Your 2018 Local Art Loves

becklaneartistFinished portrait of soul singer Lauren Mitchel.

In February, we focused on local artists and asked you to share local art you love from wherever you are.

Check out these submissions by artists and fans, and keep showing love to local arts!

 

Sculpture by Peter Skidd

 

Scottsdale, Arizona

Peter Skidd produces large works in steel, especially hand-painted wall art in the shape of bowls, waves, or lotus flowers.

He and his wife Sarah are a dynamic team, who we got to meet during a Hidden in the Hills studio tour.

 

Manitoulin Island, Ontario

Jocko Moriarty shared this work “purchased from a craft and souvenir shop in M’Chigeeng, Manitoulin Island, Canada and painted by island artist Leland Bell*.”

 

Richmond, Virginia

Mixed media artist Sarah Irvin shared High Note. It’s part of a series of pieces she creates by writing on Yupo, a smooth synthetic paper, and then smearing the ink with a squeegee. Her solo show, In and Out of Weeks, is at the Page Bond Gallery in Richmond through March 31.

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BdrEGZHAB_L/

Shenandoah Valley, Virginia

Another Virginia artist, Jessie Rublee creates ceramics for both functional and decorative uses. This porcelain vase is from her Frail and Sound series, which explores the dichotomy between the strength of the earth and fragility of pottery.

 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/539611287/unique-mandala-pillow-self-care-anxiety

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Jenny Parks draws an original, one-of-a-kind illustration on each pillow she makes – like this mandala “cuddle pillow” with a napping bunny curled up in the center. Her work is meant to comfort people in need of healing.

 

Beck Lane's portrait of soul singer Lauren Mitchell.

Sarasota, Florida

Many of Beck Lane’s works are vibrant, unconventional portraits of women. She recently completed a two-canvas painting of soul singer Lauren Mitchell.

 

San Francisco, California

Matthew McKinley shared pieces from several artists he’s worked with in the Bay Area. (More on his Instagram.)

 

Art by Barking Owl

Sophia Lee incorporates non-traditional materials into her paintings, like the expired make-up that gives color to Night Stroll.

 

Self-proclaimed “artist of multiple personalities” LE BohemianMuse feels abstract art is more able to capture the complexity of life. Her acrylic painting Bedlam Desired is from the Chaos Series.

 

Parade

Arran Harvey is interested in how people group together. In this spirit, Parade Crowd 2 focuses on the spectators, rather than what they’re watching.

 


*Note: This is the Canadian Leland Bell (a.k.a. Bebaminojmat), Woodlands school artist of Anishinabe (First Nations) ancestry. He was born on Manitoulin Island in 1953 and still lives in Ontario. Not to be confused with the American Leland Bell (1922-1991), a figurative painter born in Cambridge, Maryland to Russian-Jewish parents. Anyone else think it’s a weird coincidence that there are two 20th-century North American artists with the first name Leland?

 


Photos in this post link to their sources. Each one comes either from the artist or the person who submitted the work.

Poppy

Poppy

The poppy on our patio bloomed over the weekend, so I thought I’d send out this burst of color, in case you could use some extra warmth in your day.

You’ll just have to imagine the chorus of bird songs that go along with it. They’ve really decided to sing their little hearts out these last few days!

 


Microblog Mondays: Write in your own space

 

Steamrolled Art

Steamroller prints

Wandering through art spaces opened for Phoenix’s annual Art Detour event, my friend Anne and I stumbled across Steamroller Sunday.

Steamroller printmaking

Artists had carved large designs into plywood and covered them in ink. A steamroller rolled over the top, pressing the inked designs onto sheets of canvas.

I started taking video of one artist getting his stamp ready and ended up recording the whole process, because, really, how often do you see art being made with construction equipment?!

You can check it out (condensed to 1 minute) above or on YouTube.

Steamroller print art

PS While you’re there, feel free to subscribe to Travelcraft Journal’s channel!


Microblog Mondays: Write in your own space

Art Detour: Printmakers Manny and Janet Burruel

Phx First Friday art by Burruels

Phx First Friday art by Burruels

This weekend is Phoenix Art Detour 2018 with open galleries, performances, and special events throughout the Downtown Roosevelt Row and Grand Avenue arts districts.

If you’re familiar with Phoenix Fridays, think of Art Detour as a 5-day, super-sized First Friday.

Phx First Friday art by Burruels

 

One of the unique spaces where there will be art on display is Olney Gallery, which is inside of Trinity Cathedral at Roosevelt and 1st Ave.

We visited recently and saw a colorful monosilkscreen exhibition by Manny and Janet Burruel.

Phx First Friday art by Burruels

A longtime artist and curator of the gallery, Manny’s passion for the intricate process of printmaking was so contagious that his wife Janet also caught the bug! They now spend long Saturdays in the studio and take classes together.

Janet Burruel with artwork

Even though Janet has just started printmaking within the past year, she already produces beautiful work in her own distinct style with natural forms evoking the peaceful feeling of watching moonlight stream through tree branches.

Manny Burruel art

While Janet tends to focus on flora, many of Manny’s subjects are fauna. His work currently on display includes vibrant dinosaurs and desert creatures.

Phx First Friday art by Burruels

The Burruels’ exhibition lasts throughout the month of March. If Manny or Janet is there when you go, say hi. They’re lovely people and happy to chat about their art.

 


Olney gallery in phoenix

– More Olney Gallery Info –

  • Located inside Trinity Cathedral, 100 W. Roosevelt, Phoenix. Gallery entrance is directly off the front courtyard (facing Roosevelt).
  • Open to the public Tuesday through Friday, 9am – 4pm, as well as First Friday evenings (6-9pm), and Art Detour weekend.
  • Light rail stop: Central/Roosevelt
  • Parking: On First Friday evenings, you can park at Phoenix Art Museum or Arizona Center and take any of the free trolleys or walk (0.6 mi.) During the day, there is street parking or a garage just north of the Cathedral. Disabled parking spaces are on the north and east sides of the Cathedral and in the parking garage.
  • Trolley: The blue, pink, and orange routes of the free First Friday trolleys all have stops right outside.
  • Food and other recommendations in our Downtown Phoenix post.

Mesa MLK Day Parade

MLK parade

I took some video of our city’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Parade this January, and I finally got it together and online.

Parade fire engine

There was such an atmosphere of joy and community at the event. The people walking (or dancing or riding) down the parade route seemed so glad to be involved, and the crowd cheered everyone on.

No joke, applause broke out when the horse cleanup guy shoveled some manure off the road.

The parade was followed by music and talks about the legacy of Dr. King.

 

MLK Day Celebration

 




Microblog Mondays: Write in your own space