Ourself Behind Ourself, Concealed, from my I Believe in Ghosts series, is exhibiting for the first time in a group exhibition at Verum Ultimum Gallery in Portland, Oregon. From the organizer: "Chasing Ghosts V is a collection of art that pierces the veil through remembrance, legacy, and beyond."
Experience the works in person or online here. Chasing Ghosts V from October 25 - November 28, 2020 Verum Ultimum Art Gallery 3014 NE Ainsworth Ave, Portland, OR 97211 347-752-8915
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I value opportunities to exhibit my artwork, both in traditional and non traditional spaces. Over the years, I've encounter a number of venues where they do not allow holes in the walls. This is 100% fine, however it puts a slight wrinkle in a fine-tuned hook and hammer system.
When "no holes" has been the case, the venue typically supplies some sort of hanging contraption or at the very least a suggestion for how to hang the work. However, using unfamiliar methods can cause mild worry because one always wonders things, such as 'will the work stay up?' and 'how much extra time will this new method take?' Cut to my most recent "no holes" venue. The venue provided stationary hooks within light sconces and a suggestion of hanging the work with fishing line. Fishing line is a very fiddly material that stretches and bounces and requires special knowledge of knots, else they undo themselves. Also, one can't count on accurate measurements when tying knots -- just imagine trying to get all of the pieces the same height and level. Sounds unnecessarily nightmarish, which brings me to my discovery of STAS Picture Hanging Systems. For my purposes, I purchased clear cords with loops and adjustable zipper hooks that hold up to 30 lbs. weight. Hanging the show (pictured below) was literally a breeze! STAS has many hanging solutions with various lengths and weight allowances, so if you find yourself in a "no holes" situation, I highly recommend checking them out. I presented a talk at the downtown Napa Main Library on July 12, 2019 about how and why I make my animal portraits. In my talk, I reveal a pivotal moment from my childhood, something unique about how I think and how that shapes my art, and I describe my process in depth. Please enjoy this recording from the opening reception, as well as a write up from the Napa Country Register.
Art in the Library featuring Jamie L. Luoto runs throughout the month of July 2019. Click here for more details. If you visited my studio in Autumn 2018, you may recall my larger-than-life-sized self portrait, I Believe in Ghosts. It's a recent addition to my new body of work, Portraits of Self and Society, in which I juxtapose vulnerability with challenging social constructs. This self-portrait examines how the conflicted messages women receive about ourselves, our bodies, and our roles impacts our lives and shapes our experiences, expectations, and choices. I'm eager to share that I recently received word from the National Portrait Gallery in London that I Believe in Ghosts, was selected for the final round of the 2019 BP Portrait Award! Those who know say this is the most prestigious portrait painting competition in the world, representing the very best in contemporary portrait painting. Roughly 200 portraits are selected from thousands of submissions from all around the world for the final round of judging. These 200 portraits are then whittled down to about 50 portraits that will go on to exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery in June. Elation from the good news delivered via email in the middle of the night morphed into adrenaline as I realized I had a little over two weeks to coordinate having a frame made, having a shipping crate made compliant with UK customs regulations, correctly filling out paperwork that will make or break my journey through UK customs, and actually shipping my portrait from Healdsburg to London, clearing customs and arriving at the venue before March 1. Easy peasy, right? Frankly a lot of hard work and support by many local treasures went into readying I Believe in Ghosts for departure to London. My piece is currently in transit with FedEx Air Freight and I’ll be holding my breath until it lands in the UK and clears customs! Regardless of the final decision, It's a huge honor to have my work considered for the second year in a row, and very I'm grateful to be included. To be continued... Thank you to Glenn and Charly at Hammerfriar for an absolutely perfect frame made under absurd conditions! Thank you to Chris at John Annesley for a beautifully constructed, lightweight shipping crate. Thank you Skylark Images for the exceptional documentation of my work. Thank you Sally for your endless enthusiasm and support, and help wrapping “IBIG.” and lastly, thank you Byron for around the clock all inclusive love and support. Post Edit:I Believe in Ghosts didn't continue on to exhibit in the 2019 BP Portrait Award show. However, I am really very happy to have had my work selected and considered two consecutive years for the final round of judging by the National Portrait Gallery in London ... not too shabby! Well done to all and a big congratulations to this years exhibitors.
Rattlesnake and Turkey Vulture are exhibiting as part of Animalia at the Healdsburg Center for the Arts. Join me at the opening reception Saturday, March 2, 5:00-7:00pm. The exhibition continues through April 14.
A portion of the proceeds from all of the art sales in Animalia will be donated to the buyers choice of the Humane Society of Sonoma County and/or Safari West Foundation. Healdsburg Center for the Arts 130 Plaza St., Healdsburg, CA 95448 Open | Sun, Mon, & Thur 11am-5pm Fri & Sat 11am-6pm | Closed Tue, Wed Friend and fellow artist, Michelle Hoting and I kicked off the holiday season with a festive holiday celebration and art show at my studio in Dry Creek Valley, Healdsburg, California. Join me for the next one by signing up for my monthly newsletter which features new art, good news, and public and private events. Sonoma County Art Trails open studio tour continues this weekend, October 20-21 2018 from 10am to 5pm. For those who came last weekend, thank you for a wonderful time -- it looks like this weekend will be just as fun! We're looking at gorgeous weather, stimulating art, and scintillating conversation. Here's what else you can expect:
Learn about my creative process while meeting my 40 animal portraits. Enjoy pleasant refreshments while perusing my growing collection of thought-provoking portraits of self and society. If you feel inspired, create your own animal portrait at my coloring station, and definitely sign up for a chance to win one of my giclee prints in a drawing. As a reminder, after this weekend I will return to hosting studio visits year-round by appointment. I hope you'll come by and enjoy! Freddie is part of a high altitude gallery composed of 90 artist's works from around the globe that have been replicated on seven foot banners and hung on lampposts throughout the world-famous Garment District in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, creating a fantastic aerial art gallery that will remain on view from September 12 to October 30, 2018.
*Freddie is located on West 39th Street between 5th and 6th Avenue.
Artist's StatementCreated in response to the 2016 presidential election, America: She Was Asking For It, was born from a nightmare and depicts a revealing portrait of not only America’s elected Head of State but also his wife and Vice President and Mrs. Pence.
A variety of symbols evoke both an immediate visceral reaction, such as the confederate flag, as well as an ongoing discovery of depravity represented as small painted details, such as the pins, that reveal contractions and hypocrisy. I utilized the bright coloring effects of gouache to capture the flashy tone of media imagery and intentionally made the work small to emphasize the insufficient attention and transitory coverage given to these issues by the media. The piece is floated atop an abyss-like, black velvet, to create an effect like that of a digital screen, and finally encased in a tarnished frame, as if it is a dangerous artifact, warning of possible future outcomes. |
I created this space to showcase my past work, chronicle my current projects, and share my inspiration.
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