Building up Networks

​Greetings everyone, it has been yet another week of partly low energy, exploration, and networking outside the four walls of my studio. My most recent projects are almost being resolved, also while working on that I experienced a new technique which could be intertwined into my next project. The results of this newly found technique can be described as having similar qualities as a print-makers work. Initially, I started the week with lots of excitement because I was going to make more image transfer, for some reason I was irritated by not possessing key tools for this progression. Thus, I needed a work surface next to the former so that I could visually represent my sudden frustrating situation. In doing this, I had strange vibes going through my nerves while making repeated not subtle and aggressive marks, the intent was not to make it representational but it turned out in between representational and non-representational. I’ve never given my paintings titles of the wall, perplexed myself, I immediately titled this piece ‘Red’ in my mind not because it was an easy title for my present mood but because the piece conceptually represents everything ‘Red’ is not. Red was created using black and white acrylic paint markers, ink, acrylic and led on canvas paper.

Red, 2017

Upon the completion of Red, I shut my studio doors and retired to my bed because it was late anyways. Next morning opening my studio doors I realized I had done something interesting on the top right corner of ‘Red’, instantly I grabbed some watercolor pads and I took red off the wall for its initial existence was intended to be ephemeral and I recreated the most interesting parts of ‘Red’. Intermission, now I was myself again, excited. How I love to be excited. The new sketches on watercolor pads are still in a contemplative state whether to be included or not, depending on its success in newer projects. The sketches were created using watercolor and white paint marker on cold press watercolor pad.

​In addition, practice only exists with its network outside the walls of the studio. This is an inevitable protocol of the mainstream. Last week on March 10, 2017, some colleagues and myself embarked on a gallery hopping trip in Atlanta, it was a long day though but the key word from this experience is ‘Network’. Network, network, network, a word I got from every of our conversation with the gallerists. Practically I felt enlightened because this is an ongoing conversation with Prof. Jason Hoelscher back in room 2016 in the art building at Georgia Southern University. Jessamy, Courtney, Cyndy and daughter Josie, and I started the day off at Atlanta Contemporary gallery where Lonnie Holley was on view. Lonnie’s work focused more on his autobiography and his reflection on the contemporary society, I was amazed by the artist's use of found objects which visually represents his ideas. Here are some of Lonnie’s work; 

​Next, we stopped at Hathaway gallery, in there it felt like a huge warehouse with big windows in the front, spectacular right! and the floors were shining. Here, John Folsom and two other artists were on display. I was intrigued with John’s landscape painting process, especially how the artist transforms his images through a digital software, in the end, the artist paints his manipulated image. Following this our next stop was Kai Lin gallery, where the ladies had a good conversation with the lady gallery employee, I could not help but notice how good looking she was…OMG! And did I mention I was the only guy in this group? The lady gallery employee here talked us through how interconnected the art mainstream is today. For instance, presenting a stage performance in a gallery setting, they all benefit both ways from one another.
Soon, it was time to get some food, as we all know the consequences if lunch was skipped. Lunch was about thirty minutes and the group had a positive feedback, delicious and the only not good part for me was the quantity of the food, not filling but surely good tacos and cucumber salad. The last part of the day was spent at the Whitespace gallery, here the group was including Courtney, Jessamy and me. Also, we had a long conversation with the gallery assistant Emily, in the middle of our conversation the gallery owner Susan Bridges briefly graced us with her presence. She had already stepped out of the gallery when Emily suddenly told us that was Susan. You all should have seen our faces but not to worry our lasting conversation with Emily reinforces our newly found relationship.

Have a great week. I will add more pictures of studio accomplishment in the next post.