“Community.”
That was the common sentiment shared by artists waiting in line to drop off their pieces Wednesday morning at Studio & Gallery. They were there to show their work in the gallery’s “Elemental: An Open Show,” which kicks off Friday with an opening reception and runs to March 1.
For the artists, “community” meant a couple of different things: Standing in line and getting to mix with fellow members of the local arts community, and “community” in terms of the wider audience of residents who will be able to see everyone’s art when it’s displayed on &’s walls.
“Elemental” is an open call, which means any artist can submit their work for display. It also means participation is on a first-come, first-served basis, so artists began lining up at the gallery’s door about an hour before submissions were accepted.
Tim Kapustka, a founding member of the gallery, said it received about 45 pieces for the exhibit. The artwork includes a variety of different media, including oil paintings, stained glass, sculpture, furniture, assemblages and fiber art.
Britt Bradford was waiting in line to submit an abstract oil painting she made, although, she said, she is generally a classical realist. She’s new to the community, having moved to Mancos from Telluride in May.
“I’m a new artist in the area, just trying to meet fellow artists and check out new galleries and get involved in the community,” she said. “I think this is important because it’s open to everyone; it’s first come, first served, and so it’s not selective or juried and anyone can come drop something off. I’m so excited; it’s my first time. I love this gallery – a fellow artist in Mancos told me about it.”
And for artist Julia Anderson, who lives in Cherry Creek between Hesperus and Mancos, getting out of her relatively isolated home base is important for her work. She specializes in environmental abstract paintings – the one she brought to the gallery is acrylic on canvas. And, she said, laughing, she has a very hard time making small paintings.
“I live in the middle of nowhere, and so I don’t have a sounding board, and this is kind of it,” she said. “And it’s accepted, it’s owned by artists, it’s a gallery that loves artists, and it’s just so encouraging. And I love the place.”
In the gallery’s call to artists, creatives were challenged to “consider the basic, the fundamental, and the essential; the materials and ideas that shape our realities. Whether drawing inspiration from the classical elements – earth, water, air, and fire – or diving into the principles of nature, science and the human experience, this theme addresses the building blocks of life and creativity. Through diverse mediums and interpretations, participants are encouraged to reflect on what is raw, primary, vital and fundamental to the materials, process, and content of their work.”
And the artists turned out, Kapustka said, adding that this show’s group includes a balance of veteran artists and those showing their pieces for the first time publicly.
If you go
WHAT: Studio & presents “Elemental: An Open Show.”
WHEN: Opening reception 5-9 p.m. today. Show on exhibit through March 1.
WHERE: Studio & Gallery, 1027 Main Ave.
MORE INFORMATION: Visit www.anddurango.com.
This is Durangoan Jen Bayer’s third open-call show, this time entering two mixed-media pieces that feature stitches and burning on prints. Bayer, who teaches art classes and workshops for both children and adults, is an artist member at Mancos Common Press. For her, Studio &’s open shows are a great way for artists who aren’t yet established to get their work out in front of people, which can be a challenge without these types of shows.
“It is one of the few opportunities for people that are working on new work, emerging artists, essentially to show work,” she said. “It’s also a great way for the community to support the process in continuing to have these open-call shows; it’s really a special kind of thing.”
And it’s shows like these that bring not only the local arts community together – including those new to the scene – it’s what Studio & is all about, Kapustka said.
“These open community shows are so important because they give people an arena to show their work ... many for the first time. At Studio &, shows like these are at the core of who and what we are. We can all remember our first show, and it is not always easy to find a place to show work as an artist,” he said. “Studio & prides itself on providing an arena for artists at all points in their career. I love that the mix in this show goes from several of my favorite artists in town, very acclaimed artists who’ve been making work for decades, to plenty of folks showing their work for the first time in public. It gives us such pride to be able to provide a platform for artists at all stages of their careers. More than anything, we just want to encourage people to continue to create. And if this show can do that even a little then it is a success.”
katie@durangoherald.com
