Beat Rice Studios – Studio spaces are the creative hub that allows artists to express and expand their art ideas.Some have them connected to their homes or near their homes. I currently have mine at myhome. However, I once had a studio in downtown Waco with a bunch of other artists. I likemy home studio, but let’s face it. Being around other artists while making your art can beinspirational. You can feel the creative energy pulsing through the studio spaces.
Beat Beat Rice Studios is one of tBeat Rice Studios is one of those creative engines moving forward with artists in full production mode. I had visited the studio when they were creating an exhibit space and studio. After a couple of shows, Beat Rice Studio shifted away from the exhibition and moved to focusing on he art production. I ran an exhibition space for two years, I know how exhausting this endeavor can be on someone. I am sure those at the studio probably felt some pressure from the experience.
Before the space was finished I met with Hilary Donnelly. She works in collage and nails. Her work is earth in tone and color. Her Formation series uses simple informal geometric shapes with disruption of the surface by nails. The nails are sometimes clustered together which organizes the piece and other nails chaotically smashed into the surface to create an imbalance.
Another mode of production is Donnelly mix media paintings. She uses grids and reuse of material in order to create thoughtful compositions of abstraction. I got the feeling she was looking for a space that provided comradery and since she couldn’t find it she helped build one herself.
Jill Nonnemacher is another artist under the roof of the studio. Her work look extruded then solidified into abstract objects. Although, from her description, it appears she builds these sculptures up from clay, plaster, burlap, string, wire, fabric and found material. The objects are figurative in nature with parts that feel like heads or legs. Next is Deborah Welch. She is a collage artist that celebrates color and the fun of the process of making.
I have seen shows by Erika Jaeggli and Keer Tanchak. Jaeggli was showing at WASS Gallery and she had several large and small charcoal pieces. The title of the exhibition was FOMO or fear of missing out. This is one show I am kicking myself I didn’t write about that month because this was one I remember well. I had brought my daughter along and she and I were really taken by the images. I remember lingering at her people and buildings. Normally you associate charcoal with academic work, but this was far more soulful and I felt deeply moved my her images from this show. Tanchak is a painter and was in a show at the Dallas Contemporary. I wrote about her, Ambreen Butt, and Pia Cami.
Featured image: Erika Jaeggli