A2AC Studio Stories is a series of interviews with local and independent artists about creating art in today’s rapidly changing world. These stories give voice to the artists in our community and the impact on their creative energy.
We are grateful to the artists and their willingness to stay connected with all of us. For those of us who love the arts we hope these stories both serve as a reminder that Art Matters, and provide a place for all of us to visit once a week, even if only virtually.
Studio Stories Season One
That’s a wrap on our first season of A2AC Studio Stories, the series of artist interviews where local artists share their studios, their processes, and how their art has been affected by current events.
Thanks for supporting our local artists by tuning in and look out for more episodes of A2AC Studio Stories, coming soon!
ARTISTS
Kristen Drozdowski: www.kristendroz.com
Peter Sparling: www.petersparling.com
Dylan Strzynski: www.dylanstrzynski.com
Emily LoPresto: www.eloceramicart.com
Helen Gotlib: www.helengotlib.com
John Gutoskey: www.johngutoskeystudio.com
Rachael Van Dyke: www.rachaelvandyke.com
Rik Cordero & Nancy Mitchell: www.rikcordero.com/, www.twitter.com/NamiUnreal
Rik Cordero and Nancy Mitchell
Legendary filmmaking team turned cartoon characters, Rik Cordero and Nancy Mitchell, joined us for Studio Stories this week to talk about their work. Collectively the pair have produced videos for clients like Jay-Z, The Roots, Wu-Tang Clan, Coca-Cola, and local organizations like The Neutral Zone and the A2 Tech Film Showcase. Rik is a filmmaker known for his “grime-noir” style and unusual, non-traditional shooting methods. He was nominated for Video Director Of The Year at the 2009 BET Awards and was the recipient of the Best Film Award for his feature film, Inside A Change. Nancy Mitchell is a filmmaker and actress who has been featured in several award-winning music videos, commercials, shorts, and features. Her work has screened in festivals including the Los Angeles International Short Film Festival, Cannes Film Festival, Antimatter Underground Film Festival, and more.
Follow the artists on Instagram at: @rikcordero @arbordaypictures
John Gutoskey
Join us at the studio of artist, designer, printmaker, and collector John Gutoskey, this week on A2AC Studio Stories.
Early in his career, John worked as a costume designer on productions in New York City and across the US, and taught classes at the University of Michigan’s Department of Theater. After going back to school in the 1990’s, John began exploring the media of printmaking, assemblage and “found” objects, evolving his own unmistakable style: a perfect mirror for his gregarious, highly animated personality. The obsessive collector in Gutoskey met the trained visual artist half-way.
John is the owner and operator of the A2 Print Studio in Ann Arbor, Michigan which opened in the fall of 2015.
Learn more about John Gutoskey at:
http://www.johngutoskeystudio.com/
https://www.etsy.com/shop/VisuallyHungry
Music by bensound.com
Rachael Van Dyke
“I think it’s an incredibly important time right now to explore…how we can give up ourselves, give up our time, our space, our interests for the sake of a greater good.” -Rachael Van Dyke Join us off the grid at the home and studio of abstract landscape painter, Rachael Van Dyke Artist, this week on A2AC Studio Stories. Van Dyke is a mid-career artist and an avid traveler with recent art residencies at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts (VA), Cill Rialaig Arts Center in Ireland, Officina Stamperia del Notaio in Tusa, Sicily, and on the remote island of Isle Royale in Lake Superior.
Learn more about Rachael Van Dyke and her work at: www.rachaelvandyke.com
Facebook: Rachael Van Dyke Artist
Instagram: @vandyker
Way Home by Tokyo Music Walker: https://bit.ly/tokyo-music-walker-way…
Creative Commons, CC BY 3.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/…
Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/pJThZlOuDtI
Helen Gotlib
“My primary visual concern has always been to document nature by focusing on its strengths rather than beauty. Simultaneously subtle and overwhelming, it confounds us with its infinite system of outwardly chaotic patterns within patterns and uncannily expressive forms.”
This week on Studio Stories we’re visiting the studio of Helen Gotlib, Dexter-based printmaker, and Ann Arbor native. A lifetime commitment to art led Gotlib to a career as a full-time fine artist. Over many years of experience, she has developed a detail-oriented style incorporating drawing, printmaking, and mixed media processes. By focusing on the life cycle of flora, particularly on dried, dead, flowers, Gotlib has managed to create images of unexpected beauty and power.
Learn more about Helen Gotlib and her work at: https://www.helengotlib.com/
Facebook: @HelenGotlibArtist
Instagram: @helengotlib
Music by bensound.com
Emily LoPresto
Join us for a look inside the studio of local ceramic artist and Ann Arbor Art Center alum, Emily LoPresto. Emily has been involved with the Art Center for nearly 20 years – she found her love of ceramics in one of our clay camps and went on to become an instructor and eventually run the ceramics studio. She now works full-time as an independent artist. Check out Emily’s work in the Art Center’s online shop, pick out a LoPresto piece for yourself, and support an awesome local artist at: bit.ly/a2aconlineshop A2AC Studio Stories is a series of interviews with local and independent artists about creating art in today’s rapidly changing world. We are grateful to the artists and their willingness to stay connected with all of us.
Learn more about Emily LoPresto at www.eloceramicart.com
And on Instagram at: @eloceramicart
Music by bensound.com
Dylan Strzynski
This week on A2AC Studio Stories we’re visiting the studio of multimedia Michigan artist, Dylan Strzynski.
Strzynski is a Dexter-based artist whose mixed media work combines drawing, painting and influence from his background in printmaking. He is inspired by the woody marine landscape of the north where he grew up and the area surrounding his home in rural western Washtenaw County. Focusing on landscape and vernacular architecture, his work addresses concerns about the environment and poverty by telling stories characterized by mystery and subtle humor. A2AC Studio Stories is a new series of interviews with local and independent artists about creating art in today’s rapidly changing world. We are grateful to the artists and their willingness to stay connected with all of us. For those of us who love the arts, we hope these stories both serve as a reminder that Art Matters, and provide a place for all of us to visit once a week, even if only virtually.
Learn more about Dylan Strzynski at: http://www.dylanstrzynski.com/
Music by bensound.com
Peter Sparling
Journey into the studio of renowned dancer and visual artist, Peter Sparling. Peter is recognized internationally as a former member of the José Limón Dance Company and principal dancer with the Martha Graham Dance Company, professor emeritus of Dance at the University of Michigan, and choreographer of over one hundred works. He has exhibited his visual artwork at the Ann Arbor Art Center and galleries across Michigan.
Learn more about Peter Sparling at: https://www.petersparling.com/ Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/user9438703
Music by bensound.com
Kristen Drozdowski
First up is an interview with Ypsilanti-based artist and founder of Worthwhile Paper, Kristen Drozdowski.
Featuring a unique blend of nature and minimalism, Kristen’s designs are created with the goal of bringing positivity and beauty into the world. In every piece of her work, you will find some combination of simple shapes, bold patterns, gentle symbolism, inspiration from nature, and messages about inner wisdom, healing and love.
Learn more about Kristen and Worthwhile Paper: kristendroz.com | worthwhilepaper.com | @kristendroz | @worthwhilepaper
Music by bensound.com
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