ridemcts – Bus Art Project MKE

Artist Interview: Larry Booth

Posted on August 7, 2019August 7, 2019 by Libby Olbrantz

*“Milwaukee Topo” by Larry Booth at the corner of Sherman Blvd. & North Ave.*

What made you start creating topographic art?

My degree is in architecture. Building three-dimensional models of structures and landscapes was part of our training. While studying topographic maps in class, I became fascinated by the lines of elevation on the maps and the unique abstract designs carved into the landscape by the random forces of Nature (water, wind and tectonic movement).

The maps inspired me to start making layered, topographic models of actual landforms like mountains and canyons. These were initially made of dozens of layers of poster board. I also made topographic models of human faces and other three-dimensional objects. I called it TopoArt.

I dabbled with my TopoArt for a couple of years but put it aside to focus on illustration and graphic design (how I got from architecture to commercial art is a long, convoluted story). About 2003 I decided to pick up my TopoArt again and started making my three-dimensional pieces out of layered wood. Eventually I also began painting the designs on canvas.

Have you created any TopoArt designs of other cities?

I’ve done a couple of cities such as San Francisco and Pittsburgh, but cities are not ideal subjects because they are typically situated on flat land and also because the landscape has been so extensively reworked that the natural design of the land has been lost. The best subjects are mountain ranges and valleys. My favorite three-dimensional piece is the TopoArt I did of the Sierra Nevada Range in California (see above). My favorite two-dimensional piece is my TopoArt painting of the Iron Range in Wisconsin (see below).

Are you from Milwaukee?

No. I was raised and went to college in Philadelphia, PA. I’ve also lived in Columbia SC, Washington DC and Pittsburgh PA.

What brought you to Milwaukee?

Prior to coming here, I was living in Pittsburgh, PA. A former boss, who had moved here, called and offered me a job to run the Creative Services group at his company. Never having been to Milwaukee I was hesitant but agreed to come check out the city. He knew I was an avid sailor so he made sure I saw the harbor and the sail boats on Lake Michigan (I raced Olympic-class sailboats and served as a representative for sailing on the U.S. Olympic Committee.) I was hooked.

What are your favorite cities you’ve traveled to?

Hong Kong and Ho Chi Minh City (I love Asian culture), Sydney Australia and Dublin Ireland (for the people).

What were your first art experiences? What brought you to art?

My dad was a Philadelphia fireman but was also a really talented artist. He would sketch cartoons, human figures and architectural designs for fun. I was fascinated by them and began copying his art, especially his cartoons. My dream job as a kid was to be a Disney artist.

*“Milwaukee Topo” by Larry Booth on the corner of Sherman Blvd. & North Ave.*

Who are your favorite Milwaukee artists?

Ah no, that’s not fair. You’re asking me to make enemies (he said with a smile)! Let me put it this way, I appreciate every artist, especially those who make art their livelihood. I know how much thinking, time and talent goes into a piece and it is not for me to judge. Only to admire. And learn from.

What are you currently working on?

I have been working on some three-dimensional clay-on-wood abstract pieces that grew out of my fascination with the meandering, curvilinear lines of topography. Also working on some new TopoArt paintings of locations specifically in Wisconsin but it’s difficult to find unusual topographic subject matter here because of the geologic nature of our terrain and the minimal changes in elevation.

What would you like to do next?

I would love to do a large three-dimensional TopoArt covering an entire wall. The play of light and shadow would be a really intriguing sculpture in a public space such as a museum, hotel lobby or other commercial business.

Artist Interview: Noel Clark

Posted on July 17, 2019 by Libby Olbrantz

*“One Milwaukee” by Noel Clark at Sherman & Burleigh in Sherman Park*

I was creeping on your Instagram this morning and ended up liking a lot of really colorful prints and designs of kittens. I noticed the color palettes change every so often and it made me wonder, what causes the shift in your color palettes and how do you choose them?

I really like bright colors and playing with different color combinations. I change colors frequently because finding new colors that work together is part of the fun of being an artist. I get lost in the flow of just picking colors that harmonize. But sometimes, lots of color overwhelms my eye, so I simplify everything by working in black and white. Color choice often follows my mood at the time I’m creating.

You have a very unique and playful style, has it always been that way or is it something that’s been developed with time?

Thank you. When I was younger, sometimes my art contained darker themes. One time, I made a paper mache wall hanging in my college dorm that looked like a dark face being pushed out of the wall. It was all about expressing something I was going through at the time, but I ultimately decided that I didn’t like looking at art that made me feel sad or afraid, so I didn’t want to create art like that either.

We really enjoyed the story that went along with your piece. It came to life all by itself and we could really see the connection between the narrative and the design. Does this happen with a lot of your creations? Does each piece have a specific story or memory?

Typically, images emerge for me somewhat intuitively, so I don’t usually have a story or memory in mind on a conscious level when creating them. For the bus stop design, I deliberately set out to create work with images that were relatable to everyone. I wanted the work to be simple enough that a child could look at it and talk about it, but complex enough that it might prompt a story or memory in the mind of an adult. I wanted to give people a reason to pause and look at it.

I really hope you either write and/or illustrate a book. Have you ever thought of it or any plans on it?

I have considered book illustration, yes. I love collaboration and doing illustration in my own style.

Who are a few local artists that you really enjoy?

I enjoy the work of Todd Mrozinski and Thea Kovak.

Artist Interview: Dré Black

Posted on July 8, 2019July 8, 2019 by Libby Olbrantz

Dré Black with his piece”Chaos Emerald” on MLK & Clarke

I was really drawn to your art because of the vibrant colors and exciting patterns. How do you choose the color schemes and backgrounds for the women you draw?

The colors depends on a couple of factors. For a woman’s skin and undertones I try to have colors that complement each other. Then there’s times I like a complete contrast. So it pretty much depends on my mood, my vibe with the piece and the look I’m trying to go for.

You channel this very beautiful divine feminine energy in your art. What makes you feel so connected to the women you draw?

Well, I was raised by an incredible single mother and I have a lot of very strong independent women in my family and life. Most of my art showcases women of color, who I feel are hugely misrepresented in society and media. My art is my tribute to them, their beauty and their wonder. Women are just fantastic human beings!

I was really glad we got to meet up in person. You have such a positive vibe and good aura around you. How do you maintain that positivity through your own creativity? What inspires you?

Gratitude, is the key to my creativity. To be thankful and appreciate the things and people who are around me. What inspires me? Family, friends, the people of Milwaukee, life, art, change, growth, community, music, culture and balance.

One of the purposes of art is to reflect the social context of its time. How do you see that happening now? What is it reflecting?

Working in public schools, I see women of color are grossly misrepresented in the news, and social media. This is reflected by my effort to show that brown and black women are beautiful in ways that traditional media overlooks. They are truly magic. #blackgirlmagic

What was the first piece you made that you loved?

“Glory” – It was the first 18×24 I’ve ever done and my first time using with watercolors.

“Glory” by Dré Black

What has been your biggest struggle as an artist, and how have you dealt with it?

How to find my place in this art world? Where do I fit? Will my art be accepted? What would happen if I changed up my style and tone? Will people still like my art then? I have dealt with it by repeating “it’s going to go the way it’s supposed to go”. I just have to be in tune with my guidance that I’m on the right path. It’s been working out thus far, why quit now.

Who are a few local artists that you really enjoy?

@Tystarr of course. His style is dope! @artisticabyjc, Josseline Castillo. Their abstract acrylic is amazing! @Xeronie_illustration , Yessica Jimemez. Her art leaves me in wonder.

What’s next for Dré Black??

More public art! My goal is do more murals and installations! I want to start painting with oil more and incorporate that into my mixed media style.

Interview with Nellie Gehrig

Posted on June 25, 2019 by Libby Olbrantz

*Nellie Gehrig’s design outside of Center Street Library*

We loved your design as soon as it came through! We really wanted to see it near Washington Park, but the two panel pieces have to be installed on a back facing shelter so the design isn’t broken up by the arm rest. So we kept searching for the perfect shelter location and when we saw the shelter in front of Center Street Library we got so excited to pair your artwork with the library, we felt they belonged together. Have you always had this connection to nature and education? How has nature influenced your art?

It’s funny you say that- in fact, I’m an art teacher! Education has always been central to my life and I’ve made it my mission to inspire others through art. My mom is also a public school teacher, and she’s moved me to view life through the lens of continuous learning. I’ve always been attracted to nature, and it’s been in the natural world that I’ve always felt the most free. My art-making was heavily influenced when my husband and I moved out of the city and onto a horse farm. It was there that the natural environment became an integral part of my art, and continues to influence me today.

We loved what you said on your website about the interconnectedness of it all, what draws you towards the interconnectivity of the natural world?

I am intrigued by the idea of nature vs. nurture and, as an identical twin, the interconnectedness between the two. Being biologically identical has allowed me to be more aware of the similarities between all living things. I feel there is a common thread that runs through everyone and everything. Nature has a beautiful way of repeating itself, growing from decay, and that circle that humans interact with every day impacts the process. I hope my art reminds us of these fragile connections and the effect the natural world has on us, and that we have on it.

It looks like you work with a lot of various mediums to express this interconnectivity, which is your favorite medium to work with? How do you choose which to work with to express what you want to show?

I love it all; I really do! This is why being an art educator is so fun, because I get to share the many ways of making with others. I would primarily identify as a fibers artist, as this encompasses the larger part of my art making. Even as a painter, I treat the raw canvas as a fabric and the paint and dyes as stains. I love the tactility and malleability of fibers, how it’s shape is always changing and can evolve from 2D to 3D. It’s more of an impulse for me, a feeling I interpret into movement in order to accomplish that into becoming. When I want to work large and gestural, I like to paint; when I want to be detailed and hold the work like an object, I’ll sew or weave. This work is about communication, and how, through drawing, what a visual can reveal.

What do you think would help encourage new artists to engage with the arts?

I believe access to the arts and unfaltering support are the two greatest contributors to art engagement. A new artist experiencing something and feeling that rush of inspiration coupled with constant and eager encouragement for this passion is, I think, the start of a beautiful relationship. My hope is to engage everyone in the arts in some way, which is why showing this public art piece is an incredibly exciting opportunity. It is making art accessible. Looking at and experiencing an artwork may be the beginning of an individual’s engagement in the arts.

What advice would you give to an artist who is starting now?

Continue to make. Even if it’s been years since you did, or even if you have nothing but a napkin to draw on, make time to make. Immerse yourself in art, which is plentiful here in Milwaukee. Connect with people who support you, take risks. If you are open to the possibilities, they will come. Be authentic to yourself and create what you want for the purpose of fulfilling your vision, even if others question it or you don’t get the response you were hoping for. Continue and enjoy the process!

Who are a few local artists that you really enjoy?

What I love about Milwaukee’s art scene is how supportive it is. I am amazed at how loving people are here and how much the arts community wants the best for others. I really enjoy Mark Mulhern’s work; there is something so nostalgic about it. Todd Mrozinski has an acute attention to detail and I love how he meditates on the natural world. Renee Bebeau is multifaceted in her approach to making and her art communicates so much. Nirmal Raja has exquisite and ethereal works and her craftsmanship is impeccable. David Najib Kasir touches on emotional topics and pairs it with these ornate patterns, which I adore. My husband, Peter Gehrig, is also an artist and I love his patient and subdued way of perceiving the world through his art. It was from purchasing a drawing from him that we met, so I must say that even if he weren’t my partner I would still name him

What’s next for you?

Well, Peter and I just bought a small hobby farm outside of the city and are working on making that our homestead. I hope to incorporate the natural world into my art making through dried flowers and natural dyes grown and gathered from our garden and land. We aim to additionally build an interactive art space in our woods to welcome those interested in making. I will continue to teach (primarily sculpture, ceramics, and metals) and work on building my studio practice. I’m also in the process of working on a few children’s books, so I’m looking into getting those out to the public as well!