HOLOGRAPHIC

MICHAELA BRADLEY 

SPONSORED BY THE ALLIANCE ARTS COUNCIL

FEB 14TH - MAR 18TH 

RECEPTION MAR 11TH

ABOUT THE ARTIST:

I am an Omaha native whose love of many types of storytelling and media informs my work. Each and every piece I do is for the little girl who longed to see herself reflected in the TV, books and video games I consumed. All my work features women and girls of color, often in fantasy or sci-fi settings and poses.

I have always hated the fact that “black media” has always been considered a separate category, often relegated to one-off shout outs in February. I’ve always hated that even black makers and viewers see themselves as separate or other. Black people are people with many of the same worries and concerns as any other group. SO my work doesn’t emphasize the fact that my charters are black. They do all the same cool things that any other color character can do. I aim to minimize the sense of otherness with which many people approach black artwork.

I love whimsy and fun and I often view my artwork as a form of play. I keep my work fairly accessible to non-artists so that they feel invited to join in on the fun and beauty.

ABOUT THE EXHIBIT:

Part of the title is left blank because I am encouraging the viewer to fill in the blank themselves.

For this project, you’re getting an unprecedented look at a few pages of my diary—at some of the thoughts running through my mind. I think we’ve all collectively agreed that the last few years have been some of the most difficult. The worst of those difficulties were the ones that were hardest to pin down – the ones that don’t easily conform to words. It’s those little nagging feelings that cross your mind in the small empty spaces of your day, the little spaces in between engagements. It’s those last few thoughts that trail in before sleep graciously overtakes you at night.

But in these quietly turbulent times, some people (including myself) have found and discovered new things about themselves, taken up new skills and hobbies, refined themselves into something new and radiant.

Overall, these pieces are juxtapositions of clashing ideas and states of being. The last couple years for me have been some of my most successful professionally and artistically, but some of my most difficult personally and in terms of my health.

And even though all these thoughts and feelings are present in every stroke, every line, every color, I wanted to ensure that my work remained accessible. I wanted viewers to be drawn into the pretty, appealing, and the cute aspects of my work, and if they fell in deeper, that would be a bonus.

TECHNIQUE:

Starting in December, I stumbled upon a new style, a new technique really, and that is my holographic technique. It was simple but eye-catching and really fun. I could be loose and not have to plan. It was so cathartic. It features loose colors in my signature Painted Wolf Studio color palette. But it was a new way to use old things. It’s bright and colorful and fun. Visually, it’s an escape from the things going on around me.

This technique is a bit more iterative though. A lot of the same basic steps are at play here, but I’m looking at them from a different perspective. I didn’t mention it before, but you’ll notice that I continue to use my “new” watermark which is the paw print with Painted Wolf Studio written inside. It’s a little more prominent and is a bit of a necessary evil these days. But, the amount of detail and storytelling in each picture allows for it not to be (overly) intrusive.

SPRING SHOW

BOX BUTTE ART SOCIETY

ANNUAL GUILD SHOW

FEB 14TH - MAR 18TH 

RECEPTION MAR 11TH

The Box Butte Art Society is a local group of artists made up of around 30 people from Box Butte County and surrounding counties. The artists are a mixed group of talents with painters, mixed media, photographers, and scuptors. The group meets monthly for open studio sessions and classes. Anyone is welcome to become a member. It is only $15 for an annual membership for adults and $5 for a youth membership. Membership makes you eligible to enter your work in the Spring exhibit. As a Box Butte Art Society member, you can also enter to be a member of the Association of Nebraska Art Clubs. If you are a member of ANAC and enter the Spring Show you are eligible to enter your work in the Association of Nebraska Art Club's state show and have the opportunity to have your work exhibit across state in a traveling exhibit. 

SUMMER ADVENTURES STUDENT SHOW

-CURATED BY ROBERT PELTZ

Oct 18 - Jan 14th 

MIXED MEDIA SHOWCASE OF CARNEGIE'S ART CAMP STUDENTS. THEIR AGES RANGE FROM 7-16 YEARS OF AGE. THE STUDENTS HAVE WORKED ON 3D, PAINTINGS, PASTELS, SKETCHES, MIXED MEDIA, AND SPIN ART. WE ARE PROUD TO SHOWCASE THE TALENTS OF THESE STUDENTS!