Aurora Robson - The Tide is High

AURORA ROBSON: THE TIDE IS HIGH / Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art / Oct 20 - Dec 9

This month I had the opportunity to assist Aurora Robson and the Halsey team with the installation of The Tide is High. I am a huge fan of installations, as well as art that raises awareness to social and environmental issues. Robson's work merges the two in a way that is both aesthetically and conceptually intriguing. 

"As an artist who explores ecological issues, she creates lively and intricate sculptures from plastic debris, transforming quotidian waste into aesthetic objects of beauty and reflection. Under her meticulous manipulation, the plastic materials she uses in her works take on an organic quality, thus connecting back to nature.  Many of her works take on forms that resemble the otherworldly organisms that exist on ocean floors; in this way, her work is further associated with the sea, which is often the ultimate repository for plastic waste. Her works reference a legacy of using found objects as media for sculpture, and by transforming everyday trash into works of art, her sculpture forces viewers to consider their own relationship with plastic materials and waste."  

- Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art

This site-specific installation is of great importance to Charleston in particular because of our close relationship with surrounding coastal ecosystems. We have a responsibility to take care of this land, to cultivate a lifestyle of sustainability, and to educate ourselves in pursuit of a zero-waste future. My hope is that this installation raises awareness to the issues not only in our own city, but all over the world. 

Thank you to Aurora Robson, The Halsey Institute of Art, and the College of Charleston for investing in the future of this city through meaningful and beautiful art. Please take the opportunity to view SEA CHANGE featuring Aurora Robson: The Tide is High and Chris Jordan: Midway, on view October 20 - December 9, 2017.

Art + Coffee

Along with art making, I work full time at a coffee shop. I started working at Collective Coffee Co. about a year and a half ago and quite honestly, it's one of my favorite jobs I've ever had. Not only have I learned a ton about specialty coffee, but I also was given the opportunity to organize a local art series. This has allowed me to utilize the shop as an alternative gallery space, showcasing local artists work on a six-week basis. My duties include the planning, promotion, and the install/de-install of each show. 

I'm a person who is particularly affected by ambiance, so being able to warm up the white walls with art has been pretty neat. This series has combined my passion for art and my newfound passion for coffee in a truly serendipitous way. 

On another note, we are hosting a triangulation event on July 14th! If you're unfamiliar with triangulation, it's a tasting competition where you taste and evaluate three coffees. Sounds weird, I know. I'm pretty excited about it. There will be food, prizes, a dope 90's playlist, Counter Culture Coffee and lots of fun people. Here's a lil poster I designed for the event! 

Young Contemporaries 2017

As some of you may know, I graduated from the College of Charleston this past December with B.A. degrees in Arts Management and Studio Art. Each year, the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art hosts Young Contemporaries, a juried exhibition open to students of the college, and recent grads. This exhibition is quite unique compared to other shows. Not only do you have the opportunity to win an array of awards, but rejected works are curated for the Salon des Refusés, a nod to the Parisian exhibitions in the mid 1800's.

After three years of submitting to no avail - my work got accepted this year! *awkward happy dance*

This gallery will always hold a special place in my heart. It's where I was exposed to contemporary art in Charleston, where I would find inspiration in between classes, and where I would learn about gallery prep, maintenance, and organization (shout out to Karen Ann Meyers and her fantastic Gallery Fundamentals class).

It is truly surreal to finish off my undergrad career with my work in this show. Thank you to everyone at the Halsey Institute, the studio art faculty, and juror Josephine Halvorson for a beautiful exhibition!

Courtesy of the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art, photos by Rick Rhodes.

Low country Local First - 10th Anniversary Campaign

This March, I had the privilege of creating a public art installation for Lowcountry Local First's 10 year anniversary celebration. Nine local artists and I had the challenge of designing 8-ft letters that were installed around the Lowcountry and spell out "LOVE A LOCAL". 

I am honored to have been asked to create work that is "intended to encourage conversation and awareness of the value community‐based businesses bring to our quality of life." Charleston isn't exactly known for public art, so it has been pretty cool being apart of a project that has utilized public spaces. Currently, my letter is on view at the South Windermere Center on Folly Road (near Earthfare and Half Moon Outfitters).

From April 21st to June 20th, The Bend is partnering with Lowcountry Local First to display all of the letters together on their 17-acre property overlooking the Ashley River. The exhibit is open to the public, and guests are encourage to snap and tag photos with #LoveALocal.

Thank you to everyone at Lowcountry Local First and Chambers Austelle for including me in this awesome project! xx

Side of Life - Context EP

This blog post has long been overdue, but I am still super excited to write it! In late February, my older brother released his first EP under the the name "Side of Life". He played, recorded, and produced all the songs himself - which in itself is impressive. I am incredibly honored that he used my artwork for the cover.

Give it a listen! Your ears will thank you. 

Available on iTunes, Amazon, and Spotify.