B.art March 2014

B.art

boulderartnews.com

March 2014

Plastography...

exposed in Boulder!

MadeLife Gallery

shows Plastography

in this issue

Mike Shea

Joe Friend Mary Kenez

Kamruz Photography & Art Gallery • 333 W. Colorado Ave. • Telluride, CO

“Planet of the Plasto”

“Boyz in TIghts”

1................ Letter from the Editor 3.................Photographer Mary Kenez / Through the Lens 4.................Artist Joe Friend at MadeLife in Boulder 5................ Mike Shae 7.................Plastographer Jo Ellen Bourg 9.................Plastographer Mary Kenez 13...............Mary Kenez at Kamruz Gallery in Telluride 19................Lisa Agababian 20................Ravelle Celaya 21...............Manny Valenzuela 23...............Connie Townsend

“Out to Launch” “”

Dear Readers, Welcome to the March 2014 issue of B.art.

Boulder Art News premier issue...very exciting!

I am also VERY excited about MadeLife Gallery “exposing Plastography” in Boulder!

MadeLife is a fabulous space at 2000 21st St, in Boulder. 303-927-0802 see page 4 I have recently been introduced to the art of Lyon’s artist Mike Shea...see his work at MadeLife and hopefully Kamruz gallery in Telluride.

When you leave Boulder and are heading to Telluride, make sure to visit Kamruz Gallery, we have something

for everyone: catering to both the serious collector and the souvenir shopper. There is moderately priced art including signed originals and prints.

Kamruz Gallery also houses a Dog Room complete with art at a “dog’s eye level”. New and exciting pet products include customized K9 Ski pass and the Pet Driver’s License®. are now available.

Kamruz houses an antique camera collections...worth a trip to the “backroom”. aka Apertures Lounge.

You can’t miss Kamruz Gallery, it’s right by Telluride Paper Chase...just look for the Red Cruiser and Red Skis! Hope to see you soon...

Mary Kenez Editor

cover: by Mary Kenez - “Petra looks for water” Boulder Art News is published and printed by: Telluride Paper Chase 333 W. Colorado Ave Telluride, CO 81435 (970)728-0235 editor@tellurideartnews.com tellurideartnews.com boulderartnews.com Editor: Mary Kenez Publisher: Katie DeFrancesco

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Design and Website: DigitalChloe.com logo and images ©2014 T.art & Mary Kenez

“Plum Crazy” & “Chicken-tini” by Jo Ellen Bourg available at Madelife in Boulder, CO

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Through the Lens photographs by Mary Kenez

Kamruz Photography & Art Gallery • 333 W Colorado Ave Telluride CO 3

March Exhibition Information: Artist Joe Friend is debuting his new series of mixed media works in the madelife gallery as part of madelife’s monthly artist series and in conjunction with the first annual Boulder Art Week . An exclusive FRIEND SoundWall feature will be released along with a very small run of madelife X FRIEND men’s and women’s TShirts. The gallery opening and party will be held Friday, March 28th, from 6-9PM at madelife and the artist will be in attendance.

Artist Statement: Joe Friend’s work demonstrates aesthetic elements that encompass both editorial photography and contemporary collage.

With a heavy focus on lifestyle portraiture and motifs of personal identity, FRIEND’s style emerges as a harmonious blend of layered rippings, gestural painting and ink transfers. In his latest series, Ripped Torn & Salvaged, the artist presents a body of work that uses recycled and reused materials, highlighting his unique process of creation and creativity. Utilizing the female form as a podium to showcase his intricate collage work, FRIEND re-contextualizing rippings from fashion magazines into provocative yet tasteful compositions. Through his oneof-a-kind mixed media approach, the artist visually explores the ideas of personality, intrapersonal communication and obscured identity After spending a brief two years at the Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design, Joe took an early leave to explore the rest of his education outside the walls of a traditional university. A mostly self-taught artist and photographer, he has exhibited both locally and nationally and is eager to share his work with the world.

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Mike Shea “Art has always been my passion. I received a BFA in Fine Art Printmaking from S.F.A.I. in 1992. Over the years I have worked in many different fields, but I always find a way to continue doing what I truly love.”

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Jo Ellen Bourg On plastography? It’s not for eveyone...but if if it’s for you, you know it; you love it. What some have called “dark”, “pointless”, or “disturbing”I call funny. Hence, the beauty of art. Actually, in all honesty, I did capture a few shots that may have given me slight nightmares.

“Hula She - Weed”

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“Peppermint Patty”

“Natalia! and Pet”

“Smokin Chicks”

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Mary Kenez For me Plastography is the natural world combined with the unatural world... of plastic.

I attempt to incorporate the living with the “dead” in most of my plastography. The art is also about movement and storytelling ... a rooster crowing, a ravenous dinosaur...an angry bear, all come to life in the world of plastography. Hopefully you will find a plastograph that inspires you...

“A Life of Plastic is Fantastic!”

“Cabbage Cowboy”

“Dino Fries”

“Red Dino, Red Berries”

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“Say Cheese”

“Salt Lick”

“Squirrel Party”

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“Petra Looks for Water”

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“Petra Wanders” “Crazy Eyes“ - series

“Yellow Chicks”

P L A S T O G R A P H Y Plastography.com “She-Weed”

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Mary Kenez I see colors...

I’ve loved photography and the outdoors for as long as I can remember...

My photography is a documentation of my travels and adventures in... vivid color and sometimes not. Telluride is so full of color and beauty it’s easy to be inspired here. I find inspiration around every bend and in everyday I’m fortunate enough to spend here. Each season brings new colors, new light and new photographic opportunities.

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photographs by Mary Kenez

Kamruz Photography & Art Gallery • 333 W Colorado Ave Telluride CO 14

Mary Kenez

photographs by Mary Kenez

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Mary Kenez

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photographs by Mary Kenez

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Clay Artist: Lisa Agababian

“Red Spiral”

“Gold Mine”

“Interdependence”

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“Pure JOY”

Lisa Agababian

Lisa Agababian, born and raised in New York City; is mostly a self-taught ceramic artist currently creating purposeful art in Tucson, AZ. She started her journey with clay in 1969 at an Armenian summer camp in upstate NY at the age of seven, and by her teenage years she was sharing her passion by teaching it to others. Although her journey with clay was shelved for several years as she gained her formal education in mathematics & computers, she managed to come back to her hearts passion when she moved to Tucson in 1989.

After spending many years utilizing the clay studios in Tucson & attending workshops ranging from figurative raku to functional wheel-thrown stoneware; the loss of her mother in 1993 woke her up & inspired her to create her own low-fire clay studio whereby giving her more freedom to create, and to practice & develop her skills more deeply. The passing of her dad in 2004 moved her to end her computer consulting profession, serving mostly the nonprofit community for 20 years, and courageously leap into her heART full-time. This brought her relief which completely transformed her style; and as she let go of her obsession with centering & throwing the perfect vessel and relaxed into herself thru hand-building, out of the fire came her authentic, expressive, colorful "Large heART Wall Hangings" and more.

Lisa occasionally throws on the potters' wheel but currently gives most of her time in the studio to creating "Large Heart Wall Hangings". Her heARTs are personal expressions as she experiences this fabulous, wondrous and sometimes very scary & painful life through her travels, outdoor activities/adventures and daily relationship with self and others.

Her clay heARTs are also her way of bringing attention to concerns affecting the greater whole, as well as a means to awaken others to themselves & the magnificence within and all around us.

"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one..."

- John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Spreading Peace, Beauty & Love...

Always, Lisa

“Middle Way”

“Cosmic Love”

“Abundance”

Ravelle Celaya i began painting in high school and very soon fell in love with watercolor for its immediacy and spontaneity. i loved to watch the paints paint themselves, then i would fill in with the details. Since that time i have learned a more disciplined way of painting and maybe even a little more successful in terms of painting a subject and having it look like what i’m envisioning or feeling at the time. my intention these days is to simply paint what i am attracted to around me in the most interesting way i can. creativity for the sake of creativity. which these days happens to be watercolor on yupo. yupo is a very smooth paper much different than traditional watercolor paper. it has its own challenges and its own charms.

Kamruz Photography & Art Gallery • 333 W Colorado Ave Telluride CO

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Manny Valenzuela Born 1963 and raised in Tucson, Arizona Hispanic Heritage Principal works are acrylic on canvas paintings, cast bronze and welded steel sculpture.

“Passion for the Gaucho, simplicity and emotional complexity, this is the basis of my art. The central element is a minimal silhouette of a cowboy wearing a gaucho hat. Adding vibrant colors and positioning multiple characters together stir emotion. This is the starting point for my artwork; from here it is constantly evolving. My gaucho characters started with individual colors. Currently I’m mixing the colors within each character to bring out more depth making the subject more vibrant and dimensional. This takes my paintings in a new and exciting direction while keeping true to my passion for the Gaucho.”

“Visionary” “Girls will be Girlsr”

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“Good Bye Blue Sky”

Manny Valenzuela Manny is a dynamic, Contemporary Artist.

His sculptures and paintings are inspired by his colorful heritage.

“Many of my paintings are metaphors of personal relationships that convey a message using western influences. I love using my artwork to express that special bond between a parent and his/her kids. Bright colors and textures are mixed in a contemporary fashion creating a unique interpretation of the world around us. The combination of subject and technique brings character and flair to a room while still embracing a deeper meaning. Everyone has something to say I just prefer to communicate with metal or paint.”

“I mainly work with western figures because of the poetic lifestyle they lead. It appears simple yet contains a complexity that goes beyond what seems obvious. I love creating paintings that stir emotion. It’s a great feeling to know you’ve touched someone’s heart or put a smile on their face. My style is minimalistic because of its ability to best convey the message with very little distraction. Some of the designs are derived from childhood memories and others represent my relationship with my own kids.”

Pre-historic art, western icons, and personal life experiences influence the designs for his sculpture. A contemporary touch coupled with a southwestern flavor is evident in his artwork. His contemporary abstract pieces consist of visual metaphors, symbolizing both personal and global representations.

Manny creates sculpture using welded steel and cast bronze. These mediums are selected for their permanency and value. He is involved in every step of the process to ensure the highest level of quality. His goal is to create artwork that provides enjoyment and a sound investment.

“True Color”

“Midnight Cowboys”

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Kamruz Gallery - welcomes Connie Townsend

“Ruff Hewn” 20 x 24 - oil

“Dog Heaven” 14” x 18” - Oil

Plastography by Mary Kenez 8

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“Two Scruffy Mugs” 24 x 30 - oil

“You Make My Heart Wag” 24 x 20 - oil “Perro Feliz” 20 x10 - oil

Connie Townsend

Kamruz Photography & Art Gallery • 333 W Colorado Ave Telluride CO

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Through the Lens

photographs by Mary Kenez

Kamruz Photography & Art Gallery • 333 W Colorado Ave Telluride CO

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Kamruz Photography & Art Gallery • 333 W Colorado Ave Telluride CO 32

“Bisti Incident”

Plastography in Boulder at...

2000 21st St, Boulder, CO

photograph by Jo Ellen Bourg