HOME TEAM: a staff-curated show
January 14 - April 1, 2023
The artwork in "Home Team" was curated by those most intimately familiar with the studio practice of Art Enables resident artists: Art Enables staff. Tony Brunswick, Shreya Basu, Amy Kitchin, Toni Lane, Courtney Smith, and Aimee Wanner work with resident artists every day in the studio, bearing witness to each artist's unique talents, style, and creative development over time. The Art Enables team have a keen view into the inspirations, approach, experimentation, and dedicated work ethic behind work created here. This show pays homage to the passionate interest in the work of the Art Enables artists taken by everyone on the Art Enables "team," who also happen to be some of the their very biggest fans.
Toni Lane, Lightning Buds 2
"Toni Lane is a master of using ink and charcoal to create rich textures in her work. She is versed in many mediums. A fair bit of her work is either done in black and white or with muted color tones. When she works in bold color, ther work really jumps off the page and has a different presence than some of her other work. Her art often captures little moments the human experiences that make me walk away feeling somehow more aware of the goings on around me. I love the bright colors contrasting against the dark sky in Lightening Buds 2. It reminds me of young love being kindled under the veil of the night sky, or newly rekindled love."
- Aimee Wanner, Program Manager
Eileen Schofield, Children Jumping Rope
Eileen’s characters always exude joy! The exaggeration of their limbs and the largeness of their heads always brings a smile to my face. Children Jumping Rope captures the nostalgia and childlike wonder of playing outside with friends. The vibrant colors throughout her pieces match the beautiful energy she brings into the studio each day.
- Shreya Basu, Studio Assistant
Jamila Rahimi, Butterfly
Jamila is incredibly focused in her art practice and methodical in her routines at the studio. Her personality is reflected in the bold marks she makes on paper, as in Butterfly. You can find a clear and confident voice in all her pieces.
- Shreya Basu, Studio Assistant
Raymond Lewis, Viking Woman
"When Raymond starts an artwork it is just a tangled mess of lines to the untrained eye. As it develops and transforms into a beautiful creation, I see his painterly style as a cross between mosaics and stained glass. Viking Woman reminds me of some of the portrayals of Mother Ireland from my Irish studies class during my undergrad. For me, it is particularly reminiscent of Sir John Lavery's painting Portrait of Lady Lavery as Kathleen Ni Houlihan."
- Aimee Wanner, Program Manager
Max Poznerzon, Head in the Clouds
"Max is unadulterated Americana. He is known for his depictions of cowboy boots, guitars, and oddly enough, hamburgers. But his piece “Head in the Clouds” is as far as I know his only portrait. How could I not have chosen it? I love the subtle colors and the beautiful blue background. I love the composition of the bodiless head floating on the paper. But most of all I love that just like Max, it is purely unique."
- Courtney Smith, Development and Communications Manager
Duane Blacksheare-Staton, About the Cat
"I can't get enough of Duane's piece About the Cat. Fun and whimsical, I am totally captivated by the contrast the nighttime scene creates with the pink-nosed, white-haired cat and the colorful elements incorporated in the piece."
- Tony Brunswick, Executive Director
Marti Clark, Mexican-Indian Parrot
"This drawing reflects much of what I appreciate about Marti's personality. She is both a deep feeler and thinker, and approaches her work with a playful yet serious spirit. She sees hope and light in all that she encounters. Her application and juxtaposition of color reminds me of the lines and shapes I see in Vincent van Gogh's multi-layered compositions."
- Amy Kitchin, Operations Manager
Keith Lewis, Sunset Beach
"When I first started here, Keith was the first artist whose work I purchased. He has such a unique use of bold color, space and line. His particular use of space and line creates beautiful moments of tension and balance. When Keith started here 10 years ago, his work was all realistic. It morphed into more abstract work. I have really enjoyed seeing his two styles drift back and forth in his work over the past few months. Sunset Beach seems like a marriage of these 2. I like how this tiny little ocean wave, reminiscent of the iconic work by Japanese artist Hokusai, is constrained by these dark bounding boxes. Water is not often seen constrained, as it is a force all on its own."
- Aimee Wanner, Program Manager
Vanessa Monroe, The Sound of Hope (FRAMED), 2022
watercolor and ink on paper, 19 x 24 in., $250
"I grew up in a house where the silence was routinely broken by the passionate playing of our antique upright piano. I practiced daily but made little progress. In all, I tortured my mother with the piano for 10 years. I was never good, but I always hoped I’d be. Vanessa’s piece is stunning of course, but that isn’t why I love it. I love it because it does something that all great art does, it unlocks a long-lost memory."
- Courtney Smith, Development and Communications Manager
Eric Atkinson, Five More Minutes
"Eric's range as an artist is broad and extensive and his works move from highly detailed and character-driven to uncomplicated and powerfully austere. I selected his piece Five More Minutes because of the way the two simple sketches capture ordinary life from a perspective of slightly behind and to the side of each character, giving intimacy to the piece."
- Tony Brunswick, Executive Director
Maurice Barnes, The Metro
"I love the storytelling power of Maurice's work. His characters convey incredible emotion and relationship with one another and within their settings. This is especially true in his piece, The Metro, where Maurice portrays the familiar experience of life on a subway car, complete with loud advertisements and a fun and eclectic group of passengers."
- Tony Brunswick, Executive Director
Mara Clawson, Welcome to the Lovable Dog
"This is such a sweet drawing by Mara. It conveys both the warmth and the excitement of entering a room where a lovable fur friend awaits you. The swirl of pastels, the floating hearts, and the dog's bright orange bow beg you to 'come and play!' Finally, the dog's steady gaze, and cockeyed and toothy grin promise that you'll be friends for life!"
- Amy Kitchin, Operations Manager
Eric Kendrick, Ghost Church
"I like mystery, sci-fi and horror films. This piece is perfect scenery for those genres."
- Toni Lane, Studio Art Coordinator