Submerge
Submerge
A season of growth - artwork in a museum, a gallery show, a blog interview and an upcoming move into a new studio!
Surfacing
The thing about submerging is that at some point, hopefully, you surface. There is a level of trust in yourself and the temporality of the plunge. A holding of breath and the relief that follows when you exhale and pull the new air into your lungs.
It’s been a busy spring for me regarding my art practice and career. I’ve had a piece up at the Frye Museum Store since February. I had an interview and photoshoot for a blog post about me and “Proximity to Water”. I’ve been in the studio every chance I get to create work for a three-person art show opening on June 6th. Submerged in my passions, I have delved deeper into my career as an artist.
Frye Museum Store
Having my work at the prestigious Frye Art Museum has been an honor and a dream. It feels like I’m going in the right direction with my art and that I am and will continue to grow into this career. “Proximity to Water” was one of my first explorations into the theme of underwater worlds mixed with the terrestrial. It’s funny that the color palette felt confusing when I painted it, but once I added the paper lithographs it felt cohesive and right. The piece is up until June 10th, so if you haven’t had a chance to see it yet, go soon if possible!
Submerge (Art Show)
I just cannot wait for you to see this work in person! Jarita, Taylor, and I have been working hard to create new artwork for our three-person show, Submerge. It opens on Thursday, June 6th at Indigo Slate (312 2nd Ave S, Seattle WA) from 5 - 9 pm and Friday from 5 - 10 pm.
Surface tension is a threshold. A space between two forces - the moment before, up against what follows. There is a distance we keep, sometimes as a means of protection, that separates us from something that we are actually a part of.
In general, my work considers humanity’s relationship with and othering of the natural world, with a focus on structures of cultivation, preservation, conservation and controlled interaction. For Submerge, I turn my lens toward the aquatic; aquariums, boats, shipping canals, and fish stores. Photographically, fish and underwater currents are dynamic and behave unpredictably. The complex beauty of the underwater world and its proximity are mirrored and highlighted by chaotically maximalist compositions with bright and bold splashes of color.
The aquascape is alluring and curious on the other side of humanity’s threshold. However, the nature of this separation simultaneously encourages the destruction we are disinclined to halt. Ultimately nature is a process of adaptation and evolution, beyond crisis, calamity, and infrastructure. The surface tension is an illusion, yet our complicity in its systems persists.
If you’d like a PDF of the work, please reach out!
Commissions Are Open
I had the absolute pleasure of working on a commission recently for my friends Ellen and Kailyn. First, we met to discuss what they were hoping for - the color palette, subject matter, dimensions, and budget. I took my assignment very seriously and plotted out places along the Duwamish River in Seattle to take photographs of pleasure crafts, shipping containers, cranes, logs, and barges. While this imagery is new to me, it fits within the overarching themes in my work. It’s still a natural space and our impact is present. Beautifully complex, and full of interesting textures, lines, and shapes. I especially like how I was able to create a river form within the composition.
I really enjoy making commissions. Please reach out if you’d like to learn more about this process. It’s a great way to have a unique piece of art made specifically for you. I can work from your photographs or take directions on what sort of imagery you want to be included.
New Studio!
The last thing in the waterfall of exciting things - My friend Willa and I are moving into a new studio very soon! I’m so excited to share a space with my very good friend, who I admire and have so much fun with. We are hoping to eventually develop some workshops and open up the space for intimate art classes. First things first though, we will work on our own practices and create a space that works well for us. More on this soon!
Thank you for following along!!
