#artnook

ArtNook: “Distracted” by Michael Beitz

This season we are pleased to feature the work of Michael Beitz, an artist who combines furniture design and sculpture to produce works that are at once familiar and unexpected.

Michael creates functional sculptures in which he transforms familiar household items into explorations of intimacy and alienation. His work often features domestic furniture such as dining tables and living room couches, which are warped and elongated to subvert their original function. “Distracted” appears initially to be two ordinary school chairs arranged side by side. Looking closely, however, the viewer notes the subtle curve of the front chair legs as they nestle against one another, participating in a sort of shy game of ‘Footsie.’

ArtNook: Amanda Armstrong

Gettliffe Architecture is delighted to host artist Amanda Armstrong in our ArtNook this season.

Amanda is known for her combat sports photography, featured on HBO and Showtime – but she’s not interested in being defined as a “one-dimensional” combat sports photographer. She works in multiple photographic modes (including studio and portrait photography), as well as across mediums (including painting, mixed media, and sculptural assemblages). Amanda is also a homesteader, animal lover, former boxer, and Mom, originally from England.

I enjoyed the opportunity to visit Amanda in her studio at GRACe (Globeville Riverfront Arts Center). The eclectic space features Amanda’s explorations in various mediums. Having visited GRACe for our past few artists (Nicholas Emery, Susan Dillon, and now Amanda), I’ve developed a sense of the strength of the community. The artists support, challenge, and collaborate with each other. GRACe hosts open studios on First Fridays, giving the public a chance to explore all the community has on offer.

“Landscape Series I,” on display in the ArtNook, was created by Amanda as a kind of personal test. Driving back to Colorado from a boxing event in Las Vegas, Amanda challenged herself to pull over and experiment with a different photographic mode, one based in a meditative study and deliberation — stopping, looking, and listening. The resulting photographic triptych manifests time expansively, in tones and layers; in contrast to the high-contrast “freeze frame” images of fast-paced combat sports.

You can experience the photo series in person any weekday – just drop by the GA studio.

ArtNook: Julia Lunk’s paintings

This season we’re delighted to host artwork by local painter Julia Lunk. Julia creates alluring, otherworldly scenes in her private studio and in public as “live paintings.”

“Planet Playground #4” (Acrylic on canvas, 2014) is the largest of the three featured pieces, and the product of one of Julia’s live painting experiments. Julia explains, “This piece is based on the idea of a planet created for playing as an activity for humans, animals, plants and minerals existing on it. Originally the painting was created in public, while listening to live music and absorbing the waves of energy from the audience, then later I worked on some of the details at my studio in natural light.”

On the joining wall, “Today” (Acrylic on paper, 2014) and “Moist Clouds” (Acrylic on paper, 2014) offer more of Julia’s intriguing imagery.

I was happy to accept Julia’s invitation to visit her home studio here in Boulder. She greeted me at the door with her young son and two cats in tow. The space was a charming reflection of Julia’s aesthetic, and stepping into the studio felt a little like stepping right into one of Julia’s paintings.