Prepping for Art² - 2018

​ArtSquared is on it's way, yet again!

What is ArtSquared? Imagine walking into an art show and seeing nearly 1000, 6x6 inch works of art, each attractively priced at $36. On the weekend of September 28 - 30 at CAVU Cellars, ArtWalla’s sixth annual ArtSquared will bring artists and art lovers together for a fun and exciting visual art event in Walla Walla. 

The event will also include a gallery exhibition with large format work by participating ArtSquared artists. The gallery exhibition will remain on view at CAVU Cellars from September 28th through October 31st.

This is ArtWalla's annual fundraiser with proceeds from the sale benefiting arts education in the Walla Walla Valley.

"Featured artists include:
​Lindsay Tebeck, Dianna Woolley, Anne Haley, Kimberly Wiessner, Bill Rodgers, and over 100 more artists!" -- ArtWalla

Last year, I had the joy of taking part in a mini  artist interview for the event. During this interview, I had said that "... I feel it would be a waste of artistry not to use my illustrative background in order to question and challenge issues from time to time. Being an artistic individual means I have access to a visual voice, which I aim to use to tackle issues that are critical to me; whether they be social, political, or personal." This couldn't ring more true for this year's entries as I aim to tackle issues related to the consumption of animals.

Over the last few months, I've been cramming my brain full of Pollan, Sinclair, and Foer. 📚 I can't help but want to dedicate this year's ArtSquared series to the popular proverb, "You Are What You Eat." Let's be honest - In a way, I am selfishly trying to wash my hands of all the flesh I have stolen in my pre-vegan years... I hope that this series will be a sufficient memorial (or at least a start to one) for all of those that I blindly consumed.

I focused on animals that we only consider to be food and are massively abused through our factory farms. Poultry, cow, pig, and fish all took center stage in my imagery. I continually made references to what we feed these animals before eating them ourselves (and therefore, what we become); corn. Many of my pieces ultimately became unsightly images of corn busting from animal flesh and the like.

But, whipping trough these ten 6"x6" pieces ultimately left me with a craving to dedicate more to this subject. I crave to create something larger, more substantial, and to the point. 
​

As I neared the end of my ArtSquared series, I started to feel what really peaked my interest surrounding this subject matter. "When we eat factory-farmed meat we live, literally, on tortured flesh. Increasingly, that tortured flesh is becoming our own."  (Eating Animals/ Jonathan Foer, p.143) The words from the literature I had been pouring over the past few months had finally escaped through my finger tips and arranged themselves conspicuously on my page. (above)
"The Flesh You Sew"

I'm inspired to create more in this grungy realm. (with the addition of a few shiny acrylic!)

Thanks for reading! Drop by for the Show & Sale!
When: Sep.28th, 2018 (5:00 PM - 9:00 PM)
Where: Cavu Cellars, 175 E. Aeronca Ave. Walla Walla WA 99362