Starlight Studio and Art Gallery, a division of Learning Disabilities of WNY, has begun a new project with local community artists called Co-Artifact. This project will further enhance Starlight’s presence in the Buffalo community while creating some pretty unique opportunities for artists to collaborate at Starlight.
For Co-Artifact, Starlight invited 17 visual artists from the community who have exhibited work at the studio, volunteered there or has some connection to the Starlight. Each participating artist started to develop an artwork, while leaving it somewhat unfinished. Starlight then hosted a Switch Party where names were drawn randomly to pair each community artists with a Starlight artist, who would then complete each other’s artwork.
The vision of Co-Artifact is to have Starlight artists and visual artists from the community finish one another’s work, and where possible, to build a collegial relationship between them where the artists would discuss techniques and influence each other to go outside their creative comfort zone. The artworks will be auctioned off on Friday, November 14th to support the continuation of Starlight Studio.
“Co-Artifact will be a great way to create unique art, and a great opportunity to cultivate a friendship with another art maker,” says community artist Bruce Bitmead.
The Starlight artists are mostly excited about the opportunity to work with Buffalo area artists, even if they also feel a little daunted by it.
“[The hardest part] is mostly trying to pick out an image to suit another person’s art. To look at my art and at their art and bringing those two types of art together as one is really awesome” says Starlight Artist Ricky Hogan.
Both community and Starlight artists were eager to get started on the month and a half long project. Several participants said they had a number of ideas and/or were inspired by their partners work and knew exactly how they intend to finish their collaboration piece.
“There are lots of ideas sparking here and in studios all over Buffalo”, said Co-Artifact coordinator Jennifer Ryan, “Many new artists do not have the opportunity to learn with such prominent artists, not to mention work on a piece together. The process really has been exciting for everyone involved.”
A sneak peak at the finished works will be this Friday during the Allentown First Fridays Gallery Walk at Starlight Studio from 6-8PM. The Co-Artifact artworks are all up for auction, and opening bids will begin on November 7th.
The final celebration for Co-Artifact will be on November 14th, 2014 at Starlight Studio and Art gallery located at 340 Delaware Avenue in Buffalo, NY. The event will include music by the Mustn’ts, food and a cash bar. The public will have an opportunity to bid on the exhibited artworks and meet with all participating artists. All proceeds will go to benefit the Starlight Studio & Art Gallery program and the funding of future projects.
The artists pairs in Co-Artifact are: Elle Barnhart & Lisa Kobis, Bruce Bitmead & Michael Kindred, Kyle Butler & Alison Mantione, Jennifer Fendya & Sheila Bush, Kaitlin Frisicaro & John Budney, Cynnie Gaasch & Paul Chandler, Sussan Giallombardo & John Montedoro, Patricia Greene & Kimber Rodgers, Carrianne Hendrickson & Debbie Bowers, Cheryl Jackson & Larell Potter, Dennis Maher & Andy Calderon, Josh Nickerson & David Feickert, Nancy Parisi & Ricky Hogan, Kathleen Sherin & Steve Borgisi, Cathy Shuman Miller & Kelly Evans, Laurie Tanner & Shamika Long and Kurt Von Voetch, who currently has a one-man show on exhibit at Starlight, & James Bowler.
Facebook event for Co-Artifact
Tickets and more information: http://www.co-artifact.eventbrite.com
Photos: Starlight Artists working on Co-Artifact artworks in the studio – Shamika Long, James Bowler