Off the Wall Art Auction
EPIC would like to thank all of the artists who have donated their work to be auctioned at Off the Wall! Below you will find a list of artists as well as more information about those artists and their work. Pictures of donated pieces have been included when possible. We will continue to update this post as more information becomes available so please check back often.
Aaron Picar – Original photography shot from a camera phone. Aaron Picar is a teacher, youth advocate, musician, photographer, artist, writer, aspiring world revolutionary. Aaron believes in the power of art and creativity to be more than just a pretty picture on the wall or a nice song to sing along with. “We are the new generation of artists, who believe in the power of art to lift your mood, make your day, and change your world.” he told in a recent interview with the Southeast Missourian. Ultimately, Aaron takes his photos, writes his music so his audience sees the unchanging truth in the changing world to see beyond themselves to something greater. For more information, http://aaronpicar.com or connect with him via facebook.com/aaronpicar
Brenda Seyer
Brenda S. Seyer is a practicing artist who enjoys exploring a variety of media and styles of art. Her work has been shown in many local Universities and competitions, receiving several awards including Best of Show in Batik. She has a Masters Degree in Art Education and is recently retired but continues teaching art in private lessons and workshops. She is a Charter member of the Art Co-Op and a long time member of the Drawing Group.
Batik
Brenda’s Batiks begin with a watercolor sketch or photograph of a scene to create with. From there a drawing is made and transferred to 100% haboti silk. The work is then done using dyes and batik wax in many layers until the desired result is accomplished. The final work has the wax ironed out and either framed or sewn for hanging free.
Brian Alworth is a landscape photographer shooting both black and white, as well as color images on older film cameras. His working cameras currently are a Pentax 67 roll film camera and a Wista 4 x 5 view camera. This image of upper Antelope Canyon, however, was taken early in his career with an inexpensive 35mm camera mounted on a tripod. The exposure was about 10 seconds, creating the interesting effect of grains of sand blowing through beams of sunlight in the narrow slot canyon.
Craig Downs has donated a painting for the auction. A self taught artist, Craig Downs has spent the past ten years creating a bold and unique style to call his own. His art has been shown at many venues across the country, and to date he has sold over 700 paintings. Most recently Craig has placed in the top 3 out of approximately 70 local and national artists at both the 2010 & 2011 Taste of St. Louis. His whimsical creations play with color and rhythm in such a way that they seem to dance upon the canvas. The allegorical style he has created is not to be taken in at a glance; rather it is most fully enjoyed when taken in at a serene pace, for what first may appear as simplicity belies a hidden depth.
This having been said, it is the artist’s hope that the observer will not take his work too seriously and will allow themselves to enjoy the magical simplicity of the paintings.
Evelyn Beussink Martin has donated a wheel-thrown bowl, handmade of stoneware clay that is food safe, dishwasher safe. Evelyn grew up in Jackson, Missouri and currently works as the Regional Director at Lutheran Family and Children’s Services in Cape Girardeau. Evelyn first tried her hand at clay in art class with Jerry Grim at Notre Dame High School , and didn’t sit behind the wheel again until taking a continuing education course at Southeast Missouri State in 1999, instructed by Amy Kephart. Pottery has been an obsession since then, and Evelyn has displayed and sold her work at the Bonney Bank Artist Sale, the Garden Gallery, and 531 Wash House. Evelyn lives in Cape Girardeau with her husband Matt Martin. In addition to throwing pottery she enjoys drawing, painting, sewing and quilting, embroidery, and paper crafts.
You can find our more about Evelyn and her work at www.etsy.com/shop/hippiegirlcollection and on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/pages/Hippie-Girl-Collection
Herb Wickham (deceased) –
Muriel Gaither has donated a piece of Herb Wickham’s work for the auction.
Recently the Southeast Missouri art community lost a prominent and well-respected member, Herbert F. Wickham III. Mr. Wickham was a member of the Arts Council, a charter member of the Visual Arts Cooperative (since 2003) and hosted a solo exhibition at the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri just last July. In 2005 he was honored with the Otto F. Dingeldein Award. Wickham was educated in small Bootheel schools without traditional art classes. He became acquainted with the visual arts while he attended Southeast Missouri State College, where he graduated in 1955 with majors in Fine and Applied Arts and Physical Education. Wickham coached football and taught art in Poplar Bluff and Jackson for thirty-five years, retiring in 1991. During his retirement he worked hard at his easel, creating more than four hundred paintings and drawings. His works reside in many homes regionally, and several out of state. He has had six one-man shows and participated in many exhibits throughout the region. This piece was one of Herb’s earlier works and depicts a Southwestern desert landscape. It is untitled.
jonathan b. andrew has donated a photograph for the auction. You can learn more about jonathan and his work on his website: http://mypage.siu.edu/jonseyer/project3/info.html
Linda Bohnsack graduated in 1975 with a B.S. in Education from Southeast Missouri State University. As an art major and student of design, her creative energies evolved using fabric and fibers. She frequently made miniature quilts or wall hangings for fun. In the last four years, she has worked primarily with clay. Her recent experiences with clay began as a volunteer making bowls for the Empty Bowls banquet, which benefits The Salvation Army’s “Meals with Friends” program. After making several hundred bowls, her skill level increased to the point that she now considers herself a potter. Her craftwork of porcelain jewelry, ornaments and pottery, along with many other fine craft artisans, is available at her business, Artisan Gifts. The store is located at 821A on Broadway St. in Cape Girardeau. Her store is open on the 1st Friday of every month. Linda is donating some of her lovely jewelry for the auction.
Linda Buis has donated a piece of her work to be auctioned at Off the Wall. Linda’s oil paintings depict rural landscapes, birdlife and nature in everyday scenes as they exist today and as they were yesterday. The detailed blending of these real and imaginary images reflects a reality complemented by her uniquely whimsical touch. Allow yourself to be drawn into each uplifting work of art and don’t forget to seek out Linda’s signature cardinal!
Marti Hartle and Leslie Compass
In the fall of 2001, a simple sun-catcher souvenir bought on a vacation to Colorado inspired Hartle to partner with her friend Leslie Compass and learn to create stained glass mosaics. They work together as Soul Reflections Stained Glass Mosaics.
Drawing inspiration from meaningful day to day life occurrences, Hartle creates pieces from the heart. Using found objects to create everything from drink coasters to life size wall art, Hartle uses pieces of stained glass, recycled wood and sometimes metal and beads to embellish her designs.
Over the last 10 years, Hartle and Compass have traveled all over the state of Missouri selling and displaying their pieces at different art shows and wineries. On a visit to a local art gallery in her hometown of Cape Girardeau, Mo, Hartle and Compass realized that they needed a space to call their own. So in September of 2010, Mozaic Art Studio a Collage of Artists opened in historic downtown Cape Girardeau and hundreds walked through the grand opening celebration. The studio is an inviting place where local artisans can proudly display their creations and make them more readily available for purchase. The collage of both experienced and novice artists work together and educate the community on the importance of the arts and buying local.
In addition to the Mozaic Art Studio, Hartle is a member of the Cat Ranch Art Guild, the Cadmium River Group, the Around Town Group, and the Best of Missouri Hands. When she is not busy creating in her studio, Hartle enjoys spending time with her new husband and helping him with his own projects, and spending time with her two grandchildren. Hartle resides in Cape Girardeau.
Nathan Pierce has donated “Natures Architect” for “Off the Wall”. This is a piece he created in 2008. The sculpture is made of cherry wood, marble stone, steel and is 32″x24″x11″
The work of Nathan Pierce revolves around the idea of the river, which serves as the setting of much of his personal history, as well as a metaphor for life in general.
Born and raised in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Nathan obtained his arts education from Southeast Missouri State University, where he received his BFA in sculpture. His work has been displayed extensively in juried exhibitions and outdoor sculpture programs across the Midwest, including SculptureWalk Sioux Falls, Beyond the Pedestal, Hot Springs Outdoor Sculpture Showcase, Annual MOAK 4-State Regional Juried Exhibition, Girardot National Juried Exhibit.
Nathan comes from a working class home of four brothers and sisters. His father, a third generation stone mason, brought him up on the ideals of American craftsmanship. From this experience grew an appreciation for the working man, as well as a passion for building things with his hands. In his early twenties, Nathan found a joy and sense of accomplishment in building things out of wood. “As an Artist I try to create forms that communicate my cultural experiences and my personal view towards landscape”, remarks Nathan. His sculpture reflects not only his personal interest in architectural forms, but also a belief that the influence of Missouri scenic waterways has helped shape a cultural view of his native region.
Learn more about Nathan and his work here http://nspsculpture.com/
Ron and Caydee Johnson –Ronald Lynn Johnson is a contemporary abstract painter; and father of Caydee Lynn Johnson. He has worked in or traveled much of the United States, spent a few years in the Middle East, and Central America, and currently resides with his wife and daughter at his birthplace of Dexter Missouri, where he works full time as a Staff Sergeant/Civil Operations Coordinator within the National Guard. He and his daughter enjoy creating abstract works together that often demonstrate a brilliant celebration of color, expresses a message (often unnoticed at first glance), and in many cases are composed of an eclectic variety of materials to produce functional pieces that use gravity and momentum as tools to make truly unique, and literally moving artwork. He enjoys doing commissioned work and often makes personalized pieces for collectors. His paintings are primarily acrylic on canvas or wood, and his signature work consists of contrasting bold colors, hidden compartments, words or messages found just beyond the grasp of immediate perception, and unique-swirling layered effects. Ron says “I consider our artwork to be rebellions, and utterly unique. Much of my art is very serious, and contains words or messages that summarize deeply held beliefs, and while those and many of my previous works originate from an emotionally darker place, my daughter and I now find great happiness in what we create. A child’s laughter is possibly the most beautiful of all things, and I try to create a visual representation of that happiness in each painting that we make. I hope you enjoy them as much as we did creating them. If you ever see one of my paintings for sale please look closely and touch the surface, and also consider taking them off the wall and seeing what might be on the other side.”
Learn more about Ron and Caydee Johnson here: https://www.facebook.com/ronandcaydeelynn.johnson
Sarah Cochrane has donated a series of notecards for the auction.
Sarah J. Cochrane is an American artist painting with oils and pastels. She was born in Perry County, Missouri on March 1, 1952 and left there at the age of 18 to begin college. Her major in college was Medical Technology. Even though, she did not major in art, she was always interested in painting. While she was working as a Med Tech, she started taking lessons in painting through Nancy Collier, owner of the Paint’n Place, in 1980. A group of people started painting with her at this time and some remain painting with her to this date. She has also taken instructions through Cleda Curtis and has attended several workshops.
Her main style of painting is realism. She has painted landscapes, florals, portraits of people and animals.
She mostly displays her work at The Arts Council of Southeast Missouri, Cape Girardeau, Mo. She has entered some juried shows with a first place win in the Floral Division and recognition of work in other divisions.
Tim Vollink of Vollink Photography & Design has donated this beautiful photograph mounted on a wood board for “Off the Wall”. Tim’s artist statement can be read on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/epicprevention) and more information about Tim and his work can be found on his Facebook Page (facebook.com/vollinkphoto).
