SUMMER 2021
A NEW TREND IN HEALING Aria Tru Creates Carthartic Experiences
Can healing be fun? The 500 women who have attended Women Breaking Plates events think it can! What if you could smash your frustrations to pieces, set your perceived limitations on fire, and knock your negative self-talk out of existence? Those are just a few of the experiences you get to have at one of our high energy, intentional Empowerment Parties. These events assist women in having a physical, cathartic experience of taking their power back from anything they gave it over to including unhealthy habits, patterns, traumas, fear, and worry. As the founder of Women Breaking Plates, I have a mission
to normalize the conversation of all the challenges people face mentally and emotionally on a daily basis. Having this conversation in a healthy party setting seems to make it a more accessible and enjoyable process, showing people they are not alone, and that they are supported through the process of transforming pain into empowerment. Get your body into it! The event is not only ridiculously fun and supportive, it also has some science behind it. Traumas and negative patterning circle in a loop in your nervous system, coming up over and over again even if you make a mental decision to let it go. Have you ever thought
something is wrong with you because you are having such a difficult time changing certain negative reactions and patterns? There is nothing wrong with you, you just need to break the loop pattern in the nervous system, and insert a new, more positive pattern. Talking about emotional pain and trauma is very therapeutic, but oftentimes it only makes the mind feel better for a bit; it doesn't change the pattern. Having loud, physical, cathartic experiences gives the pain and trauma an exit route and gives your body the actual experience of letting it go, which makes way for a new, empowered choice.
How does breaking a plate make you feel empowered? That's a great question. It's not just a plate, it's what you have written on the plate that makes this exercise powerful and effective. When you realize that you can choose to shatter and release anything that is holding you back it is a huge leap forward. Smashing a plate is cathartic symbolism of smashing your issue to pieces with a loud expressive "No More!" and that is where the empowerment comes from.
Here are some of the top questions I receive regarding these events:
Are women angry at your events? Quite the contrary; the exhilaration, joy, and comradery in the room is incredibly uplifting. Even when the words you write on your plate make you feel angry, once you shatter it you can't help but laugh, smile, and feel free.
Do you really break plates? Yes, we certainly do! Women write what they want to release (habits, patterns, trauma, anger) onto their plates and then hurl them at walls and watch them shatter, while other women cheer them on! Breaking Plates is just one of the many healing stations that are going on simultaneously during the event. Half of the event is geared to get it out, and the other half is geared to fill you back up with new choices and possibilities. You get to post on the Make A New Choice Wall, get a healing or intuitive reading from professional healers at the Open To Receive station, and paint on our 8-foot Express Yourself community art piece.
Why is it only for women? The men need healing, too. We honor and love the men, and they are included in our college events, corporate events, and private parties. I mainly focus on women because the women are ready to break free and create change in every area of their lives. Plus, women need a fun outlet where they are allowed to be loud, have fun, and intentionally break some things. The days of holding it all in and silently suffering are over; we now know that that was making us unhealthy and sick emotionally, mentally, and physically. Having only women in the room lends to an open vulnerability and heartfelt connections. Women who
have never shared their story or pain before seem to feel safe writing it on their plate and then smashing it. There is just something about the plates that gives you freedom to express. What do you do with all of those plates? We have artists turn some of the plate pieces into mosaic art to represent the ability you have to turn your pain into something beautiful. How did you come up with this idea? I was experiencing a lot of stress in my life three years ago, and the pressure from it all sent me into having 7 to 10 partial seizures a week. I was certainly scared for my quality of life, and unfortunately medication only made my seizures worse. I intended every day to have the right healers come along and help me get to the root cause of this issue. In the meantime, one thing that kept happening is that right before I had a seizure my mind would start throwing plates at walls, over and over again. After 8 months of this happening I told a friend about it and she said, "Now you know what it feels like to be a Latina woman; I feel this way every day of my life." We both laughed, and I said, "Maybe there are a lot of women who need to break some plates! I'm going to create an event around it." Within a week of this proclamation I had two healers show up and heal me of seizures. I have never had one again. Thirty days later I had my first Women Breaking Plates in Denver, Colorado where 66 women showed up in a snow storm to
create change in their lives. It has been a powerful and fulfilling journey ever since. How do I get involved? Our large events will return once restrictions on events are lifted. I hope to see you then! Follow us on Instagram and sign up for our newsletter at www.womenbreakingplates. com to stay informed of our next big events. We’re always looking to collaborate with groups, businesses, and organizations, so that this message and opportunity can reach more people. Remember, you are 10,000x more powerful than you might give yourself credit for, and you have the power to change or create anything you want. You get to choose! ____________ Aria Tru has been in the holistic healing field for 20 years, assisting others in mind/body/spirit healing. Aria takes personal clients, both men and women, and assists them in transforming the emotions and actions that have been holding them back from inner peace and more joy in their lives. Her professional background consists of Hypnotherapy, Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Life and Wellness Coaching, and Affirmative Prayer Practices to change anything at the root of the problem. Contact her at hello@womenbreakingplates.com to learn more.
30
INTERNATIONAL
BRDG PROJECT
An Exhibition Space in Denver Wants to Start Conversations About Art by Donovan Stanley
Brett Matarazzo is interested in using art to create community conversations. In a recent interview with Shoutout Denver, he explained his approach, “The role of creativity and specifically contemplative artwork is essential to any community. It allows for discourse.” In collaboration with friend and fellow artist Michael Dowling, Matarazzo opened the BRDG Project, a space in which they seek to create
Photography by Brett Fox
accessible contemporary art experiences. Made possible by Unico Properties, the gallery is located in the Historic Zang Building under the Highlands’ Pedestrian Bridge in Denver. The 4000-square-foot space has been divided into three distinct areas. Talking about how he came to open the space, Matarazzo traces his journey: “After I realized the
distaste that I had for the commercialism of advertising and for overconsumption, it led me down the path of [being a] full-time artist. I started to create urban pop up galleries in unfinished spaces in the late 2000s to showcase and emphasize the enviro-social message of my work. That’s when I learned to just go and do it, not to wait for someone else to tell me how. I put on 5 or 6 of these shows in locations from Aspen to Denver.
That early exposure gave way to participating in some more established and curated group shows, evolving my current work towards installation and sculptural art. A large part of my growth and journey into the greater art community was joining and helping establish ZEEL Art Collective & Gallery on social issues. The process, including the friendships, mentoring, and introduction to the larger art community, was awesome. It stoked
the passion for creating for and curating amazing groups of artists around a central social theme, starting conversation and bringing art to the community. But during my creative journey, I watched as Denver was consumed by growth and development, pushing out the neighborhood art galleries at every turn. I have been telling anyone who will listen: how can you have a vibrant, young and world class city and neighborhood, with no local and community based art? That is where I stand now, passionately working to develop local business/artist collaborations to keep art accessible in Denver communities, and to continue those societal conversations.” That’s where BRDG Projects comes in. It opened in March with several simultaneous exhibits. Brett Fox’s solo show explored photographic portrait through personal, material, and contemplate means. He has an unorthodox form of photography; from his photographing of people and places, to experimentation with movement, materials and process, it is ultimately about faces, “the roadmap of the soul”.
His work creates visions that lean more towards feeling than storytelling, a “transmission” of the visual, into a rhythmic experience. A second show featured Devvon Simpson, Ethan Jantzer and Justin Beard and considered minutia, microscopic and photogram abstraction. In a pairing of unique visions and photo process artists, the gallery brought together budding new stars and veteran image-makers alike for a month of photography. In the microscopic imagery of Devvon Simpson, the playful enigmatic photograms of Ethan Jantzer, and the ever-present compelling visions of Justin Beard, they challenged familiar definitions of the photographic method and looking at the elements of the everyday
in new and visceral interpretation, transforming literal subject matter into the abstract and sublime. The final show featured the space’s founders, Dowling and Matarazzo in their first collaborative exhibition. They envisioned it as a progressive journey elevating process as performance art. Traditionally shows glorify the completed work, which is but a second in the hour of creativity, but the beauty and interest in both of their works lies equally in the journey. Focusing on materials and process, both traditional, and unorthodox, they invited the patron into the depths of the art process, turning the show inside out. Talking about his work in Shoutout Denver, Matarazzo
says that it is “derived from the conflict [in] how we perceive and coexist with our natural and manmade environment, an exploration and commentary on the human condition, over consumption, and the environmental impact from it. I juxtapose these two things, an element/instrument of humanity (usually something industrial) and an element of nature to create a tension, to cajole the senses, and lead to conversation or thought about how there is always an impact, large or small, on the natural world from this human experiment.” Matarazzo works in reclaimed and repurposed wood, in what he calls a “post-industrial tear-out”. A selfproclaimed dumpster diver and scavenger, he’s
always looking to find “beautiful discarded remnants,” and wood makes a great canvas. “I believe deeply that the best way for anyone to be environmentally conscious in this society is to repurpose something old into smoothing new and useful.” His work also uses acrylic paint, digital and heat transfer, and laser etching. Reflecting on both his work and BRDG, he says it’s all about “creating these community conversations” and trying to help art thrive in these challenging times. Facebook: www.facebook.com/brdgprojectfb Instagram: www.instagram.com/brdgproject
MINDBENDER ART
The Work of Brooke Einbender
Author Elizabeth Gilbert once posited that inspiration is in search of a conduit. For genius, a life energy responsive and ready to absorb, to engage. And from our first conversation, and my subsequent dive into her catalogue,that sentiment captured Brooke Einbender’s journey with such specificity.
by Shannon Liddy
Studio art and painting her major at Wake Forest University, Brooke found herself immersed in a world conducive to its very growth. Receipt of the prestigious Presidential Scholarship for Visual Arts distilling and solidifying her passion and upon the swift heels of 2017 graduation, an opportunity presented itself to work for collector Phyllis Hattis, steeped in history, awash in classical treasures, 20 million dollar masterpieces splashed across walls. Tales of the late William Rubin echoing down the Picasso-covered corridors, his 25 year history as director of MOMA the soundtrack over which Phyllis narrated, augmenting the very environment with a richness. A texture. Advising curators and national museums, liaising for political leaders and those holding high office, the world of the art elite welcomed Brooke’s keen eye, adept nature and impulse to learn and to lead. With a minor in Entrepreneurship and Spanish, she was in her element, business acumen and integrity driving forces. Yet amid this year saturated in substance, cultural marvels within fingertip’s grasp, she found her own practice stymied. The hustle of the city (while wild and enigmatic in tone) not beneficial to her personal output. And so she wandered, curiosity and soul her guide, exploring her storied surroundings. Williamsburg her cobblestoned footpath, searching for something alive. Spring eternal. Not relics of master’s past, but of a creativity aflame. Energy. Palpable pulse. That wild hum. And perhaps by destiny or animal magnetism, Carrie Able gallery emerged, enveloping her with a gentle cadence and within whose eponymous walls she would thrive. Quickly establishing a role on the team under the multi-disciplinary director after whom the space was named, synchronicities her storied signposts, Brooke found herself tangentially embedded in a residency. An incubator of sorts featuring a Virtual Reality lab in the Bowery and within a wild embrace she fell deeply captive, it was a playground for a mind yearning to create. To test theories and push the envelope. Move past self-imposed boundaries, unencumbered to explore with aplomb. And with this foray into virtual reality, a new world unfolded before her very eyes, consciousness reexamined, pin-prick sensations her guide. Staggered by the palpable impact. Sometimes we need a spark. The whisper of the wind, a means by which to make a move. One literal or perhaps transcendental. Perhaps both. And so an answer to a grant
proposal submitted to Telluride Arts not only arrived but awarded her the title page to her next chapter. Imagination alit, ready to create not only from a material plane but one with more depth. More texture. A nuance not achieved in the 2D from where she began long ago. VR headset and laptop her implements, Colorado her newly adopted home, Voodo Studios her laboratory, she embarked upon her first series of augmented reality oil paintings. Striving to approach without roadmap nor plan, all judgments cast aside, allowing the process to unfold organically. To be overtaken by the moments. Reactionary in the very space in which she now inhabited. For Brooke to explain it, “I put on my VR headset, and am immersed in 3D blank space. I import an image of my oil painting into VR and using my remote controls, I am able to paint off the canvas in 360 degrees. It’s as if I am painting sculpture and expanding the layers of paint off my canvas and into a 3D environment that one can immerse themselves in.” Inspired by fractals and sacred geometry, vivid colors of the rainbow and the mind’s piqued curiosity, her works are staggering. And with them she wants to blow minds. Break them open. Stir souls so fiercely nary a dry eye exists, background, foreground, all elements of tangible form lost in the sweet bliss of wonder. And it’s not merely a parlor trick. Not a bait and switch to gain likes, status or notoriety. It’s a means to move. To jar both physically and spiritually. To propose vistas yet unexplored, a vast world open to engagement. To inquiry. An opportunity to flip every truth we’ve held dearly. Because comfort fails to teach. Stagnation stymies the soul. A spirit suffering in abject silence and shrouded fear the subsequent drone of the masses. And so she heeded this tug in March 2020, accepting her first solo exhibition at Gallery 81435 in Telluride. Showcasing her series of Augmented Reality enabled oil paintings, a classroom of sorts, bending minds and hearts of patrons ready to absorb. A teaching ground as an innate student of the world giving license to share what she’d gleaned, spreading sweet visual gospel to the audience. But as we know, unmuddled paths don’t entice an imagination wild with whimsy. One seeking. One yearning to expand. And while the upending unleashed by the COVID pandemic threw her from a proposed trajectory, it would not dim her shine. It is true that in order to abide by safety protocols, gallery doors closed sullenly and swiftly only two weeks after welcoming the world. Classroom lights dimmed, hushed tones, blinds drawn. But it is also true that she embraced the pause. The keen reflection on the very
breath of existence. Spinning straw into gold, allowing the universe to show her what she’d been missing all along. And so that brings us to the present captivation. A fresh take. Time allocated to landscapes anew and unexpected, metaphorical doors through which to pass, physical frames at her feet, the burgeoning collection the fuel. Scavenging reclaimed artifacts from Telluride discard piles, beautiful specimens that carry history and story, she’s amassed 60 physical doors endeavoring toward 100 to build an installation of grand scale. And as part of this artistic vision, creating a virtual world of portals and NFT collectibles for each of the 100 frames. Tangible installation merely the beginning of a 5-year global physical and virtual project, The Unknown Zone. Bridging the gaming world, physical art world, and virtual art world. These passageways? They are gateways to new vistas. Often representing change. Death and life anew. A closing. An opening. Fresh opportunity afoot. And recognizing this universal truth, she wants to galvanize these experiences. Seminal moments of witnessed change. Of transition.
Memories indelible, the universe doing what one cannot do for oneself. An urged goodbye to those facets that no longer fit. And as if by magic or perhaps spirit’s manifestation, she found her vehicle. Telluride Arts grant her fuel, Camp V and WE Arts her playground, she has accepted the role of artist-in-residence on the boutique campus in Naturita. A beautiful backdrop between Moab and Telluride upon whose sprawling 110 acre property this concept is given life to expand. Intentions to cohere and reconnect the community through education, art and shared space. To revive the heart of the locals and instill agency. Ownership. Pride in the land and the opportunity to create. A wild amalgamation of energy to behold, also giving back to social and environmental causes. Because while intriguing and endlessly vast, it is widely known that NFT and digital work is not without its downfalls. Climate change an overarching reality, these spaces contribute to its degradation and as
a fervent activist and deeply rooted soul, Brooke wishes to counter her footprint, offsetting however possible. As such, the proceeds from the physical installations will be donated to an environmental cause tied to the land upon which it is situated as well as benefiting local artists who participate. A teaser. The journey thus far is merely a taste of the enormity yet to come. And the opportunity to bear witness in real time is a gift she’s openly offering us all. Dare I say stay tuned? Or shall I implore you? Beg you to give yourself over to the magic of this mystery. Allow your minds to be blown. Whiplashed with wonder. Left in a beautifully contemplative haze, bodies reverberating from the soul’s deep palpitations. I know I’ll be joining the chorus of the intrigued and awakened citizens yearning to thrive and I do so hope you’ll tag along. www.mindbender-art.com / @Mindbender.art
BREAKING THE MOLD
A New Type of Art Gallery in Charleston ways in which art is viewed and collected. “A few years ago, while I was studying at Sotheby’s Institute of Art in London for a Master’s in Contemporary Art, I took a course on curation. Part of the coursework was conceptualizing a major exhibition where we had total control of the artwork, venue, and concept. While I had previous curation experience from working as the Gallery Director at an art gallery on Broad Street, this exercise at Sotheby’s offered freedom on a scale I hadn’t experienced yet in my art career. I loved it,” explains Landing.
Just three months before the start of the pandemic, Kristie Landing launched her art gallery, a venture that she had been envisioning for years. But the new contemporary gallery had no set address. Landing decided to shake up the traditional model by focusing on curated popups across the country along with an easy-to-use online platform. Her goal is three-fold: to make contemporary art more accessible to collectors, to support the arts in different communities, and to empower emerging artists. Let’s face it, the art world can seem unapproachable. Many people put off starting an art collection because it seems inaccessible, overwhelming, and prohibitively expensive. Contemporary art in particular is often filled with references most people who haven’t studied art don’t know. This art language barrier is compounded by the popularity of the white cube gallery model, in which pristinely kept, whitewalled venues host art with no price tags and very little information to accompany the work. Fortunately, the landscape of the art world is shifting, making way for up and coming talents and online platforms that break the barriers of the traditional gallery model and are price transparent. Landing wanted to be a part of this shake-up, opening the
Curating is like a puzzle with pieces that can fit together in infinite ways. You take works that say so much on their own and you ask them to not only co-exist with works by other artists, but to thrive together. You ask them to say, “We are all different and amazing on our own, but together we tell another tale, one that will allow viewers to take something away today that they hadn’t yet considered.” “After that course, I began thinking about the possibility of starting my own gallery and how I could again feel the possibilities of curation that Sotheby’s provided me. At the same time, I wanted a gallery that would allow me to continue to travel. To keep up with the fast pace of the contemporary art world, you have to be mobile and flexible; I wanted my gallery to be that. It took me three years to finally take the plunge on starting Landing Contemporary Art and it wasn’t until I moved home to Charleston that my plans came to fruition, but I’m so glad I had that time to mull over all my ideas.” On December 4, 2019, Landing Contemporary Art was born as a nomadic gallery with an online platform and popup exhibitions. While their home base is Charleston, LCA belongs everywhere, because a key component of their mission is to engage different communities through pop-
ups with local artists. While they were only able to do three in-person exhibitions in 2020 because of the pandemic, they hope to have many more in the future. In the meantime, LCA is holding online exhibitions with smaller, socially distanced pop-ups. “Whether or not you agree, I believe art is essential, and at no time is it more important than when people are going through a difficult period,” says Landing. “The past year has been a time of great productivity for some artists, locked in isolation for months and creating everyday -- but not for all. I’m certain it was particularly challenging for emerging artists, who I define as artists at the beginning of their art career. When there are lots of opportunities for artists, emerging artists are able to get work right away and pursue their passion, which benefits everyone around them. When there aren’t a lot of opportunities, which is true in times like our current one, up and coming artists might choose a more traditional career path to make ends meet.” For this reason, and because Landing believes it is easier to experiment with the exhibitions of emerging artists, she has made it her goal to support artists at the beginnings of their career. LCA’s current roster has around 15 artists, all personally selected by Landing. Many of the artists attended prestigious art schools like SCAD, Parsons, and RISD. From oil paintings to photography and lithography, Landing has carefully curated works from the best and brightest up and coming artists. Even if you aren’t selected for their roster, you can still be considered for exhibitions. Landing Contemporary Art is not only breaking with the traditional mold of the art world, they are working to give more artists a voice and share the power of contemporary art with as many people and communities as possible.
www.landingcontemporaryart.com Facebook/Instagram: @landingcontemporaryart
AVITAL MILLER
And Her Campaign Against “You’ll Never”
honors from engineering at Washington University in St Louis, I was the only person to be hired to work at Microsoft from my class. And I was offered $20,000 more per year than the other starting new graduates. Who says women need to get paid less?! The story that seems to touch people’s hearts the most is healing from an autoimmune disorder beyond what was expected. Microsoft is a great company but it did not feel like it was for me. I transitioned into being a yoga instructor, teacher trainer, and fitness director teaching 25-30 classes all over town! I was known as the Energizer Bunny! That was until I started having issues with fatigue, my hair falling out, and my muscles turning to fat. I was getting weaker than my students and wondering if I would be out of the job. I turned flush white while teaching a spinning class and my students told me I needed to go to the emergency room. The doctor diagnosed me with an autoimmune disorder called Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Hypothyroidism. They gave me a medication, recommended supplements and sent me out the door saying that was it for life. One of my mentors calls me a one-woman campaign against “you’ll never.” Growing up I was held back for my lack of writing abilities. In 2018 I published my first book Healing Happens: Stories of Healing Against All Odds. It hit Amazon best-seller even before launching and won four awards! Freshman year of college my ballet teacher pulled me aside in the middle of ballet class to tell me I would never amount to anything. Two weeks into my unplanned trip in India I was performing a lead Bollywood dance role as entertainment for the Miss South INDIA Pageant in front of thousands of people and nationally televised! Being among a minority of women who graduated with
As if this was an arranged marriage, I figured I better learn a lot about these diseases if I am going to live with them for the rest of my life. I started to read books, search the internet, visit all types of medical practitioners including studying 1-1 with an Ayurvedic doctor in India. All of that helped me feel balanced on a daily basis which was my first miracle. The next thing I did was start to meditate. After a couple months, surprisingly, I did not feel well. My doctor ran some tests and then told me I was overdosed on my medication. We lowered my medication, I felt better, I continued to meditate and then I did not feel well again. We lowered my dosage again as if I was going from medication to meditation!
One of the ways I could tell how my health was going was by waking up in the morning and looking at my face. Were my eyes puffy with bags under my eyes or did my skin look porcelain clear? Or I would notice how relaxed and glowing my face was after a really good meditation. I could see personal proof of how my external beauty was both a sign of my physical health as well as the spirit of my inner beauty. Soon I started meeting people who were given terminal diagnoses years before and were perfectly healthy at the moment. Being fascinated by their stories and that maybe fatal pronouncements do not have to be our fate, I interviewed all kinds of health and healing experts with stories of healing from terminal diagnoses that they saw repeated in their clients and put them in my book Healing Happens: Stories of Healing Against All Odds. Some of the experts interviewed include Forbes Riley who is known as the $2 Billion Host and the bestselling author Dr. Bernie Siegel. (Learn more about Healing Happens at www. healinghappensbook.com) From the book I developed the top four Full-Bodied Success Mastery strategies. The first is reason to live. Dr. Bernie Siegel noticed his terminal cancer patients who were miraculously healing were the ones who focused on what they wanted to live for. We all feel a level of that energizing effect when we put on an outfit we love that makes us feel beautiful. In turn, having the right tools can help us feel more alive. One day a woman came into my yoga class looking like a homeless woman with her hair messy and clothes tattered. She would barely speak to me nor look at me. At the end of the class she stood up straighter, looked me in the eyes and asked to sign up for my meditation program. Within a few months she was brushing her hair, dressing nicely, smiling and developing new friendships. She told me her family said she was much more enjoyable to be around and was a completely different person. Meditation gave her the ability to “live” more. My meditation program was easy for her to approach because it has techniques to support those who would normally not be able to meditate plus a sense of community to offer support and upliftment. Thus it can help those who are feeling down in life start living more, offer enough stress relief to help heal the body like it did for mine, and the empowerment to have a greater drive and successfully manifest our visions in life. (You can join us at avitalmiller. com/members.) With our passions driving us, tools to enlighten us along the way, and the right team we can accomplish anything. Since my health diagnosis I have hiked up 14,000 ft mountains, spoken all over the world, and performed all kinds of dance.
Avital Miller, best-selling author of Healing Happens and Practice, award-winning international keynote speaker, healing breakthrough facilitator, and global dancer. Connect with Avital at www.avitalmiller.com and receive a free gift at www.healinghappensforyou.com.
ARTIST PORTFOLIO
BLAKELY HANNA
Originally from Charleston, South Carolina, Blakely Hanna is an impressionist painter who refers to her art as her greatest hobby. She receives her inspiration from the region’s landscapes and historical scenery. She enjoys creating art in hope of capturing beautiful memories and providing her viewers with some relaxation. “Art is a great way to allow your mind to wonder!” she says. Her paintings are made with acrylic and oil on canvas using her custommixed hues. Art has been a huge part of Blakey’s world and she plans to continue her journey publicizing her work for others to enjoy. @hannataylorblakely
Photograph by Kayla Garret
THE ENDURANCE OF ART
Briahna Wenke Embraces the Unknown by Kristie Landing
In 2014, artist Briahna Wenke left NYC to move to Folly Beach, SC, to pursue a full-time art career. While this is the opposite of many artists’ trajectories — leaving the big city for the small town —she needed space to settle her restlessness and focus on her artwork. Known for her bold figurative paintings that merge elements of abstraction with hyperrealism, Wenke’s bright star is just beginning to rise. It’s a calm spring Wednesday in Folly when I meet Wenke, and while some are zipping up their wetsuits or relaxing with a morning coffee, she is already at work on a new painting. While Wenke has only been a fulltime artist for the past seven years, it’s instantly clear that this is what she is meant to be doing. Not only is her studio filled with art, but she’s wearing a pair of overalls so thickly covered in splatters of paint that I wonder if it is an art piece, too. Wenke welcomes me into her lightflooded studio, a converted garage space with a large sliding door that leads out into a natural space. The walls are covered with her latest creations, some complete and some still in process. There’s a buzzing energy around her works, a dynamism that is hard to put into words. The room has a palpable sense of potential that seems to signal that you are in the presence of the next big thing. Instead of sitting for an interview, she picks up a paintbrush and stands at her easel. I get the sense that Wenke is never one to sit still. Wenke’s journey to being a full-time artist is what you could call untraditional. Growing up, she always had an interest in art and vividly recalls her first memory. She was drawing at home and did not hear her family calling for her. “They looked for me for hours and when they found me, I was in
my own world, drawing and coloring,” she recalls. Yet, as she grew older, she never saw being an artist as a practical career option. Instead, she pursued modeling, living in NYC and flying around the world for jobs. After years of this, she realized that while she thought that was what she wanted at the time, the stereotypes of the superficiality of the industry turned out to be true. That wasn’t her, and she had to get out.
While she knew it seemed counterintuitive to leave NYC to start an art career, Wenke felt she needed a change of scenery. In 2014, she packed her bags and made the move to Charleston. Instead of waiting for the art world to come to her, she hit the ground running by putting her art everywhere she could think of, from local weekend markets to coffee shops. She taught painting classes and before long, secured a studio space at Redux Contemporary Art Center. Becoming a part of the Redux community opened new doors, including being scouted by the curator of The Grand Bohemian gallery. Wenke credits this as taking her work to the next level by providing a permanent space for her work to hang publicly. Since becoming a part of the roster, she has had several feature shows and collaborated with friend and fellow artist, Samantha Reuter. While Wenke’s journey from model to full-time artist seems like it happened overnight, she believes her works are a product of all that she experienced in her past. “Creativity is a combination of everything you have seen in your life pushed out through your personal filter,” she says. From living in Paris for two months to visiting some of the best museums in the world — the Guggenheim in Venice being a favorite — it’s clear that Wenke has vivid images archived as inspiration in her mind. Her memories are very much alive and at work in everything that she does. Of course, you may not realize this right away when you see the work that she is most known for. There are no
cityscapes or paintings of the Eiffel Tower in her studio, though she has painted everything from landscapes to abstractions in the past. Instead, you’ll see people. Wenke is most concerned with the human form, a subject of endless inspiration. She contrasts soft realism with elements of strong abstraction to evoke a tension that embraces the unknown. “The visual contrast of realism and chaos heightens a sense of excitement in a work,” she explains. It also helps her divulge a larger narrative of how the figures relate to their inner and external worlds. “I use really raw, crude textures as an exploration of how our body houses stories, experiences, and trauma. There’s always something just under the surface…we don’t think about what people are carrying around all day,” she says. She keeps a journal and plans some of her works in advance, but many ideas come to her intuitively in a state of flow. Still, it’s not always easy. To combat stagnation, Wenke stresses the importance of endurance; of showing
up no matter how you are feeling. As a runner, she says she has learned a lot over the years about the importance of building your mental muscle. She sticks to a routine that offers small wins everyday so that when she comes to the studio to paint, she is able to move forward. “Do whatever it takes to not let your inner negative talk stop you from progressing,” she says. “It’s going to be the most powerful force. Every time you step into the studio, you have to just start. It’s a learned skill to do that, but that is what stops most creatives in their tracks.” As for Wenke’s future plans, look out for a big exhibition at Charleston Union Station in October, which will feature her work as well as Samantha Reuter’s. Organized by the two artists, the show will address consumption and the pandemic. With an element of performance through the painting of live models, it’s just the kind of thing Charleston needs to shake things up. “The artist, the thinker, the writer —it’s really fearful to be alone, but the artist has to dig deep to pull anything out in terms of value. They are the only ones to see things for what they are and remind humanity of what they are capable of.” - Briahna Wenke www.artbybri.com
COS AD
ARTIST PORTFOLIO
HALEY FLANIGAN
Haley Flanigan is a Louisiana-born artist who seeks to draw a world that looks the way she sees it. She received her BA from the University of Colorado, Boulder in 2014, and now lives with her husband Wes in Manhattan, New York. Confusing and colorful, her artwork tells stories of childhood nostalgia, southern culture, and summers spent out West. haleyflanigan.myportfolio.com
COSTA RICA by Bella Barnard
Are you thinking about visiting Costa Rica? Imagine: warm majestic volcanic hot springs, beautiful jungles so thick you can only see a few meters into the wild, towering waterfalls that serve as reminders of the Jurassic era, and a rich culture ingrained with love and happiness. Also consider the local phrase “Pura-Vida,” which means “Pure Life.” You’ll hear that a lot in this beautiful country, nestled in the middle of Central America. A journey here nothing short of life-changing. (There’s a good chance you may never want to leave!) And when visiting Costa Rica, the award-winning Tabacon Thermal Resort & Spa is an absolute must! Tabacon is nestled on the north base of the very active Arenal Volcano along National Route 142. The exotic, lush terrain will have you dreaming of Costa Rica for the rest of your days!
The Ultimate Volcanic Thermal Hot Springs!
Upon arrival, Tabagon’s security staff will greet you at a gated entrance. After security check, you roll up to the complimentary valet to handle your items, park your car, and sanitize your luggage. The hotel is committed following and improving guidelines for COVID-19 testing and standards. The lovely check-in staff offers excellent suggestions for upgrades to your visit and other activities in the surrounding area. Recommendations can consist of the hot springs, hiking, zip-line, waterfalls, sloth sanctuaries, shopping, horseback riding, restaurants, and many more things. This resort is 100% family-friendly, so it is perfect for a family getaway. It’s also an ideal place for a destination wedding or honeymoon. The room styles they offer range and vary in size. Starting an extensive “Senator Suite.” To a much smaller “Orchid Room,” fit for 2. Despite room sizes, the views of the Arenal
volcano are breathtaking. Every day is the opportunity to discover a new adventure somewhere in the area. You will find a few quiet walking trails and small picnic areas unique to the property and secluded for privacy on the resort. These are perfect for small hikes, a picnic lunch, or a place to have a romantic bottle of wine. A small service road used to walk or ask for a golf cart to and from the various places on the resort. Toward the end of the service road, there is a small sitting area. In the evenings, if you are fortunate, you might see a flurry of fireflies that paint a perfect backdrop to a dark starry night. There are natural volcanic thermal hot springs located just a few minutes down the road. If you are a guest of the resort, a shuttle service is also complimentary. The Tabacon Hot Springs Garden is open to the public. If you are not a guest of the resort, there is an entry fee. Side note, a short walk down the road is a “public hot spring,” that one is free (and a great time if you want to get to know the locals). Costa Rica prides itself on sustainable conservation6. Throughout the country, Costa Rica has built its tourism infrastructure to reflect this very aspect.
Staff is onsite to supply food, beverages, towels, and lockers, and good vibes. At the same time, you can explore the many acres of thermal spring pools, enchanting waterfalls, and hidden romantic areas for adults specifically. Included is an onsite “in-the-hot-springs” bar that serves specialty and traditional beverages for all ages. The magical rainforest garden at the Tabacon Thermal Hot Springs is one of the most beautiful and exotic gardens in Costa Rica. The whole scenery opens up to a garden filled with waterfalls, warm pools, small maze-like walkways, and quaint bridges for photos. A place you can find yourself lost. Inside the garden, you can find several amenities that are perfect for all ages. There is a dining area perfect for a light lunch or snacks, so you won’t have to leave the gardens. If you are looking for a little more space from the family crowds, there is an area in the “ Shangri-La Gardens” area. You will also find places where you can sit under waterfalls, warm tropical water rushing over you, or sit back on the smooth black rocks that make up the thermal pools. This trip was made possible in conjunction with Social Capital Agency; accommodations provided by Tabacon. www.tabacon.com
Denver's Condo Experts
Katie Knowlton
Broker Associate (970 ) 618-0037 Katie@DenverHighRiseLiving.com
We are very honored to have Katie on our team at Denver High-Rise Living. Her passion for, and knowledge of, Denver is one of the many reasons we fell in love with her. But it’s her care and compassion for others that swept us off our feet. She delivers our key philosophy of “ACT,” providing the best experience possible for everyone she works with: she’s Authentic, she Collaborates and she’s Transparent. Denver and Denver High-Rise Living are lucky to have her representing us and neighbors Thank you Katie! taking care of our neighbors. www.denverhighriseliving.org