me about your work? What are you currently working on? How is this different from past projects?


My art tends to reflect a balance of color, flow, and imagery as it pertains to the subject matter. When the subject becomes less concrete and more “mental” in nature, the painting will take on more subconscious abstraction; a balance between the “physical” and the “non-physical”. It is on this level that the essence, the core of my work begins to take shape. I paint what I feel, what I “see”, and what I want to express. If I can challenge the viewer's interpretation, allowing them the chance to internalize and appreciate each piece on a personal level, then the piece has succeeded.

The subject matter of my work tends to be very personal, based on both previous and present experiences. As such, my art is very “dynamic” in the use of color and expression. I have found it difficult to paint a series or body of work based on a single concept, as I have always maintained the freedom to change my mind and pursue another direction even if it is mid-way through a painting.

Recently, I have been working on a larger scale. One of my first large works, (“Fortuitous” 4’ x 8’4” acrylic on canvas, June 2010) was painted on a piece of unstretched canvas that I had taped to the floor. I approached and painted the canvas from all four sides which gave me a much different perspective than painting from the easel. Fortuitous was one of the first pieces of work that I had approached without a preconceived theme in mind. I believe it reinforced the notion of “no restrictions”, painting what I felt without regard, like that of a child.







“Fortuitous” 4’x8’4” acrylic on canvas



"What is Art?" is certainly too big of a question to ask here, but what do you hope your audience takes away from your art? What statement do you hope to make?


My hope is to elicit an emotion and/or response from the viewer, allowing them a chance to mentally digest what they are seeing. While my work is very personal in nature, I enjoy sharing it with others and hearing their interpretation of what it means to them. I don’t think I’m setting out to make a statement, but rather, I’m hoping to engage the viewer in creative thought.







“Three Mothers, Two Fathers, and The Demon” 48”x36” acrylic on canvas

What was the best advice given to you as an artist?


My high school art teacher, Ron Chagnon, told me “never give up on your art”. He allowed me the freedom to explore my artistic style and helped me better understand some of the influences and direction my work was taking on. As happenstance would have it, I ran into Ron last year during an Elk River Arts Alliance group show at the Sherburne County government center; I hadn’t seen him in over 20 years. I was humbled to show my work with my mentor, and thankfully, made him very proud that indeed I had not given up on my art.

Tell me about your work space and your creative process.


We have a family room in our basement downstairs that has no carpet. Although the lighting is less than ideal, there is plenty of space to stretch out a big canvas. Add to the mix a nice glass of Syrah or Pinot Noir (I have a strong passion for wine), the radio tuned into Minnesota Public Radio with a little Mozart playing in the background…the perfect setting in my opinion!

Who are some of the Minnesota artists you enjoy?
I really enjoy the color and clean composition of Patt Dalbey’s work (http://www.pattdalbeystudio.com/). There is a raw beauty and strong sense of emotion in Joe Aschebrock’s (http://www.myspace.com/mydishragbody) work that I have been recently enjoying. If my old art teacher Ron Chagnon had a site, I would love to share it with you. He prefers to remain low key, but his work over the years has been amazing!







“Wine Comforts The Cold Moon Fools” 36”x24” acrylic on canvas



If I were to follow you around to see art in Minnesota, which places would we go? What would we see?


If the sun was shining, I would take you on one of my favorite walks. We would across the Washington Avenue Bridge, perhaps spotting the U of M rowing team below gliding across the Mississippi River. Off in the distance, a breathtaking view of a most beautiful, shimmering work of art itself; the Weisman art museum. If time permitted, we could check out the current exhibition at the MIA or take in the Walker Art Center. Of course, I would round out the tour in the NE Minneapolis arts district. I am amazed at the talent that makes up the Minneapolis art scene. I am very thankful that galleries like Altered Esthetics are around to encourage and support the work of local artists; well done!

Where do you go online for good art resources, whether to find a new artist, or to see what is going on in the art world locally and otherwise?


This is the primary reason why I am on Facebook. To be able to appreciate and share artwork with artists from around the world is exciting and special. There are a few artists that I always look forward to seeing when they post and share their most recent work. There are also some great art groups that cover just about every style and movement of art. If you want to find me on Facebook, you need only search for my three favorite artists; Pablo Van Pollock.

Do you have any exhibits to promote in the near future?


I am participating in a group exhibit “Art?” at Altered Esthetics in May. This one is sure to be thought provoking and engaging. I have a couple shows in the works for this summer and early fall, but nothing definitive yet.







“Five Prophets in February” 48”x48” oil on canvas



Thursday, October 14, 2010

Tony Stafki - Muralist


Tony Stafki
email: tonystafki@yahoo.com
www.WallArtByTony.com
Facebook page

Bio: I painted canvas pieces since I was eleven years old but never imagined I'd end up painting for a living. I worked as a regular wall painter and then discovered the amazing possibilities of murals. I started my own mural painting company and love creating walls of art!


Tell me about your work? What are you currently working on? How is this different from past projects?
I am a full time mural artist servicing the Twin Cities. I get paid for doing what I love: bringing art into people's homes and businesses on a large scale. The last project I did was painting clouds on a wall in a meeting room at the Saint Paul Airport. Basically every project I do is unique. One day I'll be painting cartoon characters in a kid's room the next day I'll be painting a ceiling in a living room to look like a cathedral dome.

What was the best advice given to you as an artist?
I'd have to say the best painting advice I received was from Bob Ross on his TV shows. He had great tips such as don't overkill your background color and sometimes you have to just go for it and be daring.


Tell me about your working space and your creative process?
My working space changes each project depending on where I'm painting the mural. I really enjoy the opportunity to paint with homeowners and children watching me. Once I painted a 50 foot long exterior mural in Osseo, MN and I had people coming up and watching and talking to me all day. My creative process begins with me discussing the project with the client. I then do some basic sketches to finalize the details. Then I paint, paint, paint until the wall or ceiling is done. It is an interesting process in that I have to paint more "on demand" instead of just when I'm "in the mood" to paint.


Which Minnesota artists do you enjoy?
I'm a mural artist so I really enjoy some of the other Minnesota muralists such as Greg Preslicka and Tracie Thompson.


If I were to follow you around on an “art day” in Minnesota, which places would we go? What would we see?
We'd take a stroll down Lyndale Avenue in Minneapolis and look at the many different murals on that street. Also, we'd go to the Northrup King Building in which one of my murals will be featured in a studio this upcoming show (May 2011).


Where do you go online for good art resources, whether to find a new artist, or to see what is going on in the art world locally and otherwise?
I like MNartists.com as well as FindaMuralist.com which lists muralists by state and has a live feed which is constantly being updated with recent murals from muralists across the nation.

Do you have any exhibits or any interesting things going on in your life or coming up in the near future?
I've been invited to feature one of my murals in the NE Minneapolis art crawl (Art-A-Whirl, May 20111) which will be exciting. In the near future I foresee painting many murals across the state.

If you were to receive a $2,000 art grant to do anything you want, what would you do?
I would use it to buy a booth at the Minneapolis Home and Garden show thus giving people the opportunity to see what the power of hand-painted art can do for their homes.

Tim Fort - Kinetic Artist



Bio: Tim Fort
I was born in Saint Paul and lived in the local area all my life. I took up space in college and received my Bachelor's in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Minnesota. I then bounced around for a few years before deciding to become a professional artist in my late 30s. Since then, I've been a struggling artist who's slowly achieving fame as the Kinetic King.
~~~

Tell me about your work? What are you currently working on? How is this different from past projects?
My kinetic gadgets go way beyond domino tumbling and Rube Goldberg to encompass techniques never seen before. Recently, I set two Guinness World Records for "Largest Stick Bomb" and had an exhibition in the Corcoran Gallery in Washington DC. Right now, I'm busy trying to get my art before a wider public.


What is Kinetic Art?
To the uninitiated, my kinetic gadgets are gnarly chain-reaction devices that collapse and explode in, like, really cool ways; to the discerning aesthete, they're mechanically-iterative, entropy-generating entities designed to confront the observer's pre-conceived notions about Newtonian physics and challenge their paradigms for processing reductivistic-mechanistic Weltanschauungen from a post-modernistic perspective. (Well, not really...)

Much more than mere domino tumbling, my kinetic gadgets use a wide variety of chain-reaction techniques of my own invention and they have Dalíesque names like Experimental Polymodal Slack-Generating Apparatus #9 and Test Detonation of 0.2 Kilostick Boosted-Yield Xyloexplosive Device #1. Not only can my gadgets collapse and explode in many ways, but they can play music tunes and have animation in them.

Kinetic art is a new, open-ended art medium whose potential has barely been tapped. The number of chain-reaction techniques is virtually limitless. You might find these articles on mechanical explosives and kinetic computing to be interesting. Enjoy!



What was the best advice given to you as an artist?
Here's advice from me: Being a genius is the easy part; being able to make a living as an artist is the hard part.


Tell me about your working space and your creative process?
I have a studio, but any floor or table can be my workspace. My creative process varies greatly; sometimes I can improvise a gadget on the spot, and other times, I'll mull over an idea for a long time before it gels into something definite.



Which Minnesota artists do you enjoy?
Judith Onofrio,
Justin Busch come to mind.


If I were to follow you around on an “art day” in Minnesota, which places would we go? What would we see?
I'd hang out in Uptown, maybe eat at Kinh Do and window-shop at St. Sabrina's, maybe head over to the MIA, then go home and create something kinetic.


Where do you go online for good art resources, whether to find a new artist, or to see what is going on in the art world locally and otherwise?
YouTube, Springboard for the Arts, and Google, of course. Craigslist tends to be a waste of time.



Do you have any exhibits or any interesting things going on in your life or coming up in the near future?
I'm trying to get my kinetic art on network or cable TV at present.


If you were to receive a $2,000 art grant to do anything you want, what would you do?
Anything? Right now, I'd probably just pay the rent :) (LAI note: Be sure to watch the YouTube link below).

Links:
Tim Fort (Website) (YouTube)
lunatim@infionline.net


Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Kevan Willington - Botanical Painter






Bio~ Kevan Willington

On the surface my paintings are intimate botanical dioramas set against vast empty light filled skies. On a deeper level my work is a manifestation of the Taoist law that extremes turn
into there opposites. I use bold saturated luminous color with an old as rock yet modern contemporary
feel using traditional and non-traditional painting methods.


Look closely at my paintings and you will see that what is close is really the distant. And what is
distant is really close. I find infinite worlds within the small intimate details of nature and infinite skies
become as close and tangible as stone.


To create these transformational images I bridge the gap between the physical and the metaphysical.
Between the past and the future.Where opposites turn into each other. Like the edge of a cliff, or the
Eye of a storm, or the moment before a first touch that separates isolation from connection.


I walk up to the doorway where problems become solutions and solutions become problems and feel
the subtle tug of one world becoming the other. It is the simultaneous death of one world and the birth
of another.


Good Paintings are a dance between my intentions and what is happening naturally with the paint.
If I hold too tightly to my intentions it won't work.This process can be quite tumultuous. Often I must
let go of the original intended direction of the painting and let it die. Every painting is a crisis requiring
surrender. The process without surrender and trust can be terrifying. Ultimately I don't know where I'm
going. It's a bit like running though a forest with my eyes closed. Only blind faith ensures ones success.


Kevan F Willington
651–253–5032
info@kfwillington.com
kfwillington.com
Kevan on Facebook











What are you currently working on? How is this different from past projects?
My current work has evolved beyond painting just single uprooted flowering plants lying on a table. I am now creating paintings that have multiple flowering plants and bird dioramas set against vast empty luminous skies. I am also employing new techniques that make the skies in my paintings raised about a quarter inch from my foreground subject matter. These raised surface skies resemble cracked polished stone.

Tell me about your working space and your creative process? (The last I saw you, you were in the Tilsner Bldg, but I don’t know if you are still there or where you do your actual painting).


I am no longer in the Tilsner Bldg in St Paul. I have moved to Plymouth MN of all places. I am not much of a suburb person but it’s close to nature.






If you could excel in some different artistic arena, what would it be and why?

I have long had an interest in film production. This allows me to work with other people. Painting is kind of an isolating profession. But film is a very expensive art. And a bit of a start
over.

What was the best advice given to you as an artist?

Economy of brush stroke. And the Golden Ratio 1.61803399 also known as the Golden Mean. Look up the Golden Ratio on Youtube.



Which Minnesota artists do you enjoy?

Scott Llyod Anderson,


Jeff Larson And Ben Olson

although I hear Ben has moved to New York and I don’t know if he is still painting









If I were to follow you around on an “art day” in Minnesota, which places would we go? What would we see?

Gallery 360,


Circa Gallery, and the

Art Institute (MIA) are always good. But Nature is always the best show in town, or out of town.

What was the last exhibit you saw and what were your impressions?

My own. I thought “Damn this guy works hard”.

Where do you go online for good art resources, whether to find a new artist, or to see what is going on in the art world locally and otherwise?

I am often surfin the web for new galleries and artists. I am noticing the older I get the less I find
that I really really like. The Smithsonian museum has allot of 19th century paintings that I like. 19th century artists that have influenced me are Ralph Albert Blakelock, Albert Pinkam Ryder, N.C. Wyeth, Thomas Moran, Maxfield Parrish and Odilon Redon.








Do you have any exhibits or any interesting things going on in your life or coming up in the near future?

I have a current exhibit at Private Art in St Paul and Private Art 2 in NE Mpls.


Ingrid Restemayer & K.F. Willington at Private Art Gallery
September 11 – October 16, 2010


Private Art Gallery
25 St.
Albans Street South
St. Paul, MN 55105
651–227–1449


Closing Reception – Saturday, October 16, 5:00 – 9:00 pm





Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Kara Hendershot - Painter

Kara Hendershot
Kara Hendershot is a painter who resides in Lowertown St. Paul, at the Northern Warehouse Artists’ Co-op. Her paintings explore the relationship between people and their surroundings. Her work is influenced by both personal and universal experiences, as well as observations of people, places, and societal issues.

Contact info:
Kara Hendershot
kghendershot@yahoo.com
KaraHendershot.comwww.facebook.com/kara.hendershot
www.mnartists.org/Kara_Hendershot
http://karahendershot.com/


Ambivalent
acrylic, enamel, oil, ink on canvas, 22" x 36"

What are you currently working on?
I am continuing with collaboration projects with other artists, as well as my own individual work. Currently, I am creating a new body of work for a show that I just booked, which will be my first out-of-state solo exhibit scheduled to take place in Richmond, VA this fall. The details are still being worked out, and I have applied for a project grant and seeking other funding opportunities to help cover the shipping costs for the show. The big challenge will be to seek enough funding and figure out how I am going to get the work out to Virginia, but I am very excited about creating fresh work to be taken to new regions.


In terms of collaborative work:
Happy Accidents, (http://www.mnartists.org/happy_accidents) my humorous project with artist Summer Scharringhausen, is still going strong. We recently had the artwork featured on large digital billboards in five cities across the U.S. as part of the Billboard Art Project. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/billboardartproject/6492589979/in/set-72157628372321281/ ) It was a great opportunity since the original painting is an ongoing process in which it is continuously being painted over and over on the same original surface; all the past versions of the piece exist only in memory and in our documentation through digital photos. So it was pretty cool to be able to present those images of the previous versions that no longer exist as paintings.

I am also starting on new collaboration pieces with my father, a photographer, in continuation of a project that began a few years ago. We held an exhibit at Stevens Square Center for the Arts last June featuring a whole series of our mixed media collaborations, and new pieces will be featured in a group exhibit booked for this summer in Illinois.


As Days Pass
Acrylic, oil, ink on canvas, 60” x 48”

You are on the boards of the Altered Esthetics gallery and the Northern Warehouse Artist Co-op. You evidently still have time to create art. What benefits have you found from being as active as you are in the art community?
I have benefitted both professionally and personally. I have learned many skills in marketing, networking, and promoting. I have learned the discipline and organization that it takes to be a professional artist. I have also had the privilege of meeting and working with so many creative, inspiring, open-minded, hard-working people. I am very proud to be a part of such a great artistic community here in the Twin Cities.

By being so involved in the community, I feel more connected to what I am doing as an artist overall, rather than merely being stuffed up in a studio by myself. It’s always beneficial and healthier to be a part of something that is bigger than your self.



Daydreamer
acrylic and oil on multiple canvases, 70” x 60”

The building where you live is an artist co-op. What role does this play in your art and creativity?
• It is very important for me to live in an arts community where people respect each other and care about what they’re doing, and have an interest in each other. I feel valued here, and that’s very encouraging for the production of my work. It’s inspiring to me when I see new projects that my neighbors and co-op members are working on, and inspiration from other artists is very important for creativity.
We also have open studio events –
Art Crawl and Lowertown First Fridays - which is a guaranteed solo exhibit in my own studio, in case I’m not exhibiting in a gallery at the given time. It’s good to have these events so that I have deadlines to keep producing fresh work!


Parallel Revisiting

Parallel (left) silver gelatin print & acrylic, oil, enamel, ink on canvas 40” x 58”
Revisiting (right) silver gelatin print & acrylic, graphite on wood 16” x 20”
Mixed media collaboration works by Kara and her father Joe, a photographer


Tell me about your working space and your creative process?
• I live in an artist co-op, where the spaces are live/work lofts – large enough to accommodate a studio setting as well as a home. My space is where I eat, sleep, paint, and dream. I love working late into the night, when it feels like the rest of the world is asleep, because that is when I feel the most awake.
I may not always be painting, but the wheels are always turning - I’m always observing, sketching things in my head, absorbing information so that I can later let it all explode on the canvas. The starting stages of my painting process are raw, intuitive, and unpredictable. I begin very abstract, just letting things kind of happen within the painting. I’m constantly changing my mind as I’m working on a piece. I like not having complete control because it’s more energizing and less inhibiting. There is something very magical about the creative process, especially when you really learn to let go. Sometimes it isn’t until the final layers of the painting that I begin to know what the piece will really look like, or what it is that I want it to say. Then I apply more detail and steer it a little, but I like to leave parts of it unspoken. I like for the viewer to be able to have their own dialog with the piece, without me telling them what they should be thinking. It’s part of the mystery of a painting.




Installation painting for Cult Status Gallery’s Equinox show
approx. 120” x 100”

What was the best advice given to you as an artist?
• Stay true to your own unique expression. Don’t change your style or technique because you think it will sell more or appeal to more people, because people will sense that you are not being genuine. People want to see what is ‘you’.




Voice
acrylic and oil on canvas, 40” x 36”

Which Minnesota artists do you enjoy?
• Not fair, there are too many! So many awesome artists in the Twin Cities. Well, here some artists who I have had the pleasure of working with or collaborating with, and I enjoy both their work and their commitment to the arts scene:
Erin Sayer (http://www.erinsayer.com),
JM Culver (http://www.jmculver.com),
Gina Louise (http://www.divergentlayers.com),
Todd Peterson (http://www.toddsartsite.com),
Louisa Greenstock (http://www.louisagreenstock.com),
Rhea Pappas (http://www.rheapappas.com),
Daniel Choma (http://faithisanactofanarchy.com),
Toneski Love (http://www.toneski.com),
and I could easily list a LOT more.


Depart
acrylic, graphite, oil on panel, 8” x 10”


If I were to follow you around on an “art day” in Minnesota, which places would we go? What would we see?
• I love Northeast Minneapolis and all the artist buildings and studios. We would probably spend half an afternoon there, visiting studios and local galleries. Then I would want to visit some galleries that I have wanted to go to, but have not made it there yet:
Tarnish and Gold.


What was the last local exhibit you saw and what were your impressions?
• I was at the Ae Presents: Hitchcock exhibit this past weekend at
Altered Esthetics (artwork inspired by Alfred Hitchcock). It was really great to see the different ways that artists took to the topic. A topic like this forces artists to push the boundaries a little more with their style and imagery. I like to see artists do something different, something that they might not normally do.





Under the Thinking Tree
mixed media on wood, 24” x 20”

Where do you go online for good art resources, whether to find a new artist, or to see what is going on in the art world locally and otherwise?
Mnartists.org and Springboard for the Arts are good for local open call listings or work opportunities. For events and galleries, mplsart.com or l'étoile or NE Minneapolis Arts District. I also like to check out gallery sites in other cities, just to see the kinds of art and types of shows that are going on elsewhere.

Do you have any upcoming events we should know about?

I am pretty busy trying to accomplish my goal of getting my work outside of Minnesota, but I do have a couple local events coming up. I will be opening my studio for the spring 2012 St. Paul Art Crawl, April 27-29, a self guided tour of artists' studios in Lowertown and downtown St. Paul.(http://www.artcrawl.org) I have been participating in the event since 2004, both exhibiting as well as helping to organize the event for the Northern Warehouse. 
(http://www.nwacartists.com) It is a tremendous amount of work to put on the event, resulting in very long hours and many sleep deprived nights, but I love it. I like being involved 'behind the scenes' and the event itself is such a great opportunity. I get to share my work and current projects, and meet new people as well as stay in touch with the people who have been following my work for the last few years, who continue to visit my studio and support me each Art Crawl.

At the end of May, I will be exhibiting work in the Cult Sisters group show at Cult Status Gallery (http://www.cultstatusgallery.com) in Minneapolis along with very talented fellow female artists: Erin Sayer, J. M. Culver, Rhea Pappas, Louisa Greenstock, Amina Harper, Gina Louise.



Dreaming Tall Dreams & You and Me In the Big Wide World
small mixed media pieces, 4” x 14” & 11” x 14”