Very proud that we were able to work with Jay Brown on this project, documenting the first four murals of last season. Take a look:
Ode to Letters; Engine Gallery
Ode to Letters, a declaration of love of letterformsExhibition dates: July 31 – September 19, 2015
Opening Reception July 31 from 5-8pm
Ode to Letters is a declaration of love of letterforms and a showcase of the nation’s best traditional sign painters, letterpress printers, and graffiti writers. The exhibition will feature three parts, in keeping with the traditional format of the ode, first with Strophe, Sign Painting; followed by the Antistrophe, Letterpress; and lastly the Epode: Graffiti.
The Artists include: Ryan Adams, Patrick Corrigan, Curvazoid, Kyle Durrie, Fonse, Joey Hannaford, Cassie Hester, Greg Lamarche, Learn, Link, Josh Luke, Mason Miller, Matt W. Moore, Noah, Tessa Greene O'Brien, Providence Painted Signs, Mike Rich, Will Sears, Snoeman, The Solo Artist, Starshaped Press, David Wolske.
Portland Mural Initiative; First Four Murals
Shapeshifters & Sharpshooters; 886 Geary
Once again I had the pleasure of being in a show curated by Sven Davis. The show was a group exhibition featuring an international array of 15 artists at 886 Geary Gallery, in San Francisco. the exhibition opened July 11th, and was on view through July 27th, 2015.
Shapeshifters & Sharpshooters gathers a collective of artists from across the globe in an exploration of contemporary abstract art-making practices. Coming from a range of backgrounds varying from traditional art school teaching practices to graffiti writing, the group shares a common dynamic in their visual language.
The exhibition is a celebration of contemporary mark making whilst embracing and taking inspiration from traditional art movements such as Futurism, Abstract Expressionism and Precisionism amongst others. A common disposition of the group is their use of Hard-Edge painting; a term first coined in the late fifties and used to describe intense and abrupt delineation of form and color within the burgeoning Geometric Abstraction and Op-art movements. Whilst these artists acknowledge and embrace movements of the past, they confidently stand outside of historical classification and have established themselves as a core group of protagonists defining a contemporary movement they have made their own.
The exhibition features the following artists: Chris Mendoza (Brooklyn, NY), Christopher Derek Bruno (Atlanta, GA), Clemens Behr (Berlin, Germany), Drew Tyndell (Nashville, TN), Eltono (Belvès, France), Jerry Inscoe (Portland, OR), Liam Snootle (Melbourne, Australia), Matthew Chavarria (Riverside, CA), Michael Bennett (Berlin, Germany), Nawer (Cracow, Poland), Poesia (San Francisco, CA), Richard Caldicott (London, UK), Sean Newport (San Francisco, CA), St Monci (Rochester, NY), Will Sears (Portland, ME).
Portland Mural Initiative
I'm very pleased to announce that Tessa Greene O'Brien and I have been awarded a grant together through the Kindling Fund. The Kindling Fund is provided by Space Gallery as part of a regional re-ranting of the Warhol Foundation. The mission of the Kindling Fund is to support the energy of Maine’s visual arts community by funding innovative, artist-organized visual arts projects that engage the public in ways that are both inventive and meaningful. The Kindling Fund values risk and experimentation, unconventional engagement, and critical dialogue, and encourages collaborative efforts to reach new audiences, increase public interaction, and create new models for presenting artists’ work.
Our Project that we're starting with this grant is the Portland Mural Initiative. We aim to bring contemporary art into the public spaces of Portland and its’ surrounding areas. We will work with emerging and established artists that have a strong connection to Maine, to create innovative murals and architectural interventions. We also aim to facilitate a dialogue between the artists and the communities in which the murals are located, through public meals and artist talks.
To get a more detailed look into this project check out our website here.
Our confirmed 2015 artists are:
We'll post another entry this spring, as the snow melts and the mural get under way...
Space Squared; White Walls Gallery
I had an amazing experience being involved in a show at White Walls Gallery, curated by Sven Davis. This is Sven's second show in a series which "explores the constructed and natural environment whilst also serving as a comparative survey in how different individuals respond to a single set of prescribed criteria. Each of the participating artists were given the same commission guidelines, leading to a series of unique interpretations of the brief. The disciplines of art and architecture traditionally enjoy a symbiotic relationship, and the parallels run deep between the conception and realization of an architectural project and the Space//Squared exhibition itself." There were 100 artists in the show, many of whom have been artists I've looked up to for years. To check out more pictures of the show and a full list of artists, click here.
Press - Juxtapoz
The most recent show "It's Virtue is Immense" got written up in Juxtapoz Magazine.
Click here to read the article.
-Again, Special Thanks to Meredith Kasabian and Kenji Nakayama for Curating and Lot F Gallery for Hosting.
Work For Sale Online!!!!
All of the work on this site is available for sale by request unless it's already sold, however now there are two online stores where you can purchase original art with just the click of a button:
Last Light Studio Etsy Page - a maine collective of Artists such as Tessa G. O'Brien, Ryan Adams, and myself
Lot F Gallery Online Store - the gallery that I've shown in for 2 shows
Suport Your Local Artists!
It's Virtue is Immense
Flyer design by Carl "Frisso" Angell
I had the real honor to be involved in "It's Virtue is Immense", a Pre-Vinylite Society exhibit of 20 sign painters at Lot F Gallery. The Show was curated by Meredith Kasabian of Best Dressed Signs and Kenji Nakayama. Having had a few chances to get to know a lot of the people involved in the show it feels great to be included in a group of talented and dedicated people.
“This show presents examples of script lettering from some of the best sign painters from around the world and showcases the aesthetic qualities of beautiful hand lettering. But its message runs much deeper than aesthetics alone. “Its Virtue is Immense: a Pre-Vinylite Society Tribute to Script Lettering” explores questions of privilege, access, and the role of the human hand in an increasingly digital world." -Meredith Kasabian
Erstwhile; Lot F Gallery
Starting off the new year with an older twist:OPENING RECEPTION - FRI JAN 10TH 7 - 11PM
Lot F Gallery is pleased to present Erstwhile this January, with new works by Portland, ME artists Tessa Greene O'Brien and Will Sears. Being a sign painter by trade, Sears hones in on his skills to create beautiful assemblage pieces and paintings with a focus on typography. O'Brien, who is also a sign painter, is showing an oil and watercolor painting series based on vintage synchronized swimming ladies in a pinup-esque fashion.
Erstwhile, which is the artists first time showing at Lot F Gallery, has a vintage quality throughout and will run from January 10th to February 28th, 2014. The public is welcome to experience the exhibition first hand, with an opening reception on Friday, January 10th, 2014, from 7 to 11 pm at their Pearl Street location. Lot F Gallery has open hours on Saturdays, during the exhibition, from noon to 4pm, and is also open by appointment.
Steady Work; Space Gallery
I was very privileged to be included in the "Steady Work" Show at Space Gallery. The show was a collection of artists who are all employed as sign painters, and who employ sign painting techniques in their own artwork. The Show consisted on Jimmy "Spike" Birmingham. Patrick Corrigan, Frisso, Josh Luke, Kenji Nakayama, and myself. Heres some photos of the show courtesy of Bret Labelle Photography:
Click on the photo below to scroll through the gallery:
Traditional Sign Maker Magazine
in Press
This Month I was honored to be featured on "Traditional Sign Maker Magazine"
Traditional Sign Maker Magazine is an online magazine devoted to the craft of traditional sign making. It is a collaborative effort between active sign makers all over the world who contribute articles, how-to’s and photo archives of their work.
Click Here to check out the feature.
Boat Molds
While Attending the Salt Water Farm art residency I came across a boat making facility that had lots of fiberglass molds which were all really beautiful and very inspiring. Here are some highlights:
