A brief interview with 2016 Open Studio Tour artist: Bruce McKaig
Bruce McKaig’s studio
Can you tell us a little bit about the work that you do in your studio?
My work has always been process driven, initially exploring material qualities: pouring things on to photo paper, successive doses of light, hand coloring, intervening as much as possible. In my forties, I almost revisited teenage thoughts of being a photojournalist when I combined pinhole and time-lapse techniques to photograph people doing what they do, mostly working. That exploration produced images, objects, and projections increasingly channeled through public art projects. As part of my first public art project in 2001, I produced 1000 DVDs and handed them out on the streets. As my art became increasingly public art, ever process driven, I started to directly examine the processes of public art and subsequently, finance and economics. I have been a visual artist for nearly forty years, and have a Masters degree from Georgetown University in international affairs with a concentration in economics.
Artwork by Bruce McKaig
What drew you to the medium(s) that you are currently working with?
Photography started for me as a child on Sunday afternoons between the Wonderful World of Disney and family vacation slides. The slides were accompanied with stories and eventually they replaced my memories. I now remember being in a living room with screen, shag carpeting and a milkshake more than ever being at Hoover Dam or on a farm in Alabama. Between Disney and family vacation photos, I grew up with ample examples of how well photography makes up it’s own reality.
What is something that you think is unique about your studio or practice?
Building on nearly forty years of exploring the visual arts, I have most recently turned to socioeconomic issues as the primary subject matter for the works. My images, videos, participatory sculptures and performances now examine issues of labor, income inequality, education, incarceration. I am a 2016 Fellow in the New Economy Maryland program (Institute for Policy Studies) where I research on funding practices and policies in the arts. In addition, I have been awarded the 2016 Engagement Grant Award (Crusade for Art) to build a barter network in Baltimore amongst artists and tradespeople.
Artwork by Bruce McKaig
What is one thing you love about being an artist in Baltimore?
I moved to Baltimore summer 2015, and continue to appreciate how welcoming and diverse the city is to new comers. In addition to the rich visual and performing arts (music!), Baltimore explores a number of alternative models to bring art and people together, which aligns well with my research on funding practices in the arts.
Artwork by Bruce McKaig
What are you most excited about for this year’s Open Studio Tour?
As well as meeting new people and introducing them to my studio and practice, I am most excited to use the open studio days to share details about the barter network with artists and workers that I am building thanks to the Engagement Grant award, hoping to connect with people who would like to participate.
A brief interview with 2016 Open Studio Tour artist: Ashley Milburn
Sun Horse by Ashley Milburn
What is something that you think is unique about your studio or practice?
My studio has door sized windows overlooking our garden.
Can you tell us a little bit about the work that you do in your studio?
My studio is a work/love space (More work, than live). It’s not a mini-gallery, more example of where my focus is, was, will be.
Morning Meadow by Ashley Milburn
What drew you to the medium(s) that you are currently working with?
The horse is a visual for power and gentleness. It is exceptional. My work seeks to explore the nature of this power. The works are not meant to be portraits of the horse. Artists have been exploring the horse since the cave paintings in France. My work is heavily influenced by the Chinese and Japanese Sume painting techniques. At the same time, I’ve tried to push through to a contemporary approach. The use of wet paper towel as a brush does several things; it keeps me from being too precious with it, it mimics well the large Japanese brush stroke, and restricts the traditional mindset one uses when approaching the work.I want to capture more of the “spirit” of horse. I’ve tried to push past what I know about painting the horse to seek more. For me, its power lays within its torso and head; the intellect and the heart.
What is one thing you love about being an artist in Baltimore?
In Baltimore, all things are possible.
What are you most excited about for this year’s Open Studio Tour?
Showing my new work and getting feedback.
Be sure to stop by her studio (2B) in the Artist Housing, Inc. building (1440 East Baltimore St.), which will be open on both October 8 & 9 from 10am-3pm.
Click Here To View Ashley Milburn’s Website
Click Here To View Ashley Milburn’s Website
A brief interview with 2016 Open Studio Tour Artist: Paul Moscatt
Fred Lazarus by Paul Moscatt
Can you tell us a little bit about the work that you do in your studio?:
Portrait and Figure Painting, Plein Air Landscape Painting. I work in Oil and Acrylic.
I work directly from the model or the landscape. I many times work with a group painting along side students while conducting figure, portrait and landscape classes. The studio supplies extra easels and tables and a changing schedule of models. We also work from musicians who will be playing their instruments while posing.
I work directly from the model or the landscape. I many times work with a group painting along side students while conducting figure, portrait and landscape classes. The studio supplies extra easels and tables and a changing schedule of models. We also work from musicians who will be playing their instruments while posing.
What drew you to the medium(s) that you are currently working with?:
My education in the Cooper Union Art School and Yale University Art School gave me a good background in abstract and representational painting. Major consideration was given the oil and acrylic mediums and the archival use of these mediums. I favor working in oil for figurative work but I also like the adventure possibility inherent in using acrylics.
What is something that you think is unique about your studio or practice?:
My experience. I am a retired Professor who taught painting and drawing at MICA since 1966. My studio is an activity center for painting and drawing, both representational and abstract painting. I conduct figure, portrait, landscape and color sessions and I paint along side the student and leading a critique session after each class.
The studio has an immense amount of my work to be seen, work which I have produced since the early 60’s. Though the vast concentration is now observational and representational, there are many large works which are more conceptual involving a personal self portrait narrative.
The studio has an immense amount of my work to be seen, work which I have produced since the early 60’s. Though the vast concentration is now observational and representational, there are many large works which are more conceptual involving a personal self portrait narrative.
What is one thing you love about being an artist in Baltimore?:
Baltimore is a great place for artists to work. It especially has excellent studio and exhibition spaces. An active group of artists, young and old along with the other arts – actors and musicians form a large cultural base.
It’s art institutions including MICA, Peabody, the Walters Art Gallery, the Baltimore Museum are world renowned. It is also closely situated to Washington, DC with its great Art Institutions.
It’s art institutions including MICA, Peabody, the Walters Art Gallery, the Baltimore Museum are world renowned. It is also closely situated to Washington, DC with its great Art Institutions.
Marian by Paul Moscatt
What are you most excited about for this year’s Open Studio Tour?:
Preparing the studio for the tour is a major part of the Open Studio event. This requires a lot of work for me, cleaning, organizing, getting together a display of my work.
Opening the studio becomes social event, an enjoyable opportunity to welcome and entertain old and new friends. I like to put out a nice spread and supply ample beverages to promote a party atmosphere. This also happens throughout our building which has a number of other artists so it is fun and very social to visit and connect with your fellow artists which of course includes break bread and sampling their wine.
The tour also brings new people into the studio, new people to see my work and become familiar with my teaching sessions. And then there is the possibilities of moving some work, selling to new and old visitors to my studio.
This whole process of being part of the studio tour allows me to gain further insights into my own work. Perhaps that’s the greatest benefit of all.
Opening the studio becomes social event, an enjoyable opportunity to welcome and entertain old and new friends. I like to put out a nice spread and supply ample beverages to promote a party atmosphere. This also happens throughout our building which has a number of other artists so it is fun and very social to visit and connect with your fellow artists which of course includes break bread and sampling their wine.
The tour also brings new people into the studio, new people to see my work and become familiar with my teaching sessions. And then there is the possibilities of moving some work, selling to new and old visitors to my studio.
This whole process of being part of the studio tour allows me to gain further insights into my own work. Perhaps that’s the greatest benefit of all.
Is there anything else you would like to add?:
The Paul Moscatt Studio welcomes artists experienced or not who want to work with the figure, portrait, color or landscape. These are work session classes with optional critiques at the end of the session. The fees are reasonable and the student chooses what individual sessions they want to attend.
The Paul Moscatt Studio also accepts interns who would benefit from the studio experience while earning school credit. They can participate in studio classes without charge and the time is credited to their obligatory intern hours.
Individual visits to the studio can be arranged after the Open Studio Tour has occurred.
Paul Moscatt Studio will be open from 10am to 6pm on both Saturday and Sunday (October 8 & 9) of this year’s Studio Tour! Moscatt’s studio is located on the 3rd floor of The Cork Factory: 1601 N Guilford Ave., be sure to check it out this year!
We had more than 130 artists participate in last year’s School 33 Art Center Open Studio Tour! Below are some photos from Woodberry Studios, located at 2121 Druid Park Drive, Baltimore, MD 21218.
The 2016 Open Studio Tour takes place between 10am – 6pm on Saturday, October 8 and Sunday, October 9. Register your studio by August 15, 2016!
Ed Harris:
Julia Niederman:
Neil Feather:
Cornel Rubino:
2016 School 33 Art Center Open Studio Tour: Registration Opens on Friday, July 1st!
Michelle Dickson’s studio during the 2015 Open Studio Tour
Are you an artist with a studio in Baltimore City? School 33 Art Center’s annual Open Studio Tour brings art lovers and collectors into the studios of Baltimore’s artists on October 8 & 9, 2016. Traveling from throughout Maryland and the surrounding region, visitors get a chance to meet the artist, see their work and get a behind-the-scenes glimpse into their working processes. This October, take the opportunity to share your work with the public and with other artists during this city-wide event. Registration opens on Friday, July 1st, 2016. Click Here To Register Online (the registration page will not be available until Friday, July 1st)