In support of the next generation of up and coming artists, Commonwheel introduces these “20 and 30 somethings” to the gallery scene in the Pikes Peak area while building intergenerational relationships in an art community. This group represents a fresh lens into an array of medias. This next generation represents majors and minors in design, studio art, and art education.
From Heron Mountain Art - Zen Mountain Journal on emerging artists:
“These artists somehow give us “permission.” They are the creators of new, courageous art that embodies freedom. It often doesn’t make much sense on the surface, at first glance. But sit with it for a while and a wisdom emerges, perhaps a wisdom that can’t be described. They are storytellers; they create mythology. Above all, they invite us to honor our own imaginary world.
Without them our culture would be kind of flat, kind
of unimaginative.“
Fear no art!!!!
From Heron Mountain Art - Zen Mountain Journal on emerging artists:
“These artists somehow give us “permission.” They are the creators of new, courageous art that embodies freedom. It often doesn’t make much sense on the surface, at first glance. But sit with it for a while and a wisdom emerges, perhaps a wisdom that can’t be described. They are storytellers; they create mythology. Above all, they invite us to honor our own imaginary world.
Without them our culture would be kind of flat, kind
of unimaginative.“
Fear no art!!!!
James Hunter
I’ve had raspberries growing outside my window since I was a kid. What I love about the raspberries is when they’re ripe my friends and family come together to pick them and make raspberry jam. The raspberries bring people together, and that’s what good art should do. Bring people together.
I’ve had raspberries growing outside my window since I was a kid. What I love about the raspberries is when they’re ripe my friends and family come together to pick them and make raspberry jam. The raspberries bring people together, and that’s what good art should do. Bring people together.
Gus Andersen
"I am inspired by experiences in the outdoors, my childhood in Maine, and memory, and I focus on emphasizing detail in my art."
"I am inspired by experiences in the outdoors, my childhood in Maine, and memory, and I focus on emphasizing detail in my art."
Conrad Anderson
I enjoy making items that are seen as everyday things but are more of a pleasure to use when they're made in a shop by hand.
I enjoy making items that are seen as everyday things but are more of a pleasure to use when they're made in a shop by hand.
Oscar Bortz
My name is Oscar and I love getting dirty! Whether I’m covered in clay at the pottery studio or mud from the caves of William’s Canyon, I relish in the grit and grime. When I’m not trad climbing in the South Platte or ski touring on Tava, I study environmental science at Colorado College. I am obsessed with the splendor of Mother Nature, and my pots are inspired by her forms. For me, making pots is an expression of self love
and gratitude for the earth.
My name is Oscar and I love getting dirty! Whether I’m covered in clay at the pottery studio or mud from the caves of William’s Canyon, I relish in the grit and grime. When I’m not trad climbing in the South Platte or ski touring on Tava, I study environmental science at Colorado College. I am obsessed with the splendor of Mother Nature, and my pots are inspired by her forms. For me, making pots is an expression of self love
and gratitude for the earth.
Ciara Aya Okabe Wiesner
An interdisciplinary artist and undergraduate student based in Colorado Springs, Ciara’s work stretches between performance, video, instillation and sculpture. Ciara’s instillations draw on the kinetics of the body and the many machines, though a participatory framework. Spatial, auditory, and written instructions compose an individualized experience in hopes of attachment to a collective memory, both physical and social. The subjects are welcomed through processes of reconstruction and structured repetition to materialize randomness through residue.
An interdisciplinary artist and undergraduate student based in Colorado Springs, Ciara’s work stretches between performance, video, instillation and sculpture. Ciara’s instillations draw on the kinetics of the body and the many machines, though a participatory framework. Spatial, auditory, and written instructions compose an individualized experience in hopes of attachment to a collective memory, both physical and social. The subjects are welcomed through processes of reconstruction and structured repetition to materialize randomness through residue.
Perry Davis
Perry Davis is a painter and bookmaker from Rhode Island. She is currently studying Book Arts at Colorado College. In her plein air paintings, she explores light and color through an impressionist lense. She also investigates form in her artist’s books, and occasionally expels her emotions through songwriting. Her contributions to the Next Generation show include a series of plein air paintings of Colorado landscapes as well as blank sketchbooks/ journals.
Perry Davis is a painter and bookmaker from Rhode Island. She is currently studying Book Arts at Colorado College. In her plein air paintings, she explores light and color through an impressionist lense. She also investigates form in her artist’s books, and occasionally expels her emotions through songwriting. Her contributions to the Next Generation show include a series of plein air paintings of Colorado landscapes as well as blank sketchbooks/ journals.
Kenny Idleman
Multiple institutions, notably Pikes Peak Community (now State) College and Colorado State University-Fort Collins, have sent multiple high quality pieces of paper in very thick envelopes, though one was admittedly lost in the mail. Now leading the jewelry and metalsmithing program at Pikes Peak State College, teaching at Bemis School of Art, and hosting and organizing the weekly “Coyoetry” event through Concrete Couch, Kenny has completed the full-circle long-con, meticulously and advantageously manipulating his way into a career in the arts over his long and colorful life.
When teaching, Kenny constantly questions why so many people keep giving him their money to tell them how they’re doing things wrong, but he will gladly continue doing so! In regard to his artwork, Kenny takes particular interest in the visceral physical movement of metal (i.e. raising vessels, chasing and repousse, synclastic and anticlastic forming, etc…), though he can surely learn you up on a wide range of other super cool techniques with equally impressive names. Kenny also runs a monthly book club (the Book Slutz) and writing club (the Writing Slutz), demonstrative of his dalliance with literary delights!
Beyond that Kenny is passionate about the sweeter things in life, namely baked goods, tiny kisses, pretty much anything with a good story, artiodactyla, coordinating outfits with his partner, and living vicariously through his many, many children. When he isn’t caught in the cacophony of quotidian chaos you’ll surely find Kenny doing something highly sophisticated and cultured and shit.
Multiple institutions, notably Pikes Peak Community (now State) College and Colorado State University-Fort Collins, have sent multiple high quality pieces of paper in very thick envelopes, though one was admittedly lost in the mail. Now leading the jewelry and metalsmithing program at Pikes Peak State College, teaching at Bemis School of Art, and hosting and organizing the weekly “Coyoetry” event through Concrete Couch, Kenny has completed the full-circle long-con, meticulously and advantageously manipulating his way into a career in the arts over his long and colorful life.
When teaching, Kenny constantly questions why so many people keep giving him their money to tell them how they’re doing things wrong, but he will gladly continue doing so! In regard to his artwork, Kenny takes particular interest in the visceral physical movement of metal (i.e. raising vessels, chasing and repousse, synclastic and anticlastic forming, etc…), though he can surely learn you up on a wide range of other super cool techniques with equally impressive names. Kenny also runs a monthly book club (the Book Slutz) and writing club (the Writing Slutz), demonstrative of his dalliance with literary delights!
Beyond that Kenny is passionate about the sweeter things in life, namely baked goods, tiny kisses, pretty much anything with a good story, artiodactyla, coordinating outfits with his partner, and living vicariously through his many, many children. When he isn’t caught in the cacophony of quotidian chaos you’ll surely find Kenny doing something highly sophisticated and cultured and shit.
Kass Ullmann
I primarily work with textiles, with a focus on the fabrication of all things wearable. I especially enjoy making bags, pants, and jackets. I always try to find materials I want to work with (such as leather and silk) at thrift stores, to breathe a new life into these long-forgotten garments by upcycling them into a completely new garb (it is also more affordable in this way). My design style is a dialogue between the grotesque and the geometric, channeling sculptural form into wearable art. Feel free to ask me questions about any of the pieces! I also love to pass knowledge, and if anyone is interested in learning how to flat pattern or sew, feel free to reach out, I would love to help in any way possible!
I primarily work with textiles, with a focus on the fabrication of all things wearable. I especially enjoy making bags, pants, and jackets. I always try to find materials I want to work with (such as leather and silk) at thrift stores, to breathe a new life into these long-forgotten garments by upcycling them into a completely new garb (it is also more affordable in this way). My design style is a dialogue between the grotesque and the geometric, channeling sculptural form into wearable art. Feel free to ask me questions about any of the pieces! I also love to pass knowledge, and if anyone is interested in learning how to flat pattern or sew, feel free to reach out, I would love to help in any way possible!
Jeremy Altman
These days, I work in metal and ink—mining social, political and economic dynamics/situations/tensions/hierarchies with an intent and/or a far- flung dream to understand the surrounding world, and myself. I am cyclically drawn to material interdependence, repetitive structure, and solidarity. Negative space makes my head hurt and my heart clean.
Drawing on black-paper: in white-pencil, translates to matrices and molds. How can deletion create more?
These days, I work in metal and ink—mining social, political and economic dynamics/situations/tensions/hierarchies with an intent and/or a far- flung dream to understand the surrounding world, and myself. I am cyclically drawn to material interdependence, repetitive structure, and solidarity. Negative space makes my head hurt and my heart clean.
Drawing on black-paper: in white-pencil, translates to matrices and molds. How can deletion create more?
Bella Takacs
I have been in love with working with clay for as long as I can remember. I’m comforted that anything can be recycled into a blank canvas until it is ready to be fired into something that will last a very long time. In this world so full of quickly made objects, I do not take lightly the decision to bring a piece into permanence.
I also believe that our lives deserve to be filled with beauty and whimsy at every corner. I find great joy in creating everyday objects that are made with imagination and love. I hope that when someone holds one of my mugs in their hands, or illuminates their room with one of my lamps, they can feel that love.
Most of my pieces are made on the pottery wheel with carvings and details added later. I draw inspiration from structures and patterns found in my surroundings, including nature, buildings, and people. Many of my ideas come to me in dreams and leave me excited to overcome the challenge of actualizing. I hope my work makes you smile, please reach out with any questions or comments.
I have been in love with working with clay for as long as I can remember. I’m comforted that anything can be recycled into a blank canvas until it is ready to be fired into something that will last a very long time. In this world so full of quickly made objects, I do not take lightly the decision to bring a piece into permanence.
I also believe that our lives deserve to be filled with beauty and whimsy at every corner. I find great joy in creating everyday objects that are made with imagination and love. I hope that when someone holds one of my mugs in their hands, or illuminates their room with one of my lamps, they can feel that love.
Most of my pieces are made on the pottery wheel with carvings and details added later. I draw inspiration from structures and patterns found in my surroundings, including nature, buildings, and people. Many of my ideas come to me in dreams and leave me excited to overcome the challenge of actualizing. I hope my work makes you smile, please reach out with any questions or comments.
Teddy Doggett
“The best days of my life are the ones where I’m lucky enough to make something with my own two hands”
“The best days of my life are the ones where I’m lucky enough to make something with my own two hands”
Pati Lunsford
I am a senior at Colorado College pursuing a minor in Studio Art. My practice centers on oil painting. Alongside painting, I love printmaking, including copper plate etching, linocut, and screen printing. Drawing, especially in charcoal, is foundational to my work. Across mediums, I tend to focus on singular objects or figures, using isolation as a way to slow down looking and emphasize presence.
I am a senior at Colorado College pursuing a minor in Studio Art. My practice centers on oil painting. Alongside painting, I love printmaking, including copper plate etching, linocut, and screen printing. Drawing, especially in charcoal, is foundational to my work. Across mediums, I tend to focus on singular objects or figures, using isolation as a way to slow down looking and emphasize presence.