Art 199: Virtual Open Studios Winter 2021

Virtual Open Studios Winter 2021: Art 199 Independent Studies

Anya Lehman 1 (they/them)

I am a multimedia artist who focuses on printmaking, painting, and drawing to create works of art that explore ideas of systemic and societal oppression towards women and nonbinary folk. In addition, the underlying content within my work aims to explore ideas surrounding psychological struggles. My current mixed media painting series of three 36” x 36” works feature bits from journal entries, self portraiture, imagery that challenges the viewers perception, and seemingly random marks. All of these details tie together to form artworks that feel personal to me, and hopefully, to the viewer as well.

This body of work focuses primarily on my own issues surrounding mental health. With the use of experimental mark making techniques, I aim to illustrate these notions of internal struggle. A large part of this process was embracing both intuitive and intentional marks. In sort of a collaboration with the piece itself, I was able to express, in a greater way, how the process of creating can be just as important as the finished product itself.

The physicality of the marks made on the canvas, in addition to the build up of layers, represents varied feelings I, and many others have and experienced. I hope that these pieces remind the viewer that they are not alone in their struggles. These artworks collectively embody who I am as an individual. Much like the experiences I have gone through so far in life, these pieces have also gone through many different stages, and feel as though they mirror my own ongoing evolution.

Anya Lehman

Mixed media on canvas. 36” x 36”

An experimentation and exploration of differing mark-making techniques.

Anya Lehman

Mixed media on canvas. 36” x 36”

An experimentation and exploration of differing mark-making techniques.

Anya Lehman

Mixed media on canvas. 36” x 36”

An experimentation and exploration of differing mark-making techniques.

Anya Lehman 2 (they/them)

This series is a study of faces using twelve 4.5 inch by 5.5 inch rubber carving blocks. Each face was inspired by a family member, friend, or other artists. Beginning by referencing how other printmakers carve portraits helped me get a better grasp on how to do it myself. I experimented with differing carving styles and expressions with the goal of better capturing faces through printmaking. In the past I have avoided carving faces because it was difficult for me and with this project I challenged myself and my skillset. These twelve prints come together to create one final image that has a variety of carving marks and faces within it, and emphasizes the differences between light and dark.

Rubber block print on Kozo paper

Series of twelve 4.5” x 5.5” portrait prints using differing carving styles.

Anya Lehman 3 (they/them)

I am a mixed media artist and this project is yet another skill I am excited to add to my repertoire. This book is a collection of works from the past year, primarily from this past quarter (and a one or two older works) at UCSC. I have been fortunate enough to collaborate with Jimin Lee in the making and editing of this art book and it is very dear to my heart. Many of the works touch on mental illness, the feeling of being disconnected from oneself and body, and the prevalence of in within the pandemic. My hope for this book is to create something that can display a my current work and allow the viewer to gain a better sense of my style as an artist.

Anya Lehman

Mixed media digitalized piece.

Cover design for art book.

Anya Lehman

Mixed media digitalized piece.

Spread pages 8-9, 6-7, & 50-51 from my self published art book.

Anya Lehman

Mixed media digitalized piece.

Single page from my self published art book.

Anya Lehman

Mixed media digitalized piece.

Single page from my self published art book.

Chloe Calhoun

“In your long arms”

Photolitho on BFK

“In your long arms”

Photolitho and cyanotype on BFK

Lucinda Gold

In exploring new ways to create work in a room the size of a closet, I discovered an abundance of possibilities when working with limited supplies – namely ballpoint pens on raw unstretched canvas and linen, embroidery thread and gouache. In this Independent stuff I created a series of 6 large scale portraits of queer and non binary folks, which incorporate meaningful aspects of their space and representations of their favored form of coping.

I draw to create other worlds, to reintroduce tenderness, otherness and difference into spaces full of aggression and exclusion.

My creations stem from a sensitive, soft, queer “in between”.

These doodles attempt to challenge the idea that humans should fulfill a singular, describable version of themselves. I draw to express my fluidity. When scribbling, I am distracted from the nuanced aggressions which take shape all around me, leaving me to mull them over during idle hours. I draw inspiration from the many complex and beautiful ways that non-binary people like myself cope with living in a world that reflects us through a capitalistic lens. How we choose to adorn ourselves feels loaded with prescribed linkages to identity, transcribed by capitalistic notions of gender. Many of the images I create are unseen versions of myself. My primary goal in drawing is to homage to every version of every gender into being via imagination, and via pen and paper.

Blue ball point pen on stipple paper 24x32 inches

“A Losing Game”

Blue pen and colored pencil on linen 4 feet by 3 feet

“Untitled”

Pen and colored pencil on canvas 4.5 feet by 4 feet

“You, me and Screen “

Blue ball point pen on canvas 4.5 feet by 5 feet

“Scratch my back”

Sydney Geisinger

This quarter I created a website focused on helping people understand and talk about white privilege.The site was updated over the past weeks in four parts, each dedicated to a foundational pillar of white privilege. Statistics and resources about the history of these topics was released along with specific tips for how to have conversations about them. Subscribers to the website were notified when each pillar was updated and had an opportunity to receive art that was specifically created for each release.

I made this site to educate and arm people like me, a white person, with strategies and information for conversations with other white people. The racism so embedded in our society can only be addressed through constant thought, action, and communication. The way our country has previously addressed racism has left making changes singularly on people of color. The only way to truly make an equitable future is when we all take actions to dismantle institutionalized racism. My hope is that people wanting long lasting change can use this site as a jumping off point to learning about how to address people who don't understand their privilege.

I made this website and all accompanying images & material knowing that I am nowhere near an expert on race topics. I acknowledge that I come from a very privileged position and am working everyday to learn about how to be antiracist. I have tried my best throughout this site to amplify POC's viewpoints and have put links to where I got all my information next to the texts. This site is not a rule book, it is simply a resource to help fellow white people think about their impact and help them work towards getting more white people to do the same. View the website here https://sgeising.wixsite.com/lets-talk

“Let’s Talk Privilege”

Digital illustration

This digital poster promotes the website I created to help people understand and talk about white privilege. Look at the full link here https://sgeising.wixsite.com/lets-talk or scan the QR code embedded in the poster.

“Main Pillars of White Privilege”

Digital illustration

From left to right these images represent police protections, legal protections, generational wealth, and access to education. These were the four main areas I researched and created pages for on my website, Let’s Talk https://sgeising.wixsite.com/lets-talk, that is a resource to understanding and talking about white privilege.

“Unity Masks”

Recycled Fabric, Fabric ink

The second art bundle that complemented the ‘Police Protections’ page for my Let’s Talk website were these handmade masks, printed with an original design. These masks were sent out to those who subscribed to updates of the website. I am currently making more custom masks and sending them for free to those who donate to the charities linked on my website, look here for more information: https://sgeising.wixsite.com/lets-talk

“Reflection Journals”

Waxed Linen Thread, Book Board, Paper, Book Cloth

The third art bundle for my Let’s Talk website that complemented the ‘Access to Education’ page. These handmade mini journals were sent out to those who subscribed to be alerted of updates to the website and were meant to assist in the reflection of their individual privilege.

Theron Joyet