AV Arts Convo: Painting and Mixed Media Work by AJ Currado

AV Arts Convo – featuring painting and mixed media work by AJ Currado

Presenting Painting and Mixed Media Work by AJ Currado

SATURATION 2.0: The Arts in Conversation project at Antelope Valley Arts is an ongoing, weekly publishing series. Local artists (painters, poets, photographers, fiction writers) have been invited to submit art and partake in a conversation on artistic influence and inspiration as the print arm of Antelope Valley Arts goes digital.

Painter AJ Currado has described herself as “creating little villages of art” and she has certainly had a hand in doing that off the canvas as well. A youth art teacher substantially inspired by travel, Currado is also a founding editor at SATURATION: Antelope Valley Arts Publication. Back in 2011, Currado helped to launch an annual series of print volumes showcasing the prose, poetry, painting, drawing and wit of local artists (and at this very moment that project moving into the digital space).

Even as she looks to help others shine, Currado has herself continued to grow as an artist, winning awards, embarking on projects of increasing scope, and pushing herself into new areas of expression. Currado’s work will be on exhibit at the MOAH juried show in June and at MOAH Cedar’s LVAG show in July-August. Seek out her work. You’ll be glad you did.

---

Who is your favorite writer? How does he or she influence your work?

GK Chesterton is one of my favorites. He explores everyday life with an optimistic twist, leading from content seemingly fluffy and cleverly twisting it into some thousand pound gem. I love his optimism and cheerful sobriety.
I like to think that I achieve something similar in my painting. Anything on face value can be simplistic, but you have to pause and think a moment to get at humor or depth. I present simple imagery in my paintings but I see them as portals to an immense web of ideas. A stack of books is not merely a stack of books, it is the thirst for knowledge being simultaneously satisfied and unquenchable. It is achievement in educational goals. It is preparation for travel. It is centuries of humanity past. It is the unending landscape of adventure inside the mind.

What artist or writer from the past would you most like to meet and why?

Vincent van Gogh. My work is nothing like his but I’ve always loved his style and been intrigued by him as a person. I admire his tenacity to keep working and creating so many beautiful paintings with so much pain in his life and so little encouragement. He is a maverick. I was fortunate enough to go to the south of France this past year and spend some time in Arles where van Gogh lived and worked for many years. The terrain is rugged and really inspiring, even in the winter. Easy to see why he painted the area.

---

Track AJ Currado down at her website – www.ajcurrado.com.

More from the AV Arts Convo

• Poetry by Tino Garcia
• Poetry and Art by Edwin Vasquez
• Poetry by Hollie N. Martin
• Mixed Media Art by Julie O’Sullivan
• Photography by Douglas Paul Wade

 

 

Advertisement

Open Studio with AJ Currado

Antelope Valley artist AJ Currado has been working up a storm lately, winning awards and doing commissioned projects. This weekend she is set to open her studio doors to share a view of some of her latest work and maybe offer some insights into her process.

An editor at the AV Arts project magazine, SATURATION, Currado has recently been looking at the printed word in a new light with a series of literary mixed-media pieces.  Mixed-media work of this type is a new direction for Currado, who formerly has shown acrylic paintings with an eye for botany – and a touch of gold leaf.

But that was then and this is now and with her literary series Currado is tapping a new vein of ideas and exploring a new, specific style. Her theme is clear and her pallet for these pieces seems to present a carefully selected range.

If you want to see more and find out more, AJ Currado’s open studio will give you an opportunity to do both. The OUTPOST pop-up art show happening later in the day will make a nice contrast to an open studio visit. One experience will be a focused examination of one artist’s themed project and the other will be a panoply of arts and artists from around the Antelope Valley.

The event will take place on Saturday. May 9th (a day jam-packed with art events in the Antelope Valley).

Antelope Valley Artists on Video

Antelope Valley artist Edwin Vasquez has embarked on a project to publicize and video the work of other artists of Lancaster, Palmdale, Lake Hughes, Lake Elizabeth, and the greater Mojave area.

The AV Arts Blog shares the publicizing part of Edwin Vasquez’ ambition! With more cameras on hand we’d probably share the whole thing.

Short of that, we’d like to show you Vasquez’ videos and in doing so introduce you (or re-introduce you) to the art of some exciting and engaging artists working and living in the Antelope Valley.

Below are several videos Vasquez has made in 2011 featuring the works of Larissa Nickel, Michael Jones, June Marie Milham, AJ Currado, Donna Weil, Forever Seven, and himself, Edwin Vasquez. (The list of names here isn’t matched to the order of the videos below.)

Enjoy.

aj currado preparing a new show of paintings for Sagebrush Cafe in September

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

AJ Currado: Interviewed Again, Sort of…Not Really. But Kind of.

Artist AJ Currado is set to open a new, solo show at Sagebrush Cafe in Quartz Hill in September of 2011, a few weeks from now. We’ll let you know the details as soon as we can to fill you in on what she will be showing this time around.

In anticipation of the new show, we went back and dusted off an interview we did with AJ last year regarding her art, art in the Antelope Valley, and other sort of related things.

-o80-

  We recently sat down to an email interview with Antelope Valley Artist & Painter AJ Currado. Her work is currently on display at the LM/AG 25th Annual Juried Art Show in downtown Lancaster as well as at Sagebrush Café in Quartz Hill.

Describe the AV “art scene” in a few words.

Surprisingly growing and healthy! We have a lot of talented artists in the area and they are tired of driving far away to enter somebody else’s art scene – which is often elite or pretentious anyways. I think they’re finally rising up and creating a vibrant community here, locally. The city of Lancaster is actually (finally) doing some great things for the arts as well with the new artists’ lofts/gallery and new LMAG opening up next year. even in this economy the city is keeping an open budget for fine art.

What has been your personal experience with shows in and around the Antelope Valley?

Hit and miss. I’ve shown at the Cedar Centre, at LMAG, at AVC as a student, and in various coffee shops and a few of our art show/festival opportunities. Most prestigious and largely attended is the Annual Juried at LMAG and it is always encouraging to see my work up with local artists I admire like Glen Knowles and Frank Dixon. The Fair is a joke as far as art is concerned and isn’t worth the bother. I think the most fun and vibrant experience I’ve had has actually been at Sagebrush. I’ve met fascinating people, had great conversations, made connections, and have had excellent sales. I’ve enjoyed the other artists who have shown there as well and even made art purchases myself. People aren’t caught up in creating their own “artsy image” but rather by being part of an artistic community.

What are some specific challenges to showing art, producing art, etc. in the Antelope Valley?

Showing is the hardest part. Driving down to LA to get a load of supplies for a series of works is an enjoyable field trip, but attempting to show down there is a pain. I’ve shown at a few galleries and it hardly seems worth the trouble. As far as showing locally, the hard part is getting the people to see the work.

What are some specific benefits and opportunities to showing art, producing art, etc. in the AV?

Local! It’s so much more enjoyable to meet the people looking at/buying your art. Creating friendships and connections not only is good for sales but also getting inspired by regular interactions with artists. Artists out here are more relaxed and often humble. Some of the pros will go out plein air painting with anybody who wants to join and offer tips. They aren’t snobby about their success. It’s that small-town vibe where everybody knows at least a friend of yours if not you.

How has the AV influenced your art in terms of subject?

Hmmm…I don’t know. I use a lot of travel photos and memories for reference. But I am also obsessed with leaves. I like the desert, I like our sunsets, our buttes, our winters and autumns and springs, our explosion of wild flowers and delicate greenery in spring. I suppose I am influenced by the openness, the delicate details that you have to look for, else it’s swallowed up in the vast brown. You can hate this place and complain about it, but if you really look at it, up close, quietly, if you really explore, it is beautiful. And that’s how I like my art. I want people to go up close to it, to look at it quietly, one-on-one. To discover it’s understatement. I don’t want it to scream for attention, but to wait for attention from those who are willing to pause.

SATURATION: AV ARTS PUBLICATION – Issue 2

SATURATION: AV ARTS PUBLICATION Issue 2

AntelopeValleyArts magazine, SATURATION, announces the release of its second issue.

 

Saturday June 11, 2011 the magazine will be available at Sagebrush Café in Quartz Hill, at Antelope Valley Thespians events, and in some new surprising places. Copies of this issue are $4.

This issue is bigger, stronger and faster than the first, featuring the work of poets, artists, fiction writers, non-fiction writers, photographers and designers. Movement & Motion were the twin themes of the newest AV Arts installment, and the issue takes up the idea through explorations of flight, travel, dance, nature and transformation.

Contributors of material and talent for SATURATION: Issue 2 are Steven Fiche, Curt Hanson, Sarah Allen, Nicelle Davis, Anna Delrosario, Rheagan E. Martin, Edwin Vasquez, Hannah Wilson, Michael Jones, Glenn Horst, Oleg Kagan, Cass Douglas, Benjamin Andrews, Kevin Hogan, AJ Currado, Nalin Ratnayake, and Eric M. Martin.  

 

SATURATION is a venue for the arts in theAntelopeValleypublishing essays, fiction, poetry and fine art. Find submission information here at the AV Arts Blog.

AV Artist Interviews

 

A ntelope Valley Arts has been lucky enough to interview two local artists on matters of their work and what they think of the art scene in the Antelope Valley.

Larissa Nickel and AJ Currado could not be much further apart in their assessements of AV art and yet they both express accurate visions of the AV art world.

The two artists work in very different ways. Their methods and subjects are discussed in detail in the interviews.

Read their interviews here:

• Larissa
• AJ

Antelope Valley Arts Blog Interview with AJ Currado

      We recently sat down to an email interview with Antelope Valley Artist & Painter AJ Currado. Her work is currently on display at the LM/AG 25th Annual Juried Art Show in downtown Lancaster as well as at Sagebrush Café in Quartz Hill.

Describe the AV “art scene” in a few words.

Surprisingly growing and healthy! We have a lot of talented artists in the area and they are tired of driving far away to enter somebody else’s art scene – which is often elite or pretentious anyways. I think they’re finally rising up and creating a vibrant community here, locally. The city of Lancaster is actually (finally) doing some great things for the arts as well with the new artists’ lofts/gallery and new LMAG opening up next year. even in this economy the city is keeping an open budget for fine art.

What has been your personal experience with shows in and around the Antelope Valley?

Hit and miss. I’ve shown at the Cedar Centre, at LMAG, at AVC as a student, and in various coffee shops and a few of our art show/festival opportunities. Most prestigious and largely attended is the Annual Juried at LMAG and it is always encouraging to see my work up with local artists I admire like Glen Knowles and Frank Dixon. The Fair is a joke as far as art is concerned and isn’t worth the bother. I think the most fun and vibrant experience I’ve had has actually been at Sagebrush. I’ve met fascinating people, had great conversations, made connections, and have had excellent sales. I’ve enjoyed the other artists who have shown there as well and even made art purchases myself. People aren’t caught up in creating their own “artsy image” but rather by being part of an artistic community.

Will you be submitting works to the juried show at the LMAG this year?

Haha! I didn’t see this question before… Yes, actually, I did submit works. I submitted three and two were accepted. I went to the opening tonight and had a fantastic time running into lots of people I know, have met at Sagebrush, and meeting new artists.

What are some specific challenges to showing art, producing art, etc. in the Antelope Valley?

Showing is the hardest part. Driving down to LA to get a load of supplies for a series of works is an enjoyable field trip, but attempting to show down there is a pain. I’ve shown at a few galleries and it hardly seems worth the trouble. As far as showing locally, the hard part is getting the people to see the work.

What are some specific benefits and opportunities to showing art, producing art, etc. in the AV?

Local! It’s so much more enjoyable to meet the people looking at/buying your art. Creating friendships and connections not only is good for sales but also getting inspired by regular interactions with artists. Artists out here are more relaxed and often humble. Some of the pros will go out plein air painting with anybody who wants to join and offer tips. They aren’t snobby about their success. It’s that small-town vibe where everybody knows at least a friend of yours if not you.

How has the AV influenced your art in terms of subject?

Hmmm…I don’t know. I use a lot of travel photos and memories for reference. But I am also obsessed with leaves. I like the desert, I like our sunsets, our buttes, our winters and autumns and springs, our explosion of wild flowers and delicate greenery in spring. I suppose I am influenced by the openness, the delicate details that you have to look for, else it’s swallowed up in the vast brown. You can hate this place and complain about it, but if you really look at it, up close, quietly, if you really explore, it is beautiful. And that’s how I like my art. I want people to go up close to it, to look at it quietly, one-on-one. To discover it’s understatement. I don’t want it to scream for attention, but to wait for attention from those who are willing to pause.