Open Studio Spotlight: Deb Ogburn

The heart is a symbolic shape that has been so ubiquitous in culture for so long – how many thousands do we see in the month of February? – Yet, despite such saturation, we are never exhausted by it. Perhaps is it is simply a measure of how deeply we crave love, and never feel we have enough. Deb Ogburn unashamedly brings the form to the forefront in her work.

“The GateKeeper” by Deb Ogburn, Mixed Media on gallery profile canvas, 12x12in , 2017, $75

“My most recent body of work is a series inspired by my therapeutic work with veteran clients and the hearts we painted for graduates of HUD-VASH, a program striving to end the cycle of chronic homelessness. I used acrylic and mixed media on gallery profile stretched canvas, depicting various renditions of the heart symbol. In addition, I sometimes use modeling paste, wax finishes, beading and ephemera. I work intuitively, following my attractors in the moment. My process is reflective of the emotional landscape of the human spirit as we encounter life. Multiple layers of paint add complexity and depth to the pieces. This body of work is largely about resilience. These pieces have helped me release the emotional residue of the therapeutic work I do daily with my clients. It has been a part of my self-care to work through encounters with various media and techniques, and to find a resting place for each of these hearts.”

“Prior to my heart series, I explored a series of images incorporating mono prints on and with preserved autumn leaves, in an inquiry about the beauty of aging. Earlier works were acrylic paintings on paper, oil pastel and Prismacolor drawings, encaustic on wood and digital manipulations of photographs, largely in an exploration of my nightly dreamscapes.”

“An Expressive Arts Therapist / Coach by profession, I am an explorer of multi-modal processes and media, including visual arts, dance, music, poetry and drama. I’ve found that “mistakes” are often “happy accidents” and I trust that I can make something beautiful out of my learning—a crucial tenet that I impress upon my clients. My coaching informs my art and my art informs my coaching.” 

“I’m currently exploring texture as under painting, enjoying the richness of it beneath line and translucent layers of interference color defining forms found in nature. This process is relevant to my own journey as I employ transparency in my work as a coach. Our personal experience is what gives us "texture" and makes us unique.”  

“Touched” by Deb Ogburn, Mixed Media on gallery profile canvas, 12x12in 2017, $65

Art Exhibitions / Performance

La Jolla Art Association, Juried Exhibition, (photography/digital art), La Jolla, CA

LifeStage, Art Exhibition (mixed media), Sushi Performance & Visual Art, San Diego

Brain Storms / Soul Storms, Juried Art Exhibition, Sushi Performance & Visual Art, San Diego, CA

Whose Dream is This Anyway? (Writer / Director) Performance & Visual Art Exhibit, Expressive Arts Institute, San Diego, CA

The Art of Dreaming, Solo Art Exhibition (photography, painting, mixed media), Expressive Arts Institute, San Diego, CA

Loose Threads from the Tapestry, (performance art), Sushi Performance & Visual Art, San Diego, CA

Gestation, Solo Art Exhibition (photography, painting, mixed media), Expressive Arts Institute, San Diego, CA

Association for the Study of Dreams, National Juried Exhibition (drawing, mixed media), Washington, D.C.

Deb Ogburn is participating in the 2018 Open Studio Weekend, sponsored by Louisville Visual Art and University of Louisville’s Hite Art Institute. His studio, located in the Germantown neighborhood, will be open the weekend of November 3 and 4. Tickets for Open Studio Weekend will go on sale October 16. Click here for more information. 

 Education: BS Design, 1980, University of Cincinnati College of Design, Architecture and Art
Professional Diploma Expressive Arts Therapy, 2002, Expressive Arts Institute San Diego
MA Expressive Arts Therapy, Coaching and Consulting, 2004, European Graduate School, Saas Fee, Switzerland
Website: Arts4Evolution.com
https://www.pinterest.com/502atimeforart/dlogburn-art/

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“Autumn Prelude” by Deb Ogburn, Acrylic on paper, 36x24in, 2018,  $145

“Beguiled” by Deb Ogburn, Mixed Media on gallery profile canvas, 12x12in, 2017, $75

Written by Keith Waits. Entire contents copyright © 2018 Louisville Visual Art. All rights reserved. In addition to his work at the LVA, Keith is also the Managing Editor of a website, Arts-Louisville.com, which covers local visual arts, theatre, and music in Louisville.

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Vignette: Lennon Michalski

"Ghost Bike" Installation by Lennon Michalski (2016)

In a body of work entitled Ghost Bike, Lennon Michalski explores the relationship between man and machine, expressing a complex array of themes, most importantly, the tyranny of technology and the fragility of the human form.

“Ghost Bike takes a specific look at Motorcycles, considering the uniqueness that describes the machine, the man that chooses to indulge in that machine, and the nature of their relationship,” says Michalski. “The imagery in the series considers motorcycle accidents to represent their dangerous cultural association. I specifically chose the motorcycle, the imagery, and popular icons to reflect my personal engagement with this idea. My grandfather was killed on a motorcycle, and this has largely inspired these pieces in the hopes of bringing attention to the motorcycle to provide an understanding of their own distinctive culture.”

"Wrecked Bike" by Lennon Michalski, 36 x 48 x 84 in, Honda Motorcycle and paint (2016) | Photograph by Brian Campbell

Michalski in his studio | Photograph by Adam Brester

“Even when these tragedies strike, society often places blame on the cyclist, for they, have willingly put them selves in harm’s way. Motorcycles are largely considered unsafe and rebellious in the eyes of the public because of the sense of vulnerability and danger associated with motorcycles. In an effort to define the broad spectrum of this machine’s interaction with the human condition, I sought to understand why so many individuals crave to connect with it. I realized that engagement with motorcycles cultivated an undeniable sense of community. Motorcyclists feel passionately about their investment in this machine, creating a strong bond between, not only the machine and its owner, but also everyone who rides. In order to incorporate this idea of community, I created works that also represent this aspect of motorcycle culture. I examine the documentation of a group of cyclists traveling cross-country to pay tribute to the fallen. Rather than viewing the death of the biker as a careless rebel, he is considered a fallen hero, who deserves the greatest of respect. Within the motorcycle community there is boundless devotion, which allows for the machine to act as a tool in eliciting genuine human interaction.”

"Wreck" by Lennon Michalski, 72 x 108 in, water based pigment and mixed medium on canvas (2016)

In his paintings, Michalski often uses his hands directly in applying the medium, building transparent layers that evoke a passage of time. “My paintings are not objects assembled by machines or other individuals; I develop a bond and communicate through the development of each work. This technique is based on a physical language; by pushing the paint with my hands, I am infusing my energy into the gestures. I learn something new from each piece allowing my process to open doors I would have never thought to walk through. Through the creation of digital work, paintings, and sculpture, I hope to bring attention to the motorcyclist so that the sense of community motorcycle culture creates can continue to thrive. The motorcycle acts as a metaphor to represent the motorcyclist himself, with the engine acting as the heart of the individual, and the community. While many have fallen victim to the unpredictability of this machine, it uniquely acts as a tool to cultivate relationships, activate commitment, and instill a sense of community.”

Michalski also just self published a children's book called "How Penguins Save Television," a story that explores what it means for society as it attempts to evolve with the aid of science and innovation. The book engages children with the natural world around them through technological modifications, such as the jetpack.

Since 2008 Michalski has been an Instructor of Digital Media, Drawing, and 2D Design at the University of Kentucky.

Hometown: Lexington, Kentucky
Age: 36
Education: BFA in Painting, Eastern Kentucky University 2004; MFA in Painting and Digital Media, University of Colorado at Boulder, 2006
Website: http://www.lennonmichalski.com

"Stoplights" by Lennon Michalski, 72 x 108 in, water based pigment and mix medium on canvas (2016)

"Heart" by Lennon Michalski, 72 x 108 in, water based pigment and mixed medium on canvas (2016)

Written by Keith Waits. Entire contents copyright © 2016 Louisville Visual Art. All rights reserved.

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