Our Bathroom Artist for July is none other than Dana Iske, who you might recognize as our gallery coordinator and one of our bartenders/retail girls!
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Here are some questions with Dana:
Will this be all new work? What is the general theme for the show?
Its all new work. The paintings incorporate abstract expressionist self portraits, dreamy Orientalist landscapes, layered graphics, and typefaces. whew!
Do you mostly work with paint? Any other mediums?
Yes, both oil and acrylic. I also work with ink, paint sticks/oil pastels, and paper.
A teaser of Dana's work
Your artist bio on your website says that some people might find your art “aesthetically unappealing”. What would you say to someone who believes that the purpose of art is to be aesthetically appealing?
If your main purpose is to make something pretty, you are a designer, not an artist. I also think its kind of gimmicky. I don’t believe that aesthetically appealing objects make people think; they abandon your mind in this safe, warm cocoon that might feel comfortable, but is also a tad boring. I would rather disgust people or confuse people, or even bring them one level above boredom than to lull them into a sense of complacency by showing them something more commercial. Wheres the fun in that?
Will the art for this show differ from your old work, or is it pretty much along the same lines?
Its very different. Growth and experimentation are so crucial to me as an artist. The idea of a series is very important to me; it forces me to challenge and adapt my style so that progress is possible.
A teaser of Dana's work
What do you think of the bathroom art concept?
Toilets freak me out, especially ones without lids. Ugh. BUT I think its great that bathrooms can be thought of as alternative spaces for showing work. There isn’t a terrible amount of wall space at Bows compared to other galleries, so the more room the better.
How long have you been making art? Did you always know you wanted to be an artist?
I have always been artistically inclined. I have been painting since high school. I originally toyed with furniture design, but I decided to study studio art and art history instead.
Who are some of your favorite local artists? Are there any artists (local or not) that you look to for inspiration?
It sounds cliche, but I get inspiration from almost everything. Some fave local artists include Omar Arason, Shannon Crooks, Robert Ortbal, Zac Nelson, Ken Little, Melissa Arendt, and David Wetzl.
A teaser of Dana's work
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The opening reception for Nothing will take place Saturday the 14th from 6-9 PM
The show will be on display from July 14th-August 9th
