art delivery : 02.10.23
art delivery : 02.10.23
These are the crazy wonderful bouquets of San Francisco based artist Casey Gray. I had to share those ‘work-in-progress’ shots because, apparently, he starts by masking ‘n spraying perfect vessels, and then builds his painted bouquets from there!
[Casey] works primarily as a painter, but also makes sculpture, design and site-specific murals. His work examines our collective entanglement with the dignity and reality of the everyday, and engages the symbolic potential of collected objects and ephemera to tell stories and inform identity ... His work is characterized by his commitment to aerosol paints and laborious hand cut masking techniques, resulting in a type of skewed realism.
LOVE. Some of his work can be found via Hashimoto Contemporary, and you can find Casey on Instagram at @caseygraysf.
Okay, this usually happens on Thursdays, but a time sensitive question has just come in! That’s right, it’s an emergency issue of ‘Dear Arty’:
Dear Arty, I got a call today from a local cooperative art gallery looking for me to join. Which is lovely and affirming and I am very flattered (they like me. they really like me!). Thing is, they're looking for a 3d artist. Whilst assemblage is always in the back of my head, I've been very focused over the last year at getting better at painting and collage … So. What to do? Give assemblage another go with the knowledge I'd actually have a legit platform? Or stick to my current path wherever that may lead? Also. The cooperative needs work by April. Help! ~ Jen Worden
Alright, get to work! You can leave a comment/advice etc by clicking on the comment bubble icon… Jen needs you!
Happy Friday ~ Danielle
Firstly, can I just say what an amazing community of thoughtful, helpful souls you have created here, Danielle?!? Seriously. So much appreciation and love. (I feel seeeeen!!!)
Secondly, as a general response to all...so many great ideas. So many excellent questions. Thank you. Thank you.
And thirdly, here's where I'm at...I pondered all your thoughts and ideas letting ruminate as I went down to the studio. And then I bypassed all my current 2D works in progress, cleared a spot on my desk and grabbed my box of unfinished assemblage works (some I haven't touched in 5 years!) and started to play. My first reaction was "oh! I'd forgotten how much FUN this is!" and after a half hour, I was thinking, "Ugh. This isn't as much fun as I thought it was going to be" and finally, my brain started working out a problem I'd been having with a collage I'd been working on.
Walking away from a BIG opportunity is hard. Being sought after and "liked" is a delicious ego stroke which as artists, on this lonely road a lot of the time, is a rare occurrence. But as you all said, art has to be from the heart or what's the point?!?
Guess I have my answer. 😉
Thank you all! ♥️♥️
My Dear Jen,
Sit down on the floor, close your eyes, think back to the moment before you got this invitation, and breathe. Seriously. In the quiet of your mind and body, you already have your answer. What answer did you find for yourself? Did it involve asking them questions about how they define 3-D art? What are the responsibilities of being a part of this gallery? Are their works at the level of my own? Take pride and ownership of your worth as an artist and a human. Since you chose to spend the last year focusing on your painting and collage, were you, at the moment before you got their invite at a place in your mind where you like, "This ROCKS! I LOVE where I am going with painting and collage, AND I WANT to keep exploring this." OR were you like: "Ug. I have committed an ENTIRE year to this, and I don't want to feel like I wasted my time, but making art this way doesn't feel right." All the nerves and excitement you shared seem to be about your wanting to fit into someone else's box. What's the shape of your box, and does this opportunity fit inside it? I believe in you. You got this!
Love, Kate