FEBRUARY 2012 ARTIST:
Dick was born and raised in Colorado. He is married to Sally Ott and they share the excitement of having an artistic daughter, Abigail. Dick’s family has been miners, ranchers, lawyers, judges, and railroad engineers. He is a well known trial lawyer in Colorado; has a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Colorado, a Masters Degree from the Pratt Institute in New York, A J.D. degree from the University of Denver, has studied at The Art Students League of New York, and was one of the founders of the Art Students League of Denver.
The paintings presented here are conceived as being part of different series. The principal theme in each painting is communication. In some cases, the communication between people, animals or the natural world.
JANUARY 2012 ARTIST:
ROBIN MANN, artist
Robin paints with oils, primarily on canvas and is a member of the Art Student’s League of Denver. Originally from southern California, Robin loves the sunny days of Denver and finds the beauty of Colorado very inspiring and influential in what she chooses to paint. When Robin’s not painting, she loves running around Wash Park, being up in the mountains with friends (whether to ski, hike, camp, etc), traveling around the world, or baking something in her kitchen.
www.robinmannfineart.com
DECEMBER 2011 ARTISTS:
STEELE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: “Weaving a World of Our Art”
Generate works of arts that employ unique ideas, feelings, and values using different media, technologies, styles, and forms of expression. To make art involves creating, inventing, conceiving, formulating, and imagining art; communicating, ascertaining, and learning about art; building, crafting, and generating art; assembling and manufacturing art; discovering, fashioning, and producing art; and causing art to exist.
Miriam Ungar , Steele Visual Arts Teacher
Gene Boyer, Principal
NOVEMBER 2011 ARTIST:
TRACEY PLISKIN, photographer
Playful photography is more tab just a name as it perfectly describes my fun and relaxed approach to my work. My goal with every phonograph I take is to capture the beauty and memories of a simple moment. I know I have a great photograph when I see a smile in the childs eyes and I can practically hear their laughter. That is the photograph a parent can state at for hours and it is perfect.
The past few years, I have started to use my photography to create fabulous fundraisers for local schools. On playgrounds and around the schools, I capture the children in their happiest moments and it shows.
For more information on family photography sessions and school fundraisers, please contact me at 720-468-1585 or traceypliskin@hotmail.com
OCTOBER 2011 ARTIST:
ELI CASH
Eli Cash has been a local artist for the last five years working in different parts of the scene. He first got into the art scene through live painting at different events and venues. He then helped own and operate one of Denver’s largest non-profit art galleries in the Denver area. Eli uses several different mediums in his art and his style has been compared to the work of Tim Burton. His characters have a creepy, almost comforting appeal to them. In his free time Eli enjoys working on his characters, sketching, and furthering his design experience.
SEPTEMBER 2011 ARTIST:
In 2005 when legendary Roots MC, Black Thought dubbed him the Signtologist, nobody knew exactly how far Denver-based Dan Ericson, best known as Dunn The Street Sign Artist, would take the new name. Since beginning this seemingly fateful journey, Dunn has become the creator of a soulfully crafted cycle the likes of which the art, hip hop or urban street scenes have never seen. This entirely green artist has turned his art form into a science, recycling hundreds of street signs into unique homages to the musicians, actors, public figures and athletes that inspire him.
An unconventional art form to say the least, Dunn fell upon using street signs as canvas by chance. Fate, a love of urban culture, and an extensive animation and graphic design background led him to the pieces you see today. Dunn’s work is owned by a number of artists such as Rakim, De La Soul, Spike Lee, Digable Planets, Pharrell and Wyclef Jean. This outreach on his part has allowed his artwork to gain national attention as well as helping to complete the cycle of inspiration. Further, XXL realized Dunn’s talent before many others and brought his work to a whole new level when he was featured in Dec 2007 issue.
Dunn recognizes and appreciates the liberal investment the Denver art and hip hop communities have given him and aims to repay that in full by donating pieces whenever asked to charity. Using his position to pay tribute to fellow artists and consistently drawing attention to the great city of Denver and all it has to offer fellow artists and members of the hip hop community.
Dunn has found a unique way to turn ordinary to extraordinary while staying within the intent and the criterion of the sign itself. Rare is it that we stumble upon an artist so telling of the time. His eco-friendly work has been seen worldwide in art shows, on television and in the homes of those he paints. His portraits speak to a generation advocating change-not only for our environment, but for the media that molds us.
Follow DUNN on Facebook and see his feature in 5280 Magazine this month.
Mike Vonthamert
RACHELLE DONAHOE
“It all started ten years ago when I bought a set of prismacolor markers to start working on a portfolio in the hopes of going back to art school. I’d never drawn in this style before and all of a sudden, all of these bright images and writings began coming out of me. One day I made a color copy of a drawing and stuck it on a card to send to a friend and the rest is, as they say . . . history. My designs are created as a reminder of a lesson I need to learn or as an emotional expression and sometimes they are just for fun. I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoy creating them.”
www.rachellesart.com
Artist Biography: Sarah Polzin
I began painting as a child. Some of my fondest memories are of my father, a graphic artist/letter head, painting in our garage. I was transfixed by the colors and shapes that emerged from the end of my father’s paintbrush, and soon had an art set of my own. My parents encouraged me, and through the years I was enrolled in many art classes. Eventually my love of art took me to pursue a degree in fine arts as well as a teaching license in art education from Metropolitan State College of Denver.
The primary influences in my life and art are the beautiful people in it, and the situations that shape them. Painting is my outlet for describing the vast quantities of emotions in humanity that cannot be portrayed in any other stylized manner. Influenced by Art Nouveau and Surrealism, the movement and flow of my paintbrush lend themselves well to my technique of layering acrylic transparent washes and a variety of mediums onto wood panels. The humanity behind my female forms is portrayed through the use of different mediums, such as epoxy and gold leaf, and unnatural elements that are a representation of the specific emotion I would like exemplified.
My paintings are a representation of the obstacles and triumphs that make up the life of a human being. In portraying the complex dichotomy of displayed emotion through the use of paint, natural woods, and stylization techniques, I create a sense of rawness, a sense that there is a complex being inside everyone. For me, the only way to depict this is to paint it.
Past Artists:
JANE ROGERS
Art has always been a part of my life as early as I can remember. Remembering elementary art contests and art classes were always fun. No right or wrong way, just expression. Expression by creating, sketching and painting brings me bliss. My art has been sporadic for many years while trying to find balance with my everyday happenings. My first painting class was in college working with oils on canvas. Now as a new mom, I have started creating tradition for my family which I call celebration art. I use acrylic paint, markers and collage on canvas and paper lanterns. My focus is on collage painting which is truly fun and whimsical. May you enjoy celebration art as much as my family has enjoyed. Cheers!
Website: www.celebrationart.weebly.com, email:4celebrations@gmail.com
Wash Perk Staff
The Wash Perk Crew are the artists this month of January 2011. There are photographs, writings, collages and watercolor that some of our crew created. We are very proud to showcase these wonderful peeps as the very first artists to display on our dedicated art wall. Stop by and learn a little bit about the baristas and bus-peeps at the Perk.
Robin Mann paints with oils, primarily on canvas or board. She is a member of the Art Student’s League of Denver where she has studied under artists such as Ken Valastro, Michele Torrez and Andrea Kemp. When Robin’s not painting, she loves running around Wash Park, being up in the mountains with friends (whether to ski, hike, camp, etc), or baking something in her kitchen.
www.robinmannfineart.com
Denver artist Edward Kosinskifocuses mainly on the diverse expressions of spirituality in the world. Using bright, luminous colors in acrylics and oil pastels, he crafts images that evoke feelings of connection with Spirit.
Edward, who also does Pranic Healing, a powerful and effective system of no-touch energy healing, says: “Painting for me is a meditative, collaborative effort. It is like having a conversation that begins when the first marks are put on the canvas.
“I ‘listen’ for cues that intuitively inform me all throughout the process. And at journey’s end, I feel I have ‘co-created’ a painting, which sometimes, was quite unforeseen at the outset. I am grateful to be able to share this work with you.”
Edward’s work is represented by Creator Mundi Gallery of Sacred Art in Cherry Creek North and Denver Art Gallery on East Colfax. His artwork has been exhibited regionally and nationally. His Connect-the-Dot books are also available at the Denver Art Museum.
Edward lives and works in the West Wash Park neighborhood. He can be contacted at 720-620-6930 or edwardofthewest@yahoo.com.
TiaGoldschlagspecializes in REPURPOSED, RECYCLED, MIXED MEDIA art. Whether her painted surfaces are wood panels; or whether her mediums are fabrics, plastics, or found objects, her work has been created with a keen sense of OUR environment in mind. To view the complete breadth of Tia’s work, link yourself to: http://www.tiacreative.com
EDWIN DEMAFILES: Photographer, videographer, composer and editor. He is the wonderfully generous man that often photographs events for Wash Perk. All of his work is beautifully display on mounted cork. He was our September artist who never got around to pricing or writing about himself as he’s been jet-setting across the country! Yet 3 of his pieces sold 
Nicola Grun: I was born and raised in South Africa and moved to the USA with my family at the end of 1994 during my high school years. I live in the Mile High City – Denver, Colorado. I have written numerous articles for various publications particularly focusing on fine arts, and three years ago began taking painting classes at the Art Students League of Denver.
I am employed as the Director of Marketing & Communications for the American Society of Bariatric Physicians. I also serve on the Board of Directors of PHAMALY (Physically Handicapped Actors & Musical Artists League) -www.phamaly.org. In my spare time I enjoy cycling, playing tennis, snowboarding, cooking, baking and spending time with friends and family.
Please send me an email at plum2paint@gmail.com.
Rachelle Donahoe
My goal is to wow you in the end…
My preference is acrylic on canvas although I can do any wall as well. My style is pretty eclectic; from children’s art to a portrait of a loved one, my pieces have been hung in galleries of childrens’ playrooms, bedrooms, kitchens, living rooms and work spaces … all aimed at creating a smile or that “something needed” to brighten that empty space.
www.rachellesart.com
Susie Sigman
Traveling to Cuba and Israel gave me the opportunity to capture a slice of the colors, textures and cultures of each country through my camera lens. I share these with you in this series called “Limon y Rimon*: The Colors of Cuba and Israel.” I have been photographing the world-at-large for most of my life, starting with my bulky yet beloved Minolta SRT 101 and 102, and now graduating to digital cameras.
Though not a Denver native, I have lived here more than half my life after transferring from Newcomb College of Tulane University to the University of Denver and graduating with an English degree. When you have an English degree, it’s a good idea to develop your photography skills! I am raising my two boys, Scott (now studying at Tulane) and Sam (Go G Dub!), and Kerry Blue Terrier, Fyfer, the sweetest dog in the world (except for your dog).
Just for the record, the trip to Cuba was legal…I went on a humanitarian mission to provide support to the Jewish community. I hope you enjoy these photos.
* Rimon means pomegranate in Hebrew.
Cotton trained in fine arts and interior design at The University of South Carolina 1990 ,Rhode Island School of Design and under the instruction of various artists in North and South America.
“The strength of your memory dictates the size of your reality.” –Chuck Klosterman
My work aims to make a record of the world around me in an effort to expand my own reality and hopefully that of others. I try to show subtle beauties by playing with light and reflections, while utilizing angles to create tension within my photographs. Having the focus of my pictures off-centered creates a more dynamic composition and tells a story that doesn’t end at the edge of the frame.
About me:
I was born and raised in Denver, Colorado where I graduated from Regis University with a BA in English in 2009. It was at this amazing institution where I learned to hone my photography skills with Photoshop CS3 and large scale printers. My experiences are varied in that, I have also served in the US Army Reserves since 2003 and deployed to Kuwait in Operation Iraqi Freedom for all of 2006. I currently work at Wash Perk coffee shop where I serve patrons of the Wash Park community while focusing on my art. Though I love to pursue photography my true passion is in writing and literature. To view my literary work, take a look at my blog: supernoavremnant.blogspot.com
Contact Info:
excess.of.light@gmail.com
supernovaremnant.blogspot.com
Also gracing us with his artistic presence is Jim Robinson. Jim creates wonderful works of art from wood. We will be showcasing his pieces in our new expanded seating area. Here are a few samples of his work.
More can be seen here.
Beth Mosenthal
For additional information or to contact Beth, please visit www.bethmosenthal.com or e-mail her at BethMo.Photo@gmail.com.
For more information on Jay visit www.jayburlesonphotography.com.
Mike Castorino @ MC3 Photography – Denver, Colorado
Having lived in New England, California and Colorado, I have been surrounded by natural beauty my whole life. As time flows on, capturing such special moments and special places is a way to document some of this splendor of loving and natural light.
Such passion applies to my other photography specialties as well. Each family, each pet, each event has an essence. To see that essence, and then capture that in a portrait or in a candid shot can keep memories fresh and alive, and serve to document the moments that make life so special.
“To have time stand still in one photographic capture, is a way to hold history. “
Please see more of this work and contact information at www.mikecastorino.com or search mc3 photography on Facebook.
Tracy Rubino
Her artist’s statement is: the trick is to not over think it.
Visit her myspace page to see more of her art.
Sharon Healy
For more info on Sharon and her artwork visit her website or her myspace.
