Erika Bartlett
Erika Bartlett
Vancouver WA
Artists Statement:
This subject of this series comes from a guided meditation. The teacher mentioned the concept of each breath being unique, each one to come and never return. I knew I wanted to share this concept one day when I was late, out of gas and so stressed that my chest felt like taut rubber-band. I took a deep breath and looked up at the sky, and disappeared in to the clouds. Vapors filled with light and color, they were mesmerizing and calming.
Our days are filled with busy-ness and rhythms, as well as patterns we follow in search of pleasure and in avoidance of pain. Think of a cloud as the physical manifestation of the atmosphere itself breathing; each one unique in temperature and volume, color and form. Take it further, imagine that we are breathing in unison with the atmosphere and all that it contains.Every biological process, tide, animal and person, no matter how far, all moving in one rhythm.
Expansion and retraction. Busy-ness and stillness. Light and dark. Everything and nothing. Infinite moments in between.
The process itself is parallel. There is a certain mundane quality in the work. It is the discipline, work and karma; it is not unlike Mr.Miyagi’s command to “Wax on, wax off.” I take the image, edit it using a smartphone app and Photoshop, I measure and make registration marks on my acrylic squares. Each strip is trimmed and adhered carefully as elements may not be in my favor where there is summer heat, dust flying around, flecks of dried medium in my brush. I press the fluid medium out from under each strip with even pressure until it has just the right amount to minimize bubbling. Everything is cleaned incessantly. It is work, but the work itself is meditative. Clarity and beauty are the results.
These images translate elements of mindful meditation such as stillness, repetition and clarity, and serve to be a moment of refreshment for the eyes of the viewer.
Professional Achievements:
Whatcom Lightcatcher Museum, Bellingham, WA 2011-2014. Docent
Hope 4 Justice, Lynden Fair, Lynden, WA Summer, 2012. Graphic backdrop mural.
I Need It Now Power Tool Service, Bellingham, WA Summer 2011. Commercial sign.
Lettered Streets Coffee House, Bellingham, WA Fall 2011. Commercial menu.
Bookworm Burrow, Bellingham, WA March 2011. Commercial sign.
Birch Bay Hostel, Birch Bay, WA February 2011. Full room mural.
Bellingham Farmer’s Market, Bellingham, WA Spring 2010. Commercial sign.
Lettered Streets Coffee House, Bellingham, WA Spring 2010. Custom Art.
Bayou On Bay Restaurant, Bellingham, WA November 2009. Mural.
Selected Exhibits:
Hillsboro Shute Branch Library, Infinite Moments, Solo Show, May/ June 2015
Make.Shift, Mutants R Us, Group Show, October/ November 2013
Lucky Monky, Day of the Dead, Annual Group Show, October 2011-13. Bellingham, WA
Old Town Café, Solo Show, April/May 2013, Bellingham, WA.
Oyster Bar at Bayou, Solo Show, July 2013, Bellingham, WA
Whatcom Museum, Nature in the Balance: Artists Interpreting Climate Change, Group Show, June-September 2013, Bellingham, WA.
Pickford Cinemas, Group Show, March-April 2012, Bellingham, WA.
Mi Shoes, Valentine’s Day, Solo Show, February 2012, Bellingham, WA.
Lettered Streets Coffee House, Solo Show, Spring 2012, Bellingham,WA.
Blaine Studio Tour, Birch Bay Hostel, Group Show, May 2011, Birch Bay, WA.
Lettered Streets Coffee House, Solo Show, Fall 2010, Bellingham, WA.
Studio UFO, “Hard Times, Then and Now. Works From the WPA,” Group Show, December 2010, Bellingham, WA.
Blue Horse Gallery, New Perspectives, Group Show, December 2010, Bellingham, WA.
Lebanon Art Factory, Art Through the Mail, Group Show, March 2010, Lebanon, PA.
Blue Horse Gallery, Open Hanging, January 2010, Bellingham, WA.
Education:
Ceramic Hand-building and Sculpture w/ Jesse Rasmussen, Jansen Art Center, Scholarship, , January 2014
Printmaking Apprentice, Winter 2009-Present, Ramon Murillo, Bellingham, WA.
Beginner’s Ceramics w/ Deb McCunn, June 2013, Baker Creek Ceramics, Bellingham, WA.
Beginner’s Ceramics w/ Deb McCunn, June 2012, Baker Creek Ceramics, Bellingham, WA.
Docent training, Winter 2011/12, Whatcom Lightcatcher Museum, Bellingham,WA.
“The Business of Selling Art” w/ Jane Ringe, November 2009, Bellingham Technical College, Bellingham, WA.
Venetian Plaster Certification for Professionals w/ Aaron Cohen, July 2008, Seattle Architectural Finishing School, Seattle, WA.
Publications:
Brienne Walsh, "Untitled," A Brie Grows In Brooklyn (blog). January 16, 2014. http://abriegrowsinbrooklyn.com/post/72446442534/a-twitter-friend-from-washington-state-follow-her
Featured Artist for Dream Space Studios, Bellingham, WA February 2013, City of Bellingham Art Walk.
Video Interview for Whatcom Lightcatcher Museum, Bellingham, WA, Winter 2012. Featured for docent program.
Video Interview, Birch Bay, WA October 2011, Lion’s Club Quarterly. Featured for art work at the Birch Bay Hostel.
Featured Artist for Bayou on Bay Restaurant, Bellingham, WA Winter 2009/10, City of Bellingham Art Walk.
Featured Artist for Unique West, Bellingham, WA Summer 2009, City of Bellingham Art Walk.
Vancouver WA
Artists Statement:
This subject of this series comes from a guided meditation. The teacher mentioned the concept of each breath being unique, each one to come and never return. I knew I wanted to share this concept one day when I was late, out of gas and so stressed that my chest felt like taut rubber-band. I took a deep breath and looked up at the sky, and disappeared in to the clouds. Vapors filled with light and color, they were mesmerizing and calming.
Our days are filled with busy-ness and rhythms, as well as patterns we follow in search of pleasure and in avoidance of pain. Think of a cloud as the physical manifestation of the atmosphere itself breathing; each one unique in temperature and volume, color and form. Take it further, imagine that we are breathing in unison with the atmosphere and all that it contains.Every biological process, tide, animal and person, no matter how far, all moving in one rhythm.
Expansion and retraction. Busy-ness and stillness. Light and dark. Everything and nothing. Infinite moments in between.
The process itself is parallel. There is a certain mundane quality in the work. It is the discipline, work and karma; it is not unlike Mr.Miyagi’s command to “Wax on, wax off.” I take the image, edit it using a smartphone app and Photoshop, I measure and make registration marks on my acrylic squares. Each strip is trimmed and adhered carefully as elements may not be in my favor where there is summer heat, dust flying around, flecks of dried medium in my brush. I press the fluid medium out from under each strip with even pressure until it has just the right amount to minimize bubbling. Everything is cleaned incessantly. It is work, but the work itself is meditative. Clarity and beauty are the results.
These images translate elements of mindful meditation such as stillness, repetition and clarity, and serve to be a moment of refreshment for the eyes of the viewer.
Professional Achievements:
Whatcom Lightcatcher Museum, Bellingham, WA 2011-2014. Docent
Hope 4 Justice, Lynden Fair, Lynden, WA Summer, 2012. Graphic backdrop mural.
I Need It Now Power Tool Service, Bellingham, WA Summer 2011. Commercial sign.
Lettered Streets Coffee House, Bellingham, WA Fall 2011. Commercial menu.
Bookworm Burrow, Bellingham, WA March 2011. Commercial sign.
Birch Bay Hostel, Birch Bay, WA February 2011. Full room mural.
Bellingham Farmer’s Market, Bellingham, WA Spring 2010. Commercial sign.
Lettered Streets Coffee House, Bellingham, WA Spring 2010. Custom Art.
Bayou On Bay Restaurant, Bellingham, WA November 2009. Mural.
Selected Exhibits:
Hillsboro Shute Branch Library, Infinite Moments, Solo Show, May/ June 2015
Make.Shift, Mutants R Us, Group Show, October/ November 2013
Lucky Monky, Day of the Dead, Annual Group Show, October 2011-13. Bellingham, WA
Old Town Café, Solo Show, April/May 2013, Bellingham, WA.
Oyster Bar at Bayou, Solo Show, July 2013, Bellingham, WA
Whatcom Museum, Nature in the Balance: Artists Interpreting Climate Change, Group Show, June-September 2013, Bellingham, WA.
Pickford Cinemas, Group Show, March-April 2012, Bellingham, WA.
Mi Shoes, Valentine’s Day, Solo Show, February 2012, Bellingham, WA.
Lettered Streets Coffee House, Solo Show, Spring 2012, Bellingham,WA.
Blaine Studio Tour, Birch Bay Hostel, Group Show, May 2011, Birch Bay, WA.
Lettered Streets Coffee House, Solo Show, Fall 2010, Bellingham, WA.
Studio UFO, “Hard Times, Then and Now. Works From the WPA,” Group Show, December 2010, Bellingham, WA.
Blue Horse Gallery, New Perspectives, Group Show, December 2010, Bellingham, WA.
Lebanon Art Factory, Art Through the Mail, Group Show, March 2010, Lebanon, PA.
Blue Horse Gallery, Open Hanging, January 2010, Bellingham, WA.
Education:
Ceramic Hand-building and Sculpture w/ Jesse Rasmussen, Jansen Art Center, Scholarship, , January 2014
Printmaking Apprentice, Winter 2009-Present, Ramon Murillo, Bellingham, WA.
Beginner’s Ceramics w/ Deb McCunn, June 2013, Baker Creek Ceramics, Bellingham, WA.
Beginner’s Ceramics w/ Deb McCunn, June 2012, Baker Creek Ceramics, Bellingham, WA.
Docent training, Winter 2011/12, Whatcom Lightcatcher Museum, Bellingham,WA.
“The Business of Selling Art” w/ Jane Ringe, November 2009, Bellingham Technical College, Bellingham, WA.
Venetian Plaster Certification for Professionals w/ Aaron Cohen, July 2008, Seattle Architectural Finishing School, Seattle, WA.
Publications:
Brienne Walsh, "Untitled," A Brie Grows In Brooklyn (blog). January 16, 2014. http://abriegrowsinbrooklyn.com/post/72446442534/a-twitter-friend-from-washington-state-follow-her
Featured Artist for Dream Space Studios, Bellingham, WA February 2013, City of Bellingham Art Walk.
Video Interview for Whatcom Lightcatcher Museum, Bellingham, WA, Winter 2012. Featured for docent program.
Video Interview, Birch Bay, WA October 2011, Lion’s Club Quarterly. Featured for art work at the Birch Bay Hostel.
Featured Artist for Bayou on Bay Restaurant, Bellingham, WA Winter 2009/10, City of Bellingham Art Walk.
Featured Artist for Unique West, Bellingham, WA Summer 2009, City of Bellingham Art Walk.