Fugheads and Spazzing out

It's been awhile since I've posted any events happening in Greenville and especially at Art Avenue; we're still going strong and hosting great exhibitions.

This upcoming First Friday in Uptown Greenville Art Avenue will have Andy Denton display a variety of his works; sculpture and ceramic pieces.  Andy is a playful artist and has delved into a variety of materials which I really admire and appreciate.  Andy's latest venture of creating facial mugs, bowls and planters are fun and comical. 

 

You can RSVP here.

Another awesome event coming up is SpazzFest, founded by local music supporter and manager Jeff Blinder.  And of course Art Avenue is participating.  There is still time to apply for the exhibition, here are the details:

Spazz Within Juried Exhibition: Deadline *HAS BEEN EXTENDED* to SATURDAY MARCH 14TH! Drop off your works during business hours (12-6pm at Art Avenue) OR submit via email at contact@artavenc.com. This exhibition includes all types of medias. Entry fee is only $10 ($5 for second entry, etc.) Cash prizes will be awarded! Submissions must include a paragraph that relates to the exhibition theme. The theme is celebrating uniqueness within a community. This can be expressed in any way you can think of. Examples: It may relate to personality, personal style, artistic style, micro view point within society, a personal experience, macro/existential ideas, and/or spirituality. Reception will be held at Art Avenue March 21st, 3pm with music performance to follow!
 

As always thanks for reading!
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Lovearch

An inspiring video about connection in a different and not impossible way.  My friend sculptor Andy Denton (also former Art Avenue Gallerist) created this popular sculpture in 2009 and it's been in heavy rotation, being displayed throughout the United States.  I can see why, it's an unconventional yet meaningful way of connecting two bodies.

Much of Andy's work incorporates yoga poses with Budhhist meaning.  You can view more of his work here.

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Renovations and new studio spaces at Art Avenue

 So it's been awhile since I've given you an update on Art Avenue.  Not sure if I even posted it, but Art Avenue did receive a city revitalization grant of $15,000 - woohoo! Which is what led us to move forward with renovating the back studio space; creating four new spaces for rent.  

First the floors were stripped of the very ugly tiles that have been there for ages, then we hired several guys (Jeremy Fineman and Andy Denton being two of them) to build wall space and floor boards to designate the new studio spaces.  We are beyond thrilled at how this will benefit the arts community in Greenville.  

And all of this will be semi-ready for the ECU Metals Symposium happening this coming weekend.  We've been literally busting our buns (from painting and squatting) to get this all done in time.   Some may not realize it but everyone that 'works' at Art Avenue is a volunteer; none of us are paid but we do it for the love of our art community and to make it bigger and better. 

Below are photos, taken by our resident photographer, Aileen Devlin of the all out paint/renovations we've had.   There are even more photos on the Art Avenue Facebook page. 

Sarah Setzco and Autumn paint the doors.

Andy bein' his usual silly self.

Our awesome construction/builder guys BJ and Mike.

Holly, a resident ceramicist came to help with her husband! We're so grateful!

There I am in the window on the other side of one of the new studio spaces.

And Jeremy Fineman bein' a clown! 

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Featured Artist: Jeremy Fineman of Bullfrog Ceramics

I can't believe I haven't blogged about Jeremy before, other than about Art Avenue bizznass.

Jeremy Fineman is pretty much my studio mate at AA, and our go to guy for any construction or building at Art Ave.  Oh and the reason for this post, he is an excellent ceramicist! His pieces are quirky and odd...kinda like Jeremy.  No seriously, there is a fun playfulness and intentional unbalanced nature to all of his pieces.  He likes to put rattles in the handle of his mugs or as below in the spinning top to his sugar bowl. 

His pieces make the best gifts, people love them!  And it has the special quality of being handmade and one of a kind.  I've given them as wedding gifts, birthdays and of course, Christmas gifts!

On a side note from Jeremy's awesome work, I can't say enough how essential he has been to the progress of Art Avenue.  He's helped recruit volunteers, members, supporters, given time to reorganizing the artist's studio and helped me fix some of my own equipment. 

Sugar bowls

My favorite mugs!

And Jeremy to the left of me, enjoying Andy Denton's ode to Art Avenue.

Thanks for reading, and don't forget: BUY HANDMADE THIS SEASON! 

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Art Avenue update

I haven't written about the really great progress we've made at Art Avenue (where I run my jewelry business and studio) in awhile, so here is a brief update.  We recently we hosted a Cinco de Mayo member social to celebrate our biggest supporters in the eastern North Carolina region.

The idea came about from Claire Edwards, the Director of Art Avenue, to share with the community how the studio space and gallery has improved over the past year.  We also wanted to tell people about the studio rentals and how much this benefits artists from the School of Art and Design at ECU and at Pitt Community College.  

Below are some of the photos from the event.  We were able to raise a good amount from memberships that will go to making small renovations in the studio space to allow for more renters and future exhibitions.  

Thanks for reading!

A member admiring Jeremy Fineman's Bullfrog Ceramics. Photo by Aileen Devlin.

Me, talking about how important community support is.  Photo by Aileen Devlin.

Andy Denton singing his praises, literally!  Photo by Aileen Devlin.

Jalapeno beer!! I really loved it, generously donated by these young men.  Photo by Aileen Devlin.

Our awesome interns, aka Pitt Community college students.   Photo by Aileen Devlin.

Guests and supporters having fun.  Photo by Aileen Devlin.

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Art Avenue Contemporary Gallery & Studios profile

Just got some really great photos Aileen Devlin took of me for Art Avenue Contemporary Gallery & Studios Facebook page.  It's interesting seeing myself at my bench, I look super serious, which I love!  Aileen is a photographer for the Greenville Daily Reflector newspaper and part time photographer for AA.  She is just one of the amazing and generous volunteers for Art Avenue. 

Some days I can't believe how lucky I am to have landed such a wonderful opportunity to have a studio at Art Avenue and to work with such talented artists like Aileen, Autumn Brown, Andy Denton, Claire Edwards, Jeremy Fineman and Sarah Setzo.  These great people are what make an art community grow and become something bigger. 

Getting ready to grind some castings.

Grinding the excess metal on castings.

Now which stone to choose?

My inspiration table.

Thank you for visiting and I hope you enjoyed this post!

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My new studio space at Art Avenue

Moving out of the ECU metals studio took a bit of a push but once I started packing my stuff I realized that I was very much ready for a new chapter in my life.

I'm so very excited about the possibilities at Art Avenue; currently we're awaiting a city grant to move forward with renovating the space for roughly 10 private studio spaces.   It's so necessary for a recent art graduate to have some kind of working space, which most of us have a hard time finding.  But with Art Avenue, there is so much potential.  Working with Jeremy Fineman, Claire Edwards, Andy Denton and Autumn Brown...it feels fresh and exciting!

And the Gallery space is huge, we have a great location and large windows to showcase handmade artistic work.  I'm praying to the art gods that we receive a blessing in the form of this grant!

Front Gallery

Side wall of gallery.  My pieces are still up!

BEFORE photo of initial set up of my studio (I get my own room!! for now)

AFTER my studio with all my junk!

Jeremy's lovely bowls...I need to get one eventually.

The ceramic side of the 'active' studio

The soldering and kiln area.

And in the most final and exciting news is that i'll be able to set up a casting studio!!! With the help of Autumn and my boss at the Jewelry Dr., I'll have the equipment and space to do it myself.  I love the process of casting, watch the metal melt and turn into something I created...it's powerful.

Stay tuned for more news about Art Avenue and thank you for reading!

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Numen: Divine Will or Power Exhibition

Last Saturday was the opening reception for my senior exhibition, titled Numen: Divine Will or Power.  It was one of the most exhilarating nights of my life, it was so special to share what I've worked on over the past three years with my family and friends.  And the best part of it all was that my older brother flew in from Brooklyn, NY (while sick) for the show!!! That really made my day.

I was smiling ear to ear the entire night.  I did the show with a fellow senior, Kendall Temotio, which I'm so glad I did, it was good to have someone to rely on while preparing for the show.  Kendall and I have a similar aesthetic, we both love organic materials and are inspired by nature; my style is more rough and aggressive whereas Kendall's has a more delicate and refined quality.  We had the show at Art Avenue of course, I love how much the community has pulled together in support of Art Avenue and having a space for art graduates to continue their work.  Andy Denton and Jeremy Finemen have been the two background players - setting up tracking lights and really improving the structure of the space.  I'm really looking forward to setting up my studio and working with Art Avenue to make it even better.

So here are some photos from the opening reception - it seriously turned into a big party, we had to eventually kick everyone out at 9pm (closing time) as Kendall and I wanted to celebrate afterwards with our friends and family. 

Window shot of my poster and deer antler.

We had so much food (and wine)!

Here I am cheesin' with my parents and older brother.  My family has been so supportive of my dreams.

It's Ellis, the Jewelry Dr. (aka my boss)! and his lovely wife Margaret.  I was SO happy he came for the show. 

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First Friday is Herrrrre!

With the gallery space up front, and studio in the back - it's all on track! ...fun rhyme.

It's First Friday in Greenville, which means the Uptown neighborhood business' will be hosting events and visiting artists with exhibiting work and demo's, as well as live music and free food (can't be that).  As I mentioned several b-posts ago; Art Avenue will be have The Ancients Made These show curated by Andy Denton.  The Ancients Made These exhibition is also in conjunction with the Tri-State Sculpture Symposium happening at ECU Jenkin's School of Art and Design Sculpture studio.  From what I read on the poster, there will be very interesting workshops - bending wood and discussion groups. 

Also Emerge will be hosting the annual Rebel student juried show, which is always excellently shown and curated.   I'm looking forward to walking around uptown and showing my parents all the great art, they'll be in town for the weekend! 

Anywho, if you're not in Greenville, I suggest you go out and support local art and culture in your town/city, it's good energy.  

thx for reading!

Attendees at Septembers' First Friday at Art Avenue.

And don't forget...if you..

Studio space ad

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The Ancients Made These

My good friend Andy Denton (ECU MFA sculpture alumni and former WZMB DJ) curated this exhibition, The Ancients Made These which will be shown at Art Avenue next month and will be opening on First Friday.  I'm really looking forward to the show, Andy has excellent taste in art work, as well as installing exhibitions.

Andy has been one of the driving forces behind Art Avenue's movement towards a shared studio space as well as gallery.  After I graduate I'll have studio space at Art Avenue, and I'm so grateful for all the hard work Andy and all the other amazing people that have put time and energy into Art Avenue.

So, without further ado, I command you (if you live in the G-Vegas area) GO TO THIS SHOW, you won't regret it.

Thanks for reading!

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First Friday in Greenville

Lots of great things going on tonight in the great G-Vegas. Here's a snippet of what I'll be checking out:

Art Avenue will be hosting Bringing the Heat exhibition, as posted in the FB event: First Friday Art Walk Extravaganza: Art installations by Laritza Garcia and Autumn Brown, featured work by Mike McAteer, Andy Denton and Jeremy Fineman. This showcase will include sculptural work, ceramics and jewelry. Come feast your eyes and salute the summer night.

Uptown Art is hosting an Encaustics Demo with Charity Valentine (ECU Alumni).  For which I'm very psyched about since I've never tried encaustics and it looks like fun!

Soooo, if you are in the Eastern NC area come out and see great artwork, music and demonstrations!

Art Avenue Gallery and Studios

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Opening Reception for Preyed Upon Exhibition

I'm so happy and very proud of how the Preyed Upon Exhibition turned out. We had a great crowd show up and our guest speaker Billy Barber, a Eastern North Carolina native really engaged the attendees with insightful hunting stories.

And people really responded to the concept of the exhibition - illuminating the hunting culture of Eastern NC with art work.

Below are some photos I took at the event and of the pieces. I'm so appreciative of all the help I had with the show, especially Andy Denton, Andrea Smith, Craig Malmrose, Autumn Brown and DJ. And it goes without saying Claire Edwards, Director of Art Avenue was my biggest supporter.

Hope you enjoy the photos!

Kevin Vanek's sculpture piece.
He created a new species!

Charity Valentine's photography over Gail's installation pieces.

Autumn Brown's The Stand.

Andy Denton is the master of setting up displays.

Duncan Stephenson's brooches.

A good crowd a the opening.

Myself, Andy Denton and Claire Edwards
- just one part of the Art Avenue team!

Oh and if you missed the opening reception, don't worry, we'll have the show open for Uptown Greenville's First Friday in April.
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setting up for Preyed Upon

Last night I started setting up for the show with several awesome and generous volunteers; DJ and Andy Denton. Andy really saved me for the show, he's the master at setting up for exhibitions.

So...if you are in the area, eastern NC come out and see this amazing exhibition, tonight 6-9pm at Art Avenue 212 East Fifth Street. We'll have venison stew too!

DJ and Andy setting up for the show.

My gold leaf deer antler in the window.

Thanks for reading.

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