For the first time, research shows that American creativity is declining. What went wrong-and how we can fix it.

Newsweek link:
http://www.newsweek.com/2010/07/10/the-creativity-crisis.html

I’m happy to announce that Limited Edition Giclee Printsare now available of my artwork.

If you are interested in purchasing a print, please contact me at info@jmculver.com

Cult Sisters 5
5 Emerging female artists – J. M. Culver, Erin Sayer, Kara Hendershot, Gina Louise, and Louisa Greenstock exhibit work that makes a strong statement through portraiture, narration, and abstraction.

Women, Art, and Wine. Couldn’t get any better.

Preview Opening
Thursday, June 10th from 7 – Midnight
free and open to the public

Opening Reception & Party
Saturday, June 12th from 7 – Midnight
free and open to the public

Live music by The Great Confinement

Cult Status Gallery
2913 Harriet Ave S
Minneapolis, MN

*exhibition runs from June 10th – July 7th (by appointment)

Sneak Peak of one of my new drawings in the exhibition:

Dislocation (Euphoric Romanticism)
charcoal, acrylic & oil on paper
41″ w x 69″ h

Detail

For more information visit the gallery’s website
cultstatusgallery.com

Interviews & Reviews
MN Daily – Feminist Art Enter Cult Status

City Pages – Cult Sisters 5

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.