AwA The Art of Rebellion

ARTIST BRIAN BONEBRAKE ON MAKING HIS OWN PAINTS AND PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES OF EXPRESSION

by Suzi Mitchell

The Art of REBELLION

BEHIND THE DOORS of artist Brian Bonebrake’s studio in downtown Steamboat Springs lies the ultimate illustration of organized chaos. There is nothing he can’t paint and not a color he can’t muster. The greater the challenge, the happier he is.

Pots of neon powders, oil smeared tubes and recycled cans lay strewn across the paint splattered floor. His hand-built shelves resemble an everlasting game of Jenga, where brushes and an array of tools take turns to be pulled.

Brian is part painter, part scientist with a wild mop of hair to match. He is passionate about color and chooses to mix many of his signature electric hues himself. “It’s the only way to achieve the brighter, truer colors,” he says. Like a chef dabbling with ingredients, Brian scoops pure pigment powder and stirs it with oil inside repurposed food cans. “I hate waste and there’s a lot of it in our society.”

He is often less particular about his subject matter, gravitating to everyday objects for his abstract work. Popsicles became his trademark during many years working in the Red Trike Gallery, a gallery Brian opened in Chicago. After earning a Master’s in Fine Art from The Art Institute of Chicago, he bought a disused meat packing warehouse in a grungy part of Chicago, converted it into his living and work space, and made headlines.

His work grabbed the attention of collectors from the Wrigley Family and the Sara Lee Corporation to The Art Institute of Chicago. The Local Flavor with Joan Cusack show chose his work for the set on television.

The quirky living quarters morphed into the Bonebrake family home when his two daughters came along. “We had a lot of fun in the space,” he says. In the late 2000s, television presenter Marcus Leshock ran a feature on WGN Morning News, giving viewers a tour of the property and an insight into Brian’s impressive span of artwork.

After years of urban living, the Bonebrake family moved west and settled in Steamboat Springs in 2018. Brian grew up on the Front Range and would visit Steamboat for ski competitions. “I felt it would be a great place to raise kids,” he says.

In between shuttling his girls around, Brian can be found in the studio or at the Jace Romick Gallery, where he is one of a select group of local artists represented. “Brian’s mindful use of color blended with atmospheric contemplation within each of his paintings carries a touch of genius,” says Jennifer Lynn, the gallery’s director.

Among the more traditional portrayals of downhill skiers, winter scenes and cowboys, which currently hang in the gallery, are his balloon horses. Inspiration came while he was painting a greyscale horse in a rodeo setting. The image set his mind in motion. “A while ago I was painting a stack of rocks and they morphed into a bubble-like form,” he said. “I decided to try the shapes on humans, and give everyone the same squishy uniform, and I loved what came of it, so went on to put them on horses.” Brian worked with washes and color to create an entire collection of fluorescent fillies. “The balloon concept hints at a future where we are all equalized,” he says.

Regardless of what he is painting, Brian is far from conforming. Art is the ultimate outlet for his rebellious streak, one bold stroke at a time.

ELEVATE THE ARTS: Purchase a Brian Bonebrake original before you can’t afford one anymore at the Jace Romick Gallery, R-Diamond Collection. brianbonebrake.com and Instagram @brianbonebrakeredtrikeart. SM

Photos courtesy of Suzi Mitchell

The Art of Survival

The Art of Survival

To celebrate the 40th year that Advocates of Routt County has been serving our community, we’re collaborating with the creative sector to build a robust awareness campaign and gala event. Be on the lookout for stand-alone displays placed in key locations across the county featuring artwork on the theme of “Honoring Survivors” through September and October of 2023.

Then join us OCTOBER 21st for a grand celebration and art auction to support the extraordinary work of Advocates, who serve the most vulnerable members of our community (location TBD).

TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

To contribute artwork, provide a host venue for displaying artwork (Sept–Oct) or to become an event sponsor, please contact Graham Hackett via graham@commaprojects.org.

Use your phone’s camera to scan here and learn more or get involved!