New exhibition "El Gallo" at Whitespace Gallery, Atlanta, GA.

Last weekend was the opening reception of "El Gallo" at Whitespace including new drawings, paintings, screen prints, sculpture and video. Here is a link to a killer review by Felicia Feaster for the AJC. If you want to see all of the new work including the video, click here to go to my website.

"El Gallo" Exhibition in the Making

This Spring I traveled to Tucson, AZ, to do research for an upcoming exhibition that I will have this September at Whitespace Gallery, Atlanta, GA. I lived in Tucson at one point in my life, for two years, and I chose this location to revisit experiences from my past when I was 18 years old. One of the first drawings I have created for this body of work is titled, El Gallo and I think that I will title the exhibition after this piece. El Gallo was my attempt at drawing my personal boogeyman or demon so to speak. He is an aggressive shape shifter and predator. El Gallo's are everywhere maybe you just don't know it. My artistic process involves concepting and thumbnailing, but ultimately I use models and photograph them to work from. This is Michael O'Connell, my model for El Gallo.

After I choose the best photo to work from I have to figure out how to alter the model and what imagery I'm going to morph with the model. I work mostly from photographic references but I do have 9 chickens and quite a collection of natural items and props in the studio.

For this piece I mostly used watercolor and colored pencil.

I used salt in the watercolor to give the cactus-like skin more texture. So here he stands, 22"x30" on 300lb hot pressed watercolor paper. He's a cocky dude, in more ways than one.

New Website!

For years I had been using this blog as an unofficial website...but I finally have a website up and running with my current work! To view my recent and not so recent artwork, go to www.annmariemanker.com. Also a local photographer and writer, Isadora Pennington, stopped by my studio this week for a chat and some picture taking. She just featured the studio visit on her blog titled Creative Spaces. You can check out pics of my studio and hints of what I've been working on. See it here: http://isadorapennington.com/2014/11/03/creative-spaces-ann-marie-manker/ Otherwise, I've begun new work for a solo exhibition that I have lined up at Whitespace Gallery, Atlanta, GA, September 2015. I hope to add video and sculpture to my collection of new paintings and plan on collaborating within these genres. I also plan to travel soon to Tucson, AZ to do research/drawings of Saguaro cacti. I've got a boogie man on the brain with cactus parts that I need to get down on paper. More updates on the way. Photo cred above to Isadora.

How it all began and where it went, "Under the Rainbow"

For the past several years I've been making psychological narrative paintings - fantasy worlds with young girls carrying out their various acts. The last body of work (2010) Softcore War, dealt with the fantasies of would be suicide bombers based on a series of articles that I read. The current work, (2013) Under the Rainbow is different. Under the Rainbow is akin to being under the influence of something, in this case the rainbow, which is a product of light that feeds darkness. The rainbow is a symbol of power that is the antagonist. It is the other partner that the femme fatale figure has a relationship with. When I first started creating these paintings Summer of 2012, the Pussy Riot incident was loud and clear in the news. I watched a video of protestors chanting behind a chain link fence in defense of the Pussy Riot members. The protest was peaceful. When a young woman dawned a pink mask and continued her chant, the police immediately went after her. I was amazed that a simple colorful mask that she was under became a symbol of aggression so quickly. The term "Under the Rainbow" had been mulling in my head for some time, and this moment, further solidified my desire to use this term for the title of my new work. When I think of the femme fatale in this series, I've been inspired by both the characters "Black Widow" in the Avengers and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. They both cross the line to get information that they need. The play both the victim and the protagonist. As the work developed the female began to interact with the amorphous rainbow cloud monster, sometimes suggesting that a line had been crossed, perhaps sexually, to get what they needed, as seen in Trophy 1 & 2. Teeth were extracted and hair, either pubic or beard, was removed. As for the abundance of hair and hidden faces, I've been searching for new ways to obscure identity, that isn't always construed as a religious veil. The work is not religious at all. Veils are traditionally a symbol of faith and devotion, but they can also be used as a bandit or mask to conceal identity when committing a crime. The fabric pieces are anthropomorphized veils that embody the power of the rainbow. It would be dangerous to put one on. It makes me think of mad scientists who drink their potions to become Jekyll and Hyde types of characters. Throughout the body, there are still some spill overs from the last series of work, namely from the small group of drawings that I created Summer of 2011 called "Lashes for Ankles". The girls are still flaunting gold teeth and exposing themselves in ways that break the law, or push boundaries, depending where you live. This information might shed some light on the current work, however the driving force will always be deeply personal and psychological. I recently saw a show about Ian Flemming, the author of all of the James Bond books. James Bond was his alter ego and perhaps the girls are mine.

2013 Under the Rainbow paintings available for viewing and purchase

If you'd like to see the collection of my new body of work titled "Under the Rainbow", on exhibit at Whitespace Gallery April 5 - May 11, then copy the link below. Works that are not listed as SOLD are available for purchase through the gallery. http://whitespace814.com/2013/04/04/preview-under-the-rainbow-new-works-by-ann-marie-manker/

Under the Rainbow

Under the Rainbow, the title of my new body of work, opens at Whitespace Gallery, Atlanta, GA in two weeks! I've been working on this new body since last summer, when I made this self titled piece the first week of June 2012. This piece was partly inspired by vintage postcards of Niagra falls that I found at an antique shop. For many months I was thinking about using more black in my work and these post card images spoke to me. I also found inspiration in the illustrations of Kay Nielsen and his use of black. In the last 10 months I've made 16 new paintings which will exhibit for the first time on April 5th at Whitespace Gallery, Atlanta, GA. Here is a sneak peak of some paintings. The first two are titled "Trophy 1+2" and the second is a detail shot of "Praying Mantis". These last few weeks I've been tinkering with wall hangings for the installation and here is an up close detail of one of the anthropomorphized veils that I have been creating. Photographer Karley Sullivan gave me some teeth that she cast and one of the pieces ended up in this sculpture. I've yet to come up with a name for it. I think it looks creepy but edible in a skittles kind of way. If you are in Atlanta anytime between April 5 - May 11, stop by the gallery to see the show. Or if you are from out of state and are interested in my work, you can contact me through Facebook or cloudanimal@gmail.com. I'll be posting the entire show online once it is documented mid April.

New work is under way!

I've been holing up in the studio over the holidays to continue working on a new body of paintings that will make their debut April 2013 at Whitespace Gallery.

My goal is to complete two paintings a week. Smaller paintings take about 20 hours or 3 days of work and some only take 2 days. We'll see how long the largest one will take...probably a month on and off. For now, I'm calling the new body of work "Under the Rainbow", but that is not official yet. It does pop into my mind every day however, and that is how I have been referring to the work. Posted are images of my process, during and complete.

Artist Talk and Reception this week at Trois Gallery

This Thursday, September 20th at 5pm, I will be giving an artist talk about my exhibition "Candy Coated" at Trois Gallery, Atlanta, GA. The show is a mini retrospective, so I think I will talk about several artistic endeavors that I have taken on within the past 10 years. There is a reception at 6pm immediately after the talk. I hope you can make it! Trois Gallery is on the SCAD Atlanta campus on Peachtree St. The exhibit is on the 4th floor of building A in the library.

Candy Coated at Trois Gallery, Atlanta GA

Currently I have an exhibition in Atlanta titled "Candy Coated" at Trois Gallery on the campus of SCAD Atlanta. The exhibition started earlier this Spring and was on view at Pinnacle Gallery in Savannah, GA. It is a collection of more than 4 bodies of work dating from 2007 to the present. The show will be up until late September. There is a reception with artist talk on Thursday, September 20th, time TBA. I hope you can stop and see the work.

Lashes for Ankles

Lashes for exposing your ankles, that is what you get if you're caught, when living in the capitol of Somalia. You're also not allowed to wear bras, listen to music or television or have gold teeth. I'm flabbergasted. Well there goes hip hop among other things. Another odd restriction is the banning of the delicious fried Samosa...the triangular shaped food item, as it too closely resembles the Christian trinity.
These new drawings are a base reaction to such extremes, which I find unacceptable, unlivable and unhealthy. I have a problem with extremes in general. Especially when personal beliefs are imposed on others or used as law. As a western artist, I purposely mirror the disconnect between myself and the oppression which happens around the world. I'm interested in drawing young girls, rebellious in nature, floating in a fantasy world where it is safe to live dangerously.

Hot in the City

Atlanta can get very hot, muggy and humid during the summer. The combination of old fish in the trash and 100F can make for a super stew of maggots and other gross things squirming in the garbage bin. Bugs also come inside, attracted by the A/C, to beat the heat. The other night I watched a big roach wiggle on his back and slowly die his natural death. I think the reason they are so scary is because they are so fast. Their sensory systems are highly acute and they also don't mind running their course right towards you or flying right into your face. I think they embody both fight and flight, not one or the other. They are also brown....I think if they were pink, turquoise or some other attractive color, they wouldn't be so scary. The next time I draw one, it will look prettier.

Mail Art in the Summertime

Just drew this today and shipped it off to Tempus projects in Florida for their mail art catalog and exhibit. Not sure what to call it. "Mystery Hug" comes to mind. This is a 7"x7" drawing of my new model Maggie V.

Oh Dang!

Art Noveau Magazine just published a synopsis of an interview that I had regarding some of my favorite female artists. Look here !

Spring is in the air

This article featuring my work was recently published in CommonCreativ. Now that Spring is in the air...it is time to get busy with new paintings....but first I have to move my studio! I'll be moving from Cabbagetown to Inman Park in April, so Springtime calls for cleaning out and moving to make way for new work which will unfold beginning May.

Softcore War

In just 3 days, my exhibition of paintings and sculptural elements titled "Softcore War" will open with a reception at Whitespace Gallery, Friday, September 10th, 7-10pm. I've been working on this series since Springtime and I'm happy to have the work out of my studio and in the gallery! To read, listen and see more about this show, here are some links to check out. The first article was published in this Atlanta's Creative Loafing September 2nd issue. And thestudiovisit.com published a studio visit video, interview and images. There is also a preview in The Atlantan. and Burnaway. And Cathy Fox wrote this review in ArtsCriticATL.

Summer Lovin'

Had me a blast in Washington D.C. My "Trip for Two" drawings were selected for "Body of Work: New Perspectives in Figure Painting" at the National Museum for Women in the Arts, Washington D.C. I flew up for the exhibition reception and gave two brief talks on members day. It is nice to show the work to a new audience. The show exhibits from July-Sept. 2010. Here is a brief review in the Washinton Post.

Tiger Tiger Burning Bright

I'm very excited to be a part of the "Tiger Tiger Burning Bright" Group show at Roq la Rue Gallery in Seattle which opens May 14th, 2010. My work will be alongside some of my favorite artists and the gallery owner Kirsten Anderson has such great taste! Check out the gallery's website for more info: Roq la Rue Gallery

Tiki Toes

Started this painting at the Hambidge Residency program this Summer. Currently it is on display on the 5th floor, building C, at SCAD Atlanta for open studio night, Nov. 12, 2009....6 months later, it was purchased by SCAD and it now resides in their new Hong Kong campus.

Golden Blizzard Show Sat. Sept. 12

Blizzard Sleeves:
new works by Golden Blizzard Art Collective.

The reception is from 6-10pm on Saturday, Sept. 12 at Kibbee Gallery

Kibbee Gallery has a great location.
It is in the house directly behind Fellini's restaurant on Ponce. The addres is 688 Linwood Ave.
Linwood is the street that both Felinni's and La Fonda Latina corner.

Volcanoes in Nashville

The boys from Beep Beep Gallery, Atlanta, GA (James and Mark), brought our work to Nashville the weekend of May 1st. Jason Butcher and myself had a duo show at Nashville's Twist Gallery which opened May 2nd, 2009. James and Mark painted the walls seafoam green and pink to highlight our works on paper. Our show will be up for the month of May. This event is part of a gallery swap agreement between Twist Gallery and Beep Beep Gallery. The second weekend in May, Nashville artists will head south to exhibit their work here in Atlanta. www.twistartgallery.com