Work by Ashli England; courtesy of the artist
The Art Bar continues mixing up programming, with regular hangings of local artists a consistent part of the blend. On Friday, October 3, curator Jamie Jessop has put together a Cherokee-centric group show, featuring Stephen “Freaky Steve” McClenahan, a former TS7Q participant; Francis Rodriguez, an artist who also happens to own the neighboring Yaqui’s; and Ashli England, a multimedia artist, who’ll spend part of the evening doing face-painting.
That’s a natural extension of her work in makeup and costume design, and will serve as an additional bit of fun for those attending what Jessop hopes is a regular rotation of work by artists who live/work on-and-around Cherokee.
We sent England a series of questions relating to her work, as part of our every-other-week discussion series with local visual artists, hooked around the same seven questions.
Art school? Self-taught? Some variety of both? Or none of the above?
Although I've painted for over a decade, I've never taken a formal painting class. In college I took design, drawing/figure drawing and computer science. Currently I'm studying chromotherapy, the use of color as a healing practice.
Regarding your creative habits, are you a night owl or an early bird?
I think I'm whatever fits the flow, really. I balance my time to create with the schedule of my husband and three-year-old son. When I have a project on my mind I'll work in any spare moment I get. Mid-afternoon seems to be my sweet spot, but I'll wake up early or stay up late to get the itch out.
In basic terms, can you describe the set up and vibe of your studio?
Comfortable. A non-stop flow of energy.
What are your thoughts on crowdfunding for the arts? And is that option any part of your own approach to creating and selling work?
Yes! Funny enough, I'm planning to launch an Indiegogo campaign mid-fall to promote and fund my dream multi-medium exhibition next spring.
Do you have a dream project that lacks only funding (or time)?
The project mentioned above is called “Between: A 2 Day Multi-sensory Art Exploration.” It will showcase one day of my makeup and costume design, and one day of my canvas work. Day 1 will also feature various on stage live performing arts. I have the vision, skill and energy to make this real. I've been building on this project for nearly three years. It seems more like a recurring dream. Right now, I'm lacking funding to set this event in full motion. I have my Indiegogo in review and plan for it to release mid-fall.
To what degree do you enjoy having public contact, whether that means selling your work at a fair, a gallery opening, etc.?
To the fullest! I love being in the community and sharing my many forms of art. I started my career selling my paintings on the sidewalk in Delmar Loop. I've since had solo shows, many group showings, and participated in local festivals. I've worked/volunteered at multiple local galleries and have had the pleasure hosting many local artists during my time as a gallery director. I am always on the lookout for an opportunity to work with others.
What other St. Louis artists inspire or motivate you?
Off the top of my head, and in my own creative words, the St. Louis artists that have inspired or motivated me… gosh, I have to TRY to keep this short and sweet. The first artist I ever got to shadow was Craig Downs. His relaxed confidence alone is inspiring. I'm inspired by Cindy Royal's futuristic nostalgia, Mark Swain's ability to reinvent, Jen
Courtesy of Ashli England
nifer Hayes for her patience, Phil Jarvis, Evelyn Astegno Yocum, Henryk Ptasiewicz, Julie Malone and Mikhail Matveyev for their timelessness. I'm inspired by Basil Kincaid for his passion, Dwight Carter for his multi-platform approach to entrepreneurship, Stan Chisholm (DJ 18andcounting) for his diversity, Jamie Jessop's passion for community, Pablo Von Litchtenberg for his uniqueness, Jeffery Richter for his timeless surrealism. The list could definitely go on.
