Solo Show at James S. Murray Gallery in October!

Aloha All, I just found out a few weeks ago that I am going to be having a solo show at the James S. Murray Gallery at the Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield, IL. This is pretty huge. This is my first truly solo show after grad school (and it's with people who don't know me, it's just based on my application! This feels amazingly wonderful).

So I'm trying to figure out what I can get together before October. It seems like no matter how I try to plan ahead, I'm always struggling to catch up. Last time I only had a month to plan for my duo show at the Launch Pad Gallery in Portland Oregon and like a fool I tried really hard to create all new work, (haha silly artist). I got pretty close but I still ended up putting in old (and by old I mean works I made last year) works to fill some space. I would love to have a solo show planned a year in advance and have an entire year to research and create a whole new body of work. I guess this is how my thesis was so I got pretty spoiled.

Anyway, I am trying to figure out what would be a new direction to go.

I would love to to hear some suggestions as to themes and approaches that you, the wonderful, intelligent, and art-appreciating audience would like to see. What's a good theme? What a good Approach? What art styles and artists do you find yourself repeatedly checking up on to see what they've come up with now? I'm curious to see who else is out there? Who do you suggest I look at?

Well here's hoping I can come up with something wonderful to work on soon! Maybe some new large scale drawings are in order... mmmmm. Stay tuned for more later on! In the mean time, busybusybusy! weeee!

Thanks for looking!

<3 Boz

Wall Space, Project Space

I am enjoying having a place to work. It's good to be able to communicate with other artists and to have the freedom to walk away from my pieces for a while without having to leave the house/studio. So here are a few in process pictures of my work in project space. Hopefully I'll be getting things done sooner rather then later.


This is a Birth to Death Series. Actually it was supposed to be (from left to right) Birth, Life, Death. But the last piece just doesn't feel dead enough. So I guess I'll have to draw one more ;)

Here is what the space looked like at the beginning (you can see the three Birth to Death Drawings pre-drawing on the left there. The other seven pieces of paper which have what I am tentatively calling the Spectrum Series. I've started the "red" one of the left. We'll just have to see what happens.


Thanks for looking!
<3 Boz

Birth to Death

So these are the latest pieces I've got going on. I haven't been able to post too much lately, been busy busy busy (but everyone says that so are we really *that* busy?) Anyway, this is what I'm working on. Still thinking about death and mortality but now trying to think about it in the context of life and living. So here we go. The last piece was actually supposed to be "death" but when I finished it this morning it didn't feel dead, just a little older. So it became an extension of life (life continued), which to me makes so much more sense to me. If you look at Life and then at Life Continued, the first piece looks brighter, younger, more hopeful, while the next piece still looks bright, just more grayed, more mature. Certainly not dead. So I guess that means I'll have to draw another piece to finish this out *sigh* ;)

"Birth to Death (Birth)"

Pencil on Paper

24" x 12" 2012

"Birth to Death (Life)"

Pencil on Paper

24" x 12" 2012

"Birth to Death (Life Continued)"

Pencil on Paper

24" x 12" 2012

Thanks for looking! Best, Boz

Blue Velvet Cupcakes!

Final logo design for the Salem, OR based start up.

Visit her Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/bluevelvetcupcakery












Thanks for looking!
<3 Boz

Personal Pieces: Work Exploring Mental Illness and Identity

New show opening at the Launch Pad Gallery in Portland Oregon June 1st!

If you are in town I would love to see you there! Cool live music, free beverages and of course awesome art work! Hope you can make it! (Below is what I wrote for the show's theme).

 

 

There is a strange disconnect between mental illness and normalcy. As if there is a stark, dividing line between the two. Black and white, completely separate. Us and Them. I believe this arbitrary classification – ill, healthy, recovering etc. is very similar to how we catalog our colors – blue, red, green, etc. The visible color spectrum reflects the human experience in the sense that colors cannot be contained as single, definable points. The spectrum is actually one band of ever shifting, ever transitioning hues, as are we; our lives and our experiences are continuous and overlapping, yet discreet.

All persons exist in a world with other persons. We interact daily with a wide range of people and personalities. It is not possible to limit your experience to “normal.” We are but one piece in the cosmos. No one exists in a vacuum. So instead of pushing past others whose mental or physical health might not reflect exactly our own, we embrace.

We are made of many parts, parts to our personalities, our bodies, and as one part to the rest of the world.
This collection of drawings and paintings are both illustrative, narrative and use subtle humor, rainbows and faces to suggest that we are all connected to each other; as the human race and as a thinking, feeling people.

~Boz Schurr

Thanks for looking!
<3 Boz

"Strangers That You've Met"

Aloha!

A new piece I'm pretty fond of. I am trying to bring a little color back into things and I think so far it's been pretty successful. Spring is around the corner and I'm looking for a place to settle my rainbow.






"Strangers That You've Met"
Graphite on Paper
11" x 11"
2012
For Sale



Thanks for looking!
<3 Boz

Gone Abstract!

Aloha everyone!

I've got a two person show coming up very soon in Portland OR and I've been pushing myself to produce some new work for the occasion. So I've been trying to remove the figure more and in some cases all together. So here are my first few attempts at some abstract works. So far, I'm pretty pleased with the results.

Please have a look and as always your feedback/suggestions are welcome and appreciated. Mahalo.





"If Forever Could Mean One Day"

Graphite on Paper
14" x 11"
2012
For Sale


"Memory Captured in a Dream"
Graphite on Paper
14" x 11"
2012
For Sale


"Surrender"
Graphite on Paper
10" x 8.5"
2012
For Sale


I think next I'll have to make a few with some splashes of color.

Thanks for looking!
<3 Boz

Blue Velvet Logo!

Almost done with this bad boy! Now All I have to do is find the right font and do a little touch up and BAM!

We Pau.








Not quite there yet...









There we go! The frosting doesn't look so much like melted putty in this one! Just a few more touch ups and text and done! Thanks again to Natalie for allowing me to design your logo and helping me get back into a little design work! Mahalo!

Cupcake Logo Evolution

Things are coming along nicely...

These are sketches for Blue Velvet Cupcakes, a local one-woman business in Salem, OR. I have had her cupcakes (had many as a matter of fact) and they are magnificent. I am looking forward to haunting her store when it gets up and running.

Check back for the final product coming soon!












Thanks for looking!
<3 B

Who Wants a *FREE* Greeting Card?

If you read this blog at all you might have noticed I'm trying some new things lately. Just finished putting together some new prints and am right now wrapping up a big batch of new greeting cards. Some are from my sketchbook, some are from my bigger art work and some are a few pictures I took of nature. So a whole bunch of new things for me, it's very exciting to branch out. I'm selling them at the Pop Up Art World Gallery at the Salem Centre Mall in Salem, OR.

However if you can't get over there I'm happy to ship you a batch! Right now I'll send you five cards for five bucks (plus shipping) and, since I'm feeling frisky with all the wonderful weather, if you order before June 1st I'll throw in a sixth card for free. Totally random, totally fun greeting cards.

Check it out.













Thanks for looking! <3 B

New Prints!

Just put together some small Prints of my art work. Now instead of only getting one big piece of work, you and mix and match to your heart's content (and stay well within your budget). Plus if you ever git tired of the print you can always reuse the frame! Double Bonus!

I am planning on selling each framed print for $20 (plus shipping) If you want to buy three or more we can work out a discount. These are also available for sale at the Pop Up Art World Gallery in the Salem Centre mall, in Salem, OR for $15 (Discount because I don't have to deal with shipping, etc).

If you're interested in buying one please contact me at bozschurr@gmail.com, I would love to hear from you!





  New Setup at the new location of Pop Up Art World Gallery!







Thanks for looking! <3 Boz

Project Space

This year I am lucky enough to be a juror for the Salem Art Association's Project Space. Last week the members of the jury panel met to talk about this year's proposals. I am so very excited to be a part of this process, it's been several years since I've been involved in so many gallery/museum operations and it feels so refreshing to be back at it.



From June 1st to September 4th artists from all walks of life will be working and displaying in the space. This year's theme is work in progress so many artists have elected to work on site. I will also be able to do a little working on location and am very excited to have such a large space to work in.





More to come as we get closer to the show dates.

<3 Boz

Dots, Dashes

New Sketches. New Ideas.

"Recycled Words"

First Friday Opening: Friday, April 6th between 6:00 and 9:00pm

At: Evolve Gallery @ 100th Monkey Studio
110 SE 16th Ave
Portland, OR 97214
www.the100thmonkeystudio.com
503-232-3457

Thanks for looking!
-Boz



***

"Ceaseless"

Got some work in this show!
Got to mail out these pieces ASAP!








"Exquisite Corpse II" Graphite on Paper, 25" x 19" 2011




"Exquisite Corpse I" Graphite on Paper, 25" x 19" 2011

New Curator at Pop Up Art World Gallery!

I am so excited to officially be the newest Art Curator at the Pop Up Art World Gallery in Salem, Oregon. I am going to try to get a few new shows and artists in here ASAP so if you are interested in showing your work, or selling your local handmade products, please contact me at Boz@popupartworld.com. I will have submission guidelines and info for vendors very soon.




Thanks for looking! <3 Boz

New Layout At Pop Up Gallery

I've made a whole bunch of small prints of my work so I can display more and offer them at a lower price. If you are in the Salem, Oregon area please swing by the Salem Centre and visit the Pop Up Gallery. Thanks for stopping by!



The Pop Up Gallery will also be looking for new blood very soon. We'll need artists and vendors of all kinds! So if you make quality tshirts, jams, honey, pen, jewelry, zines, photography, paintings, pillows, scarves, anything, etc, etc, we want to hear from you. Head over to http://popupartworld.com/ and fill out an application. Thanks!


***

"Autopsy"

Brand new piece!

I'm trying to stick with a theme (conceptually and stylistically) and I think I might be on to something here. I am enjoying exploring vulnerability and mortality in as non-morbid of a fashion as I can. I think too often I push thoughts of mortality and feelings of vulnerability to the side, but with this series I've been able to do some real soul searching. It'll be interesting to see what I make when I get back into doing self portraits. "Autopsy" is part of the Death and Dying Series.

Anyway here's the latest and greatest:







"Autopsy"
Pencil on Paper, 2012
22" x 30"
For Sale

Thanks for looking!
<3 B

Death and Dying Series

So here's my story:

I was going to send in some work to be juried into a magazine and then I forgot what the 'zine was called. Whoops! So since the magazine's theme was death my recent works all have very depressing titles. But I am liking this direction and I anticipate some good things to hopefully come out of the less-than-happy-theme.




"Memento Mori And Me"
Pencil on Paper, 2012
22" x 15"
For Sale

If you are unfamiliar with a Memento Mori I suggest reading more about it here: (Yay Wikipedia!) Basically a Memento Mori can be a reference to a genre of art or an actual object symbolizing mortality (usually in a portrait). It is a very old theme in art and is basically a reminder of one's mortality, to be aware of one's imminent end. Some of the symbolism includes the addition of a skull or text or a poem that references mortality. My symbolism (I think) is pretty obvious.




"Isis Moriendo Renascor"
Pencil on Paper, 2012
22" x 15"
For Sale

Isis Moriendo Renascor is actually a motto of the village Èze located in southeastern France. It translates to "In Death I am Reborn" and its emblem is a phoenix perched on a bone. Again, I think the death and resurrection I'm trying to convey comes across pretty clearly, at least I'm hoping it does.

Thanks for looking! I am going to try to stick with this theme for a while so check back soon to see what happens!

Please visit my website (www.BozSchurr.com) or my Flickr stream (Here!) to see some detail shots.

Pop Up Gallery

Hey kids!

I have some work in Salem Centre's Pop Up Gallery. It's a little local run joint and I am hoping to get more involved as time goes by.

Here's a little virtual tour:



I am hoping to get more work up soon (so much to frame!) I'll put up more photos soon.

4x6/6x4 Postcard Exhibit

Going to have a few pieces for sale in Colorado Mesa University's 4x6/6x4 Postcard Exhibit. So if you are in Grand Junction, Colorado anytime soon check it out and buy a piece! Money goes to support CMU's Art Department!










Thanks for looking!

6x6x2012

Hey there everyone,

If you are looking to build up your resume and want a super easy show to apply for (with no entry fee) I highly suggest you check out the 6x6x2012 show in Rochester NY. You donate a piece of art (up to ten pieces actually) and it gets shown in NY! What an easy way to get your name out there!

http://www.roco6x6.org/

I have already sent in my pieces. Go send in yours!

Test Test, One, Two

Just a few drawings of mine. Trying something out here... Check back later.

<3 Boz Schurr

Mad About Art

I have work in this!
If you happen to be in Salem in February, stop by!

13th Annual Clay Ball
Feb­ru­ary 25, 2012
5–10 pm
Salem Con­fer­ence Center

Join artists and patrons for a daz­zling evening of art, wine, food and music to ben­e­fit the Salem Art Association’s programs.

This year’s theme is Mad About Art, inspired by the hit TV show Mad Men on AMC. Please come dressed to impress in early 1960’s attire and cel­e­brate the arts in Salem!

ABOUT THE EVENT

First held in 1999, Clay Ball is SAA’s sec­ond largest fundraiser and has become one of the high­lights of Salem’s social cal­en­dar. For the past sev­eral years, Clay Ball has been held at the Salem Con­fer­ence Cen­ter in the heart of down­town Salem. Last year, nearly 600 atten­dees enjoyed the event’s cock­tail recep­tion, ele­gant sit-down din­ner, and silent and live auc­tions fea­tur­ing art­work by regional artists. Pro­ceeds from this event help main­tain the Salem Art Association’s pro­grams includ­ing the Gal­leries Pro­gram, the his­tor­i­cal Bush House Museum and Com­mu­nity Arts Edu­ca­tion, serv­ing 11,000 Title 1 k-12 school chil­dren in Mar­ion, Polk and Yamhill counties.

Oh Shoot.

I was lucky enough to be a model for my dear friend Helena Wolfe this last month. She gives such good direction it was easy to let go and just move. This set of images focuses on movement and portraiture. I feel so honored to be featured in such a fun and beautiful series. Thanks bebe!

If you are interested in reading more about her and her work please visit her blog.
http://helenawolfevisualartist.blogspot.com/

















Thanks for looking!
<3 Boz