CONJURED MEMORIES
New Narrative Drawings
by Emerging Artist J. M. Culver

Opening Reception
Saturday, March 6 from 7:00 to 11:00pm

Featuring live music by Aby Wolf with Josh Granowski
Free and open to the public

SSCA Gallery hosts this special solo exhibition from March 6 – April 4

J. M. Culver’s first solo exhibition Conjured Memories is a series of narrative work that depicts childhood memories integrating universal themes of the human condition; a celebration of life at its darkest and brightest points. J. M. Culver narrates her experience of growing up with a schizophrenic grandfather and the impact of this relationship.

Conjured Memories is a series of life size drawings that provokes the senses with memorable imagery and inspires the mind inviting the viewer to an unforgettable emotional and thoughtful experience.

Each drawing is a story in itself, assembled in expressive layers of charcoal and acrylic and rich details, capturing human expression and the moment of memory with sweetness and distress. Built into the narrative are familiar characters, such as Pinocchio, that represent the duality of the real and artificial self and the innocence of childhood.

With Conjured Memories, J. M. Culver achieves with great skill the immediate and intimate experience of childhood and the tangible expression of memory, sharing an honest and dignified human experience that we all can relate to.

Originally from North Carolina, J. M. Culver relocated to Minneapolis a decade ago to attend Minneapolis College of Art and Design. Since attaining her BFA in Painting, she works full time in her studio and plans attending graduate school and opening her own gallery to exclusively feature figurative artwork.

SSCA Gallery (Stevens Square Center for the Arts) is privileged to host this important solo exhibition of life size drawings by emerging figurative artist J. M. Culver. A special live performance by ambient vocalist Aby Wolf (named 2009 Best Female Vocalist by City Pages) with upright bassist Josh Granowski compliments the opening reception March 6.

J. M. Culver can be contacted directly at info@jmculver.com and 612-360-3644.

A free opening night reception for Conjured Memories, featuring music by Aby Wolf and Josh Granowski, will be held on March 6, 2010, at SSCA Gallery, from 7-11 pm.

SSCA Gallery (Stevens Square Center for the Arts)
1905 Third Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN, 55404
www.stevensarts.org

I’m gearing up for my upcoming Solo Exhibition. Everything is coming into place nicely. I’m still working on some of the new pieces for the show. I’m putting together the press release, posters, and post cards this week to be sent out by marketing.

After much consideration, I finally decided on the live music for my opening. Aby Wolf with Josh Granowski. Ambient vocals with upright bass. Chill. Aby’s recent album was voted one of the “Best Albums of 2009″ by CityPages.

Listen to Aby Wolf on Myspace.

“Conjured Memories: Recent Work by J. M. Culver”
A Solo Exhibition @ SSCA Gallery
Opening Reception: Saturday, March 6th, 7-11pm
Music. Wine/Beer. Hors d’œuvres.

More details to come….

Art is a kind of illness. ~Giacomo Puccini

Life beats down and crushes the soul and art reminds you that you have one. ~Stella Adler

When I work, I work very fast, but preparing to work can take any length of time. ~Alice Neel

I was elected Vice Chair of the Board of Directors and Exhibition Committee Chair at the SSCA Gallery (Stevens Square Center for the Arts) in Minneapolis. I am also on the Marketing Committee. We have a full schedule of group and solo exhibitions for 2010, including my solo exhibition in March. More updates to come….

2009 MCAD Art Sale Video from MCAD on Vimeo.

In the studio, the aftermath (25 paintings).

I spent a couple days repainting the walls and floor when I first moved into my studio last spring. The walls have now accumulated a turbulent cloud of paint strokes. There was already a small cloud going around the wall of where my canvases were hung, but it grew immensely after completing the 25 paintings for the MCAD Art Sale. It would be interesting to see what happens after a year of using the wall, but unfortunately I will have to sand down the wall this week.

I need this large wall to work on for my Conjured Memory drawings. I’ll have to sand it down smooth and repair the small holes left from nails. I wish I were able to *peel* the wall off and keep it. It has given me some ideas for a future project…..

Just a reminder, the MCAD Annual Art Sale opening/preview is tonight from 6pm to 9pm. $35 advance, $40 door. Valet parking available.

Tomorrow from 9am to 5pm it is free to the public, free art studio for kids.

I have 25 pieces, 20 paintings and 5 drawings in the sale. The best time to go is tonight if you are serious about buying artwork, as the best quality pieces are snatched up right away. There’s still some good work the next day but the strongest usually goes on Friday night. All artwork is priced under $1,000 with the majority under $100. So there are very affordable pieces.

If you haven’t been to the sale before, there are paintings, drawings, prints, furniture, sculpture, photography, jewelry, clothing (hats, scarves, tshirts), magnets, coasters, stuffed animals, dolls, etc. Something for everyone. All originals.

I have work priced from $40 to $850, with the majority in the $300 to $450 range. All artwork not sold, will be listed for sale in my etsy store next week.

Other News:

I’m going to be interviewed by 3 Minute Egg next week in my studio. Trish submitted my artwork (without asking) and the producer wants to interview me. So I’ll be on the blog soon. I’ll post more about that later.

Solo exhibition is still scheduled for March. Not sure on exact dates or opening night yet. Either first or second week depending on if the exhibition will run 4 or 6 weeks. Also, haven’t decided if it will be Fri or Sat night. We will be meeting next week to create the 2010 exhibition schedules at SSCA.

Today is the deadline for board nominations at SSCA. Voting closes December 6th. I was nominated for Vice Chair, Exhibition Committee Chair, and to be on the Marketing Committee.

I’ve applied for some exhibitions and competitions in NY and Chicago. Am waiting to hear back. If I get into the NY one, then I have a bit of a conflict – same weekend as my solo show opening, so I would either have to fly out one day/night or schedule my solo opening a different night/week. But that’s jumping ahead a bit too much…. We’ll see.

I’m currently working on a commission painting in the studio. I have 3 more commissions after this. Then, I will be working on new work for the upcoming solo show.

I have 25 paintings (and some drawings) available at the MCAD Annual Art Sale. All are priced under $850. My work can be purchased, along with other alumni and current student’s work on Friday and Saturday. Here is the information from the website:

MCAD Annual Art Sale

FRIDAY, 6pm – 9pm
Tickets: $35 advance, $40 at door
Valet parking available

SATURDAY, 9am – 5pm
Free to Public, free art studio for kids

Eye-catching, one-of-a-kind art created by MCAD students and recent graduates at unbeatable prices. More than 5,000 pieces will be sold. More than 7,000 pieces will be hung. 11 hours only. Every piece less than $1000. Average price less than $100.

It’s the 2009 MCAD Art Sale! Friday, Nov. 20 and Saturday, Nov. 21. An enormous sale of fine student art where all proceeds benefit the artists.

Here’s some of my artwork available at the MCAD Art Sale:

MCAD Main Building, first and second floors (can’t miss it!)
2501 Stevens Avenue, Minneapolis

Adjacent to The Minneapolis Institute of Arts and The Children’s Theatre Company

I have 6 pieces in the 6th Annual Member’s Exhibition at SSCA Gallery, including a large scale drawing, mixed media collage drawing, two oil paintings, and two sculptures. Some of which I have never shown before. I also have artwork in the separate member’s gallery hallway.

Hope you can make it tonight!

Opening Night Reception
Saturday, November 14, 7:00 – 10:00 pm
Music by Jon Davis and Friends, Live Jazz Ensemble

November 15 – December 6, 2009

Six years ago, a rag-tag group of artists took over an abandoned police sub-station and declared themselves a co-op. No one thought that the experiment would last.

The organization had no permanent endowment, no paid staff, and no outside source of funding.

Six years later, the Stevens Square Center for the Arts (SSCA) has transformed that ugly water-damaged storefront into a functioning gallery –one that has quickly emerged as one of the city’s most exciting venues for non-commercial art.

“Sometimes seeing something is as important as talking about it,” says founding member Zachary Korb. “Actually going up in the space, it lets you sort of envision what the possibilities are.”

In the midst of an economic recession that has forced many long-running galleries to shutter their doors, the SSCA Gallery is not only surviving, but thriving. In 2009, the art center hosted 11 major exhibitions, as well as the Twin Cities Zine Festival, and a Community Forum.

Coming at the end of the SSCA’s busiest season ever, the Sixth Annual SSCA Members’ Exhibition is a showcase for the member-artists whose hard work and dedication have kept the gallery functioning. While other exhibits are usually based on a theme, the Members’ show is a truly open exhibition, featuring broad sampling of styles and materials.

From the life-sized oil paintings and charcoal drawings of J.M. Culver, to the scrambled portraits of painter Samuel Bjorgum, the Sixth Annual SSCA Members’ Exhibition is a showcase for a group of emerging artists who you can expect to hear more from in the near future.

FEATURING ARTWORK BY:

• Erik Farseth
• Erika Hammerschmidt
• Faye Buffington Howell
• Guntis Kupers
• J.M. Culver
• Karin Knudsen
• Patricia Barnes
• Samuel Bjorgum
• Terrance Davis
• Trish Brock
• Margot Dedrick

The Sixth Annual SSCA Members’ Exhibition will be on view from Sunday, November 15 – December 6, 2009. This event is free, and open to the public.

There will be an opening night reception on Saturday, November 14 from 7:00 – 10:00 pm.

SSCA Gallery
1905 3rd Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55404

(above 3rd Ave Market)

Tonight is the MN Association for Children’s Mental Health Fundraiser at the Salir a la Luz Gallery in St Paul, MN. I have two pieces that were donated, one mixed media still life and an abstracted watercolor landscape. The event is from 5pm to 8pm tonight.

More information is available on their website:
http://www.macmh.org/contribute/Fundraiser.php