*Creative Natives* Scrawl at Artspace

What I love most about the New Haven Art Scene is how everyone involved works to unite the artists in the community. This weeks spotlight goes out to Martha Lewis and Artspace for literally putting 48 artists in one gallery and giving them each a wall to decorate at Scrawl. They were each given free reign creatively, however were asked not to look at what the artist next to them was doing. From February 9th to March 26th they get unlimited Sharpie Markers and get to come in and make art!  I stopped in a few times to watch the progression and got to speak with 6 of the artists about their approach. I was amazed that each of them had such different backgrounds and each a unique approach to their space. I will also be at the opening reception March 25th for the Big Reveal, and to get pictures of the artists with their final piece!

Alexis Brown grew up in New Haven and has a gardening business. She started out art school for figure drawing and made the transformation into animals, which is what she is focusing on here. She says she tends to start drawing without a plan, and sees where it takes her! In a few months Alexis will be a mommy, and then she hopes to go back to school to become a biology teacher!

I met with 2 architects, both had VERY different approaches, but the commonality seemed to be how they were both exploring their space... Frances Cooke was intrigued with drawing full scale with this project, and is exploring "breaking authority of perspective." I am excited to see the final product with this one because it really feels like you could walk into the wall. I just hope it transfers in photograph as well as it does on the wall...

While Frances took a very technical approach and was very planned out, Maegen Michael McElderry, went to art school and brought some of that background with him to Scrawl. He also wanted to explore his space, but in a more philosophical way. He uses "infinite space to emphasize the finality of death". Saying "The only thing we really own is our life and our death." Each of the falling characters has their pronoun marked next to them "Him," "Her," and in their final landing spot indicated by the X on the ground, "Here" and "There".

My enlarged photos are an attempt to show the detail in the ball point pen drawings, but keep in mind the empty space is very much a part of this piece.

The next artist is a  Painting and Drawing Professor at University of Hartford. Cat Balco is a painter, and this is her first black and white ink drawing, but she is exploring weavings that she normally does, only in large scale. Her work, as she describes is very organic, and filled with organic forms and life symbols... ( they are similar to DNA symbols) when I went back the next week it was very different and pictures of her finished product will be up soon, as well as hopefully a picture of her face!

The next group of artists are of a different medium normally but decided they needed to do this together. On a regular basis Larrissa Hall, Mike Pitassi and Michael Riley rap together, (AKA Queen Larita, MC Sausage, and Dr Box)....(unfortunately Dr. Box was out while I was hanging out with this crew, but once again, final pics will be up after the opening! ). They are from Waterbury and their work depicts all the things from Waterbury they felt needed to be represented!

Next artist up is also the next artist I will be introducing for creative Natives next week! His work at Scrawl really speaks to me and I felt I had to get to know him more. Andres Madariaga's piece invites you to "Enter and find your Center". It is a very spiritual piece, he started with a little bit of planning but not much, he had a general focus on the idea of Cyclical Life, and went from there. While he was drawing this piece is grandmother died and he realized how important this piece was to him, and also realized he needed to add death to the piece, as it is a part of life. Each pedal symbolizes a different part of life. Regret, birth, love, loss. Stay tuned and I will introduce Andres in more detail, and more of his work!

Each time I went all the artists were completely emerged in their work, and I loved to watch but I really didnt enjoy stopping them to ask questions, I talked to them when I saw a good break point, and then let them get back to work as quickly as possible. I really enjoyed watching so many artists doing what they loved, and so diligently!

I really loved watching these transformations and cannot wait to show you the final products! Be sure to Check out Scrawl's Big Reveal  at Artspace March 25th 6-8 because the next day this all gets painted over!!!!