When your mind has gone deep space fishing, what creatures will it encounter? Cosmic Sea features new works from Jenn Brisson, Kristian Adam and Phresha. The nautical and metaphysical theme sets the stage for the many colourful new works by the three artists. Invisible sea creatures, extra-terrestrial ocean babes, jellypurrrs and octophants, magical coral reefs, an army of lollipop licking dolphins floating through the milky way. Oh, and don’t forget…. SPACECRABS! These are just some of the amazing things you soon may witness. Both plants and animals first evolved in the sea. Now they must evolve in space and the deep sea of our minds!

Click here to see the show on Flickr >

Jenn Brisson started her art career in Classical Animation working on kids’ TV Shows and films for many moons. All that time drawing cartoons mixed with an interest for the macabre has brought equal parts strange and saccharine to her art. Jenn loves to paint pictures that tell stories and showcase characters that rule in far away places; nature’s mysteries and curious beings that long to learn more about life and the viewer that gazes upon them. These mischievous creatures live upon textured backgrounds made with mixed materials, such as spray paint, stencils and ripped paper. They will draw you in with their hypnotic eyes, soft contours and calming colours, and hope to enchant you so you may dream of other places where magic still exists. Jenn’s work has shown in galleries across Canada and in the US and has also made an appearance in Vancouver’s local street scene. Her work has been published in comics, kids’ novels and various art books, was showcased on CBC’s TV Show “Crash Gallery” and has recently been exploring mural painting. Last year she completed an 8×54′ mural for Downtown Vancouver and has just finished a collaborative 600sf mural in New York City. Currently living in the Vancouver neighbourhood of Mount Pleasant, Jenn continues to chase magic beings and is living life to the fullest.

Kristian Adam is a Canadian born artist. He exhibits regularly throughout Vancouver and in galleries around the world and has been featured in books and television. His paintings often combine themes of nature and invention from the humorous perspective of animals which he refers to as “NymNums.” Dr Seuss’s body of work and a book called the Codex Seraphinianusóbrilliant books filled with surrealistic and organic Rube Golberg-like contraptionsó have helped serve as inspiration to creating his more recent landscapes and devices. Born 1978 in Edmonton, Alberta, Kristian grew up on a small farm near Grande Prairie. Recurring themes of nature in his work are inspired from his childhood living in the country.

Phresha was born with a crayon in her hand. This mischievous child of colour that grew up in Toronto currently resides in Vancouver BC. Her work can be described as vibrant and playful organic flows with seductive female forms and whimsical undertones. Sultry, mysterious vixens are often found frolicking with feral kittens and other wild creatures. Currently, Phresha is focusing on gallery shows, commission work and sampling all the delicious sushi down the coast. “As a visual artist, I am fascinated by the female form, as the embodiment of Mother Nature and her many manifestations. She is the divine goddess, an ethereal warrior, the seductress and the mistress among her many incarnations. A creature of mysterious beauty and allure, she frolicks with whimsical creatures in the planes of my imagination.”

DOLLY
New painted works by Andrea Hooge
April 12-May 4, 2013

 
Andrea Hooge‘s doll-head portraits breathe life into inanimate objects and merging reality with fantasy. Using vibrant colours, shapes, and detailed scratchboards as a backdrop, she draws you in and encourages you to explore the connections between technique and subject. Cute yet creepy, much of the work in “Dolly” incorporates the handmade, including wood cutouts, frames, and homemade scratchboard. “Dolly” began as an experiment in painting dolls from the 50s, dolls that mimic life but are themselves lifeless. Could the same be said about the post-War modern experiment? Maybe, but we’ll leave that question for the academics. See photos of the work here >

Andrea Hooge is an artist living and working in Vancouver, BC. Often inspired by the nostalgia of vintage magazines, advertisements, and children’s books, her focus is on oil painted portraits on wood cutouts and panels, as well a scratchboards, inks and acrylics. Andrea received her BA in Psychology and Fine Arts from the University of the Fraser Valley. She regularly submits group shows at Hot Art Wet City, include CARDED! (April 6) and Hot One inch Action, as wells as other group shows in Vancouver. andreahooge.com

Watch the pre-HAWC interview we did with Andrea below:

An interview with Vancouver collaborative artists Jorden & David Doody. It was inspiring hearing their perspective on working together, about their process, and so much more I haven’t included here… so much so, you can see a second part below. Definitely check them out http://twoartists.net

MUSIC: “Nothing Like Captain Crunch” by Broke For Free
INTERVIEW, VIDEO & EDIT: Chris Bentzen

BONUS: Jorden and David Doody talk about collaboration, communication and the importance of both for their artistic work and personal relationship.

Navigating the Art Industry: Professional Practices for Emerging Artists is a unique 3-hour seminar designed specifically for emerging artists preparing to approach the commercial and public art industry. It is ideal for fine artists of any media pursuing careers in the commercial Vancouver art market or those looking to expand their exhibition repertoire.

Presenter Pennylane Shen has taught full courses in Vancouver, New York and Toronto. Navigating the Art Industry is a condensed introductory session, combining theory, industry experience and practical resources for the emerging artist. She currently works at the Bau-Xi Gallery and teaches “Marketing for Fine Artists” at Langara College. In the nonprofit sector, Pennylane manages the figurative artists collective Phantoms in the Front Yard and is on the art selection committee for the annual Art for Life art auction.

Topics include:

• Presentation (portfolio, application letters, CVs, submissions, proposals)
• Approaching the Vancouver market (gallery profiles, current trends and descriptions)
• Alternative exhibition and marketing options (juried exhibitions, non-profit art spaces, group shows)
• Commercial gallery procedures and guidelines (payment, contracts, shipping, framing)
• Promotional Development (publications, websites, press releases, biographies)
• Professional arts practices (pricing, hanging, framing, documentation, editions, reproductions)

Conceived by Jim Hoehnle and Chris Bentzen in 2004, Hot One Inch Action is the original, one-night only show of button art and social interaction from Vancouver, BC. The tiny art of fifty different artists is reproduced on one inch buttons. These limited edition buttons are displayed on the gallery wall and the audience is offered the opportunity to buy randomly selected buttons in mixed bags of five for $5. Didn’t get the button you want? Trade with the people around you… how bad do you want that button?! That’s when the hot action starts. Artists for 2012 included: Aaron White, Adaryn Ko, Andrea Hooge, Ariane Khachatourians, Arinn Westendorf, Ash Tanasiychuk, Becky McEachern, Brenna Kanski, Cameron Steele, Carelle B. Dunn, Christina Norberg, Cindey Chiang, Colin Moore, Colleen Conroy, Dacosta!, Dana Bourgeois (Mr.Frosty), Danielle Mah, Doug Savage, Dusan Postolovic, Eileen Soo, Eleanor Rosenberg, Erica Wyngaards, esm-artificial, Frederick Cummings, Gayle Koyanagi, Heather Curtis, indy, J.L. Martin. Jeff Denomme, Jeff Speers, Jenn Brisson, Joel Rich, Joseph Taormina, Kate Newman, Katie McLellan, Kay Slater, Kel/Kel, Kevin Kimmett, Kim Kalanj, Kris G. Brownlee, Lauren Williamson, Lori Dean Dyment, Megan Majewski, Nicole Steen, Rhys Edwards, Soizick Meister, Stephanie Faye, Steven Smethurst, Tony Cliff, and Topher Wong.

Thanks to JJ’s Trucketeria.

To see photos or to check out buttons from past shows, or learn more about the show, go to hotoneinchaction.com or go to the Flickr set here >