Art Blog - Laura Tyler

Open Studios 2019 at Eldorado Springs Art Center

If you have time for just one studio visit during Boulder’s Open Studio’s 2019 check out the Eldorado Springs Art Center. ESAC is a studio and gallery compound established by sculptor Giuseppe Palumbo in 2000. Stop by from noon to 5:00 pm on October 12th and 13th to visit resident artists Dona Laurita, Julie Maren, and Palumbo in their studios. Linger to stroll the sculpture garden and soak up the artwork on display in ESAC’s community gallery spaces.

ESAC is located at 8 Chesebro Way in Eldorado Springs, Colorado. Look for the stone wall with the turquoise sign on the south side of the unpaved road that leads to Eldorado Canyon State Park.

ESAC’s main structure and lower sculpture garden viewed from the Chesebro Way entrance/parking area on the east side of the building

The crumbling canyon topography and sandstone walls, pedestals and pebbles that surround and make up ESAC add poignancy to emotionally evocative work.

A spiral inclusion by Palumbo embedded in the sandstone wall the border’s the north edge of ESAC’s lower sculpture garden.

There’s an awareness of geologic time and a sense that even durable objects constructed of stone, bronze and wood are impermanent.

“Sitting Cheetah” by Giuseppe Palumbo has an achingly human face.

“Sitting Cheetah,” Giuseppe Palumbo

The sculpture garden is loaded with art and cleverly place architectural details and vantage points. I won’t ruin the delight of you discovering these details on your own by showing all my favorites here.

Julie Maren’s studio is accessible on ESAC’s lower level. Look for the tasseled doorway that leads to two green paintings under the light of a crystal chandelier.

Julie Maren’s paintings offer viewers a chance to contemplate dreamlike symbolic landscapes

There is a stairway to the left of Maren’s entrance that leads to the second level of ESAC’s expansive sculpture garden. Check out the stone carvings by Collen Nyanhongo along the way.

Stone carving by Collen Nyanhongo

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to get through this thing called life,

says Prince quoted in purple paint on the south wall of the upper sculpture garden.

Bands of afternoon light rake the upper level sculpture garden at ESAC

I had a great experience connecting with the ESAC community earlier this summer as part of the Bridges show. While Bridges wrapped in September you can still catch some of that work including five of my photos from Future Perfect. Look for them lining the entry to ESAC’s main event space.

Five photographs by Laura Tyler at ESAC

Photographer Dona Laurita manages two spaces at ESAC, her own private studio plus a collective gallery space, Dona Laurita Collective.

View work by Tracy Barnes, Jody Bill, Dona Laurita, and more at the Dona Laurita Collective

See Collective painter Tracey Barnes’ gauzy fields of color in ESAC’s main gallery and event space.

“The Realm in Fullness of Grace” by Tracey Barnes, plaster, beeswax, pigment on board

Here are a few more snapshots of ESAC’s main gallery and event space. The wonderful, large magical realist paintings above the sofa and hanging on the orange wall are by Frank Sampson. You can see another of Tracey Barnes’ paintings on the back wall bookended by sculpture by Giuseppe Palumbo.

Looking toward the west wall in ESAC’s main gallery/event space

“Jonah and the Whale” (right) and “Americans in Venice” by Frank Sampson

Turn around after taking in Sampson’s paintings on the orange wall to find Giuseppe Palumbo’s sublimely lit studio space.

Giuseppe Palumbo’s studio

Work in progress by Giuseppe Palumbo

Another view of the hallway angling back toward the stairs. The two photos on the right are mine. The painting on the left is by Julie Maren.

“Novitiate” and “Patient” (right from top to bottom), photographs by Laura Tyler, the painting on the left is by Julie Maren

Drunk on color, texture and feeling? Wait, there is more. Go upstairs to visit Dona Laurita’s studio. Here’s a snapshot that shows a glimpse of a new series in progress, images printed on veil-like pieces of silk. Lift the veils to deepen and reveal.

“The Thin Veil Between Lift and Death” by Dona Laurita, images from film circa 1994-1998 on silk, vintage windows, black paint, silver leaf, glass, glitter, mica, wire, charcoal and pencil

If weather allows, take a moment to enjoy the balcony on the east end of Laurita’s space. It offers a bird’s eye view of the sculpture gardens below and is also a nice place sit, talk about art and think.

Also showing at ESAC this weekend (October 12th and 13th): Open Studios painter Antonio Arrieta and ceramicist Joy Alice Eisenhauer whose undulating plates offer a fantastic complement to Maren’s and Barnes’ paintings. (I’m sorry I was unable to include images of their work in this post.) Join us and plan to spend an hour or two at ESAC where there’s an abundance to see, feel and do.

Exit the upper level of ESAC’s east-side sculpture garden through the colbalt gate and follow the path down for more sculpture and vantage points to the west.

Boulder Artists at EDGE in Lakewood, Colorado

EDGE Gallery is hosting a show of artists from Boulder’s NoBo Art District as part of Boulder/EDGE Gallery Swap, an inter-district exchange. Here are some snapshots of the show which you can check out through the weekend. Boulder/EDGE Gallery Swap ends at 3:00 pm on Sunday, February 3rd.

“Novitiate,” photograph by Laura Tyler, 2′ x 3′

EDGE is a pleasingly rough and sweet little gallery divided into two spaces. There is a larger, more open space in the front, and an intimate room in the back. Starting in back looking toward the front, here is an image of my photo, Novitiate, hanging on the west wall. The material is Fujiflex face mounted on acrylic. In the background are three warm toned monotypes by John Horner. (About half the pieces in Boulder/EDGE Gallery Swap, including Horner’s below, are photos or prints framed under glass. My snapshots here don’t do them justice but are enough, I hope, to give you a sense of the show.)

“An Uncommon Visitor,” monotype stencil print by John Horner

If you stand near Horner’s prints and look toward the back of the gallery you’ll see a few more of my photos (center) in the interior space. The entry here is bordered by two paintings by Alissa Davies on the left, and two prints by Catherine Carilli on the right.

Looking toward the back of the gallery, Boulder/EDGE Gallery swap.

Here’s a closer look at my four photos in the interior room. The material is, again, Fujiflex and the prints are framed under museum glass. (Thank you, Mercury Framing.)

“Visitor,” photograph by Laura Tyler in foreground

On the wall to the right of the image above is this expressive oil painting by Catherine Carelli titled “Mystic Portal.”

“Mystic Portal,” oil on canvas with barn wood by Catherine Carilli.

Here is a second glimpse of two of Alissa Davies’ paintings hanging near a playful mobile by Michael Deragisch, one of three kinetic pieces in the show.

“Floating Notes,” mobile by Michael Deragisch

If you stand under Deragisch’s Floating Notes and look toward the front of the gallery you’ll see this third painting by Alissa Davies in bold yellow and black with red.

“Mountain Calls,” acrylic, by Alyssa Davies

Glancing to the left are two paintings by Tracey Russell. Like Carilli’s and Davies’, Russell’s paintings display an affinity for expressive gesture.

“The Warm Breeze,” oil and mixed media on panel by Tracey Russell.

This large, totemic painting by Samuel Austin hangs on the gallery’s east wall near the front window. It’s an attention grabber. (Check out the title in the caption below.)

“If You’re Gonna Be a Bear Be a Grizzly,” watercolor and acrylic by Sam Austin

If you stand at the front of the gallery and look to the left/west wall you’ll see a group of four photographs by Paula Gillen. I relate a lot with her graphic, playful, feminist sensibility. The subjects in the three images on the right are models posing with collaged elements.

“#MeToo Carrots,” glclee print by Paula Gillen in foreground

I’m sorry I failed to get good snapshots of Gillen’s photos above and Stefka Trusz’s below (due to glare) because their work is fab. Click through to their sites linked to their names above to see what I’m talking about.

“Shadowing Buddha,” (left) and “Solar Salvation,” scenography by Stefka Trusz

Not pictured in this post are Buffy Andrews’ layered, feminine works on the gallery’s north wall in mixed media/encaustic. Check out Buffy Andrews’ work here.

Lakewood is a new location for EDGE having left their old location a little over a year ago due to gentrification. The new location is easy to get to from Boulder and the gallery is sweet! Stay tuned for EDGE artists in Boulder’s NoBo Art District later this year.

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Boulder/EDGE Gallery Swap

Join me at the Boulder/EDGE Gallery Swap opening this Friday, January 18th. EDGE Gallery, in cooperation with Boulder’s NoBo Art District, has invited ten Boulder artists to show in Lakewood’s 40 West District as part of an inter-district exchange. The image below, “Volunteer,” is one of five photos from Future Perfect in the show. If you can’t make the opening check out the show during EDGE’s regular hours through February 4th, 2019.

Volunteer, photograph

EDGE Gallery is located at 7001 W. Colfax, Lakewood, Colorado. Friday’s opening is happening from 6:00 to 10:00 pm.

“EDGE is a contemporary, non-profit, co-op art gallery dedicated to artists outside the domain of commercial art venues. Because of our business model, we have the freedom to pursue more experimental and conceptual modes of expression. Our primary objectives are to celebrate individuality and uniqueness, to encourage our shared vision, and to maintain our intensity and integrity in addressing the often contradictory messages occurring in contemporary art.”

Part Two of the Boulder/EDGE Gallery Swap, an exhibition of EDGE artists in Boulder, is slated for later this year.

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Happy Thanksgiving 2018

“Small White Blossom,” wood engraving, 2018

The print to the left is a tiny wood engraving. At 1.5″ x 2″ it’s smaller in real life than it appears here. One of the joys of the last year for me – something I feel thankful for – has been rediscovering relief printmaking, a process I explored and loved as a younger person and am just now getting back into thanks to seeing so many amazing woodcuts at Mo’Print last spring. While there’s lots to love about relief printmaking the thing that’s hooking me in this moment is the potential for expression bounded by constraints. I love the challenge of making images with stripped-to-the-elements qualities that say something about energy. And I love working with wood.

Wishing you and yours a cozy Thanksgiving. May you find joy in some small thing you find, make or do this weekend.

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Boulder Arts Week 2018

I use encaustic monotype as a sketch medium to try out combinations of texture, color and composition. The monotype process is painterly and quick. I like it because it doesn’t allow you to overthink. Join me at 7:30 pm this Friday, April 6th for a demonstration at my studio during Boulder Arts Week. The address is 1650 Yellow Pine Avenue, Boulder. My studio is downstairs and will be open from 6:00 to 9:00 pm.

Untitled monotype by Laura Tyler

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New still life photographs: Future Perfect

Imagine you’re a three-year-old lying on the floor of your childhood home. You look up. The walls are raked with light. There’s a hallway made of planes that leads to another room. And the room beyond that has a different tone because of the way the sun is positioned in relationship to the house. You become aware of yourself as a sensing, physical being located in three dimensional space and you feel a sense of wonder.

“Patient,” photograph, Future Perfect

Future Perfect is a new series of still life photographs in which I aim to reconcile physical and digital realities by building imaginary spaces using sculpture and digital photography.

“Novitiate,” photograph

Each piece begins as an abstract painting of a botanical subject. Then I make a three-dimensional object based on the painting using wax and wood and photograph the object on seamless white background.

“Yellow Chunk,” photograph

My goal is to make evocative images with a grounded, tactile quality that are also idealized.

“Volunteer,” photograph

Future perfect is also a grammatical tense that suggests an action yet to be completed, as in “I will have done this,” or “You will have done that.” It as an optimistic construction that allows us to communicate thoughts about an anticipated future that has yet to coalesce.

Check out the Future Perfect gallery on my site to see all current images. This is a new series that I’ll be adding to in the new year.

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Boulder Open Studios 2017, October 7-8 and 14-15

You’re invited! My studio will be open to the public during Boulder Open Studios. Stop by from noon to 6:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday, October 7-8 and 14-15. The address is 1650 Yellow Pine Avenue, Boulder, Colorado 80304.

“Novitiate,” photograph

See the first finished images from a new series of photographs titled, “Future Perfect.” Minimal and bright, I’ll write more about these later, but for now just come and see! Also on display: encaustic monotype, painting, and sculpture made of wood and wax.

The Boulder Open Studios Tour is one of Boulder’s best known and best loved visual arts events. In an area with few established fine art galleries, it gives local artists an opportunity to show new work and connect. It gives collectors a chance to meet artists and see new pieces before they go into a gallery. For young artists coming up, Boulder Open Studios is a chance to meet working artists, see how people set up their studios, make work, and gather ideas. I’m in it for the feedback. It’s interesting to watch people interact with your work, see what they linger over and hear questions about it.

Correction

Alas, there was a mixup in printed guidebook this year and the image associated with my name in the guidebook is not mine. If you’re looking for Jessica Tyler’s work, check her page out on Boulder’s Open Studios website. The most reliable guide to Open Studios is the interactive website, not the printed guide nor PDF.

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Boulder Arts Week 2017

Join me for some springtime art and cheer! I’m hosting an open house at my studio in honor of Boulder Arts Week 2017 on Friday, April 7th. Boulder Arts Week is a once-a-year celebration created to highlight the arts related goings-on that typically happen in Boulder in any given week. While some artists create special events for Boulder Arts Week, others use it as a chance to let people know, “Hey, we’re here! Check us out and see what we have on offer all year round.”

Boulder Arts Week Open House

Friday, April 7th, 6:00 to 9:00 pm

1650 Yellow Pine Ave. (downstairs)

Boulder, Colorado

“Bewitch,” encaustic monotype on rice paper mounted on panel, 8″ x 8″

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Frosted Chives

Frosted chives, winter 2017, Boulder, Colorado

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Pine tree, mild winter, Flatirons Vista

Early 2017 has been mild here in Colorado (no snow or ice to speak of in and around town this week). But even though the ground is dry, the light in the image below still says winter to me. One of the reasons Colorado’s cultural scene is less developed than those on the coasts, I think, is because the sunshine here motivates you to get outdoors and explore.

Pine tree, Flatirons Vista South, Boulder, Colorado

One of my favorite trails right now is Flatirons Vista located on the west side of Highway 93 just south of Boulder. It has two concentric loops that cover grassy and wooded terrain. I like it because it’s less crowded than some of Boulder’s other trails, and because the trees smell great. I also love the variety of views.

Looking southeast toward Trinity ES&C, a gravel mine off Highway 93 in Boulder, Colorado

Look east to see a gravel mining operation and its industrial, sculptural forms. Look west for mountainous views. Also, there’s a lot of pleasing texture between the grass and trees which I find kind of mesmerizing.

My dog Hazel cruising along beside me, Flatirons Vista South, Boulder, Colorado

Anyway, while it’s a treat to be able to get out and hike trails that’d typically be covered with ice this time of year, there’s a relentless quality to the early heat and activity that has me feeling stretched.

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