Ja Strating:
As long as I can remember, art has been a part of my life. As a young boy, growing up in Florida, I have vivid
memories of exploring the world of color. Unfortunately, my parents were not as impressed as I was with my Crayola colors, when they discovered I had chosen my
bedroom walls as the canvas. There were so many possibilities. In high school, I spent most of my time in art class and
with my eye focused through the lens of a camera. I went
on to study the world of photography in Chicago and I
worked in a commercial photography studio, where I learned to see the world in a different light. I relocated to Iowa City in 2000, and I have watched my
art expand in several new directions. I spent several
years learning and performing the art of tattooing. I
have had the unique opportunity to photograph and
design posters and CD covers for local musicians as well
as publicity designs for community theater productions.
Currently, I am working on a series of paintings as an exploration of self. I choose to leave my work untitled,
because I prefer the art to lead you on your own journey. Recently, my artwork has come full circle. I dusted off
my camera, re-focused the lens and began to explore the
dramatic power of light in photography. The images I
capture have found their way onto my canvas. A new
journey has begun, combining my love for photography and paint.
Jesse Golfis:
Jesse currently resides in Minneapolis, MN and has an extensive background in art including studies ranging from formal art education at Luther College to visiting the Himalayas, Kilimanjaro and other parts of the world. Traveling gave Jesse a new way of seeing and experiencing reality. He began an apprenticeship as a studio artist, painting and sculpting images for the touring shows of VEE Corporation, a subsidiary of The Jim Henson Company. Jesse also did creative work for other production houses like Blue Rhino Studios and Atomic Props. After a three-year hiatus to form a rock band he returned to painting after a painful emotional break up. Needing a means to deal with his own psyche pushed Jesse back into painting. Each piece of Jesse's work on display at Indigo Art Gallery is available for purchase. A vast array of his work and much more are available at www.jessegolfis.com
Laurie Haag:
Laurie Haag is an Iowa City-based artist and photographer specializing in animal and pet portraiture. Her photography studio is located in Leash on Life, a pet store featuring healthy wellness foods and other products for dogs and cats. Laurie is also a member of the Iowa City East Side Artist Collective. The Annual ESA Holiday Show and Sale is held the first weekend of December in the Iowa City Masonic Lodge. Laurie's work has recently been exhibited at 126, The Framer's Intent, and Artswork, and can always be seen on display at Leash on Life.
Ellonyia Yenney:
Growing-up, baskets were something that my mother loved and I simply could not have cared less about. They're just baskets after all… how boring. Fast forward to my “adult years”… I had a wonderful job where I sat in front of a computer all day. I really enjoyed what I did, but I realized that I craved creating something that I could sit back and see. Something tangible. Children get to create works to bring home and pasta necklaces to share… as adults, so much of what we now do is different from actually making things. I’m not saying that this is bad… but my mind wanted to actually create something again. My psyche was craving to cry out, “I made that!” On a lark, one Saturday, I wove a basket with a friend and it got the wheels in my mind going… I liked the “idea” of what I had done. So I bought a bunch of reed and simply started weaving. For the most part, I feel that the world has enough square, brown baskets. I don’t need to spend my time making more of them. My attraction to weaving is working with new shapes, materials, textures and color tones. While I have a specific direction in mind when I start, I find that my unconscious leads me to the final end-result and lets me know when a piece is simply “done”. My weavings are such a source of joy to me as they are simply so organic and tranquil. I can’t imagine what my life was like before I wove.
Josh Coburn:
Josh Coburn is a talented and accomplished individual with interests ranging from being an established author and publisher to starting a record label and clothing line. Widely esteemed for his public speaking, Josh has been featured both locally and nationally in media including television, radio, newspapers and personal appearances at colleges and corporate events.
Josh Coburn is the author of Selections from the Serial Killer Cookbook (The Handbook for America's Youth), Through the EYES of an Abstract Mind, both of which are available for purchase at Indigo Body art Gallery.
You can find additional information and contact Josh via www.provoke-productions.com