Tell Me A Story Artist Spotlight

Charlotte Seekamp, It’s About Choice, Watercolor

How does your artwork relate to the theme of the show?

I did not have any work I thought fit the theme, and did not plan to put a piece in the Tell Me a Story show. Then, the first week of May, a Supreme Court Opinion draft was leaked that suggested that the Supreme Court is intending to overturn Roe Vs. Wade. I came of age during what, I realize now, was the golden age of reproductive rights. At my age this being overturned will not affect me, but I am so sad for young women who will not have the same potential options as easily available as I did. So the piece I created uses words from that draft opinion, and from the original 1973 Roe v. Wade opinion, as they fly off the page of written word and scream out into the universe how very wrong it will be to the lives of many women to have this right, and the control over their own bodies, overturned after 50 years of being a right women relied upon. This work is an illustration of my extreme sadness about this anticipated Supreme Court Opinion and it is the Story I want to Tell.

What is a little known fact about yourself that you would like to share?

I do have a fact that may be little known—my proudest artistic accomplishment is having a piece exhibited in the Oakland Museum of CA in 2008. I am sure I got into the show more on a who I knew basis, but what the heck, it was a fabulous Oakland Museum exhibit up for 2 months and I had a piece of artwork in their show.

Do you have any upcoming projects that you would like to share?

The first two weekends of the month of June I will be doing East Bay Open Studios at the Gray Loft Gallery at 2889 Ford Street in Oakland. This is mostly a photography gallery, so I will be showing Silver Gelatin Prints from my Pandemic Chair series and Digital Colour Photos from my Free Furniture series.

Theresa Adlawan

Theresa Adlawan, Rockaway Beach, Watercolor

How does your artwork relate to the theme of the show?

Theresa was born and raised here in Pacifica. She always had a love of the ocean. Her family and friends have been sending her photographs of their walks along the local beaches from many different locals. This inspired her to start painting again and this is basically what you are seeing here now as a result of that.

What is the most important artist tool that you use in you practice?

The most important artist tool that Theresa uses is her head gear with the pointer and brush attached to it. She has cerebral palsy, and she has no ability to use anything from her neck down to her feet. This head piece was specifically made for her. (Her brother helped figure out how to attach different size brushes to it.)

Do you have any upcoming projects that you would like to share?

Her upcoming projects reflect what she has already been doing, which is to continue to paint art scenery that people will enjoy and possibly purchase. Her goal would be to purchase something that she would like for herself and would help her a great deal.

Kristina Ayala

Kristina Ayala, ANNA, Reductive Linoleum

How does your artwork relate to the theme of the show?

This show is called Tell Me a Story, so here is the story behind this reductive linoleum print of the little girl in pink with the kitty cat glasses. The little girl’s name is Anna, and she is the daughter of a good friend of mine. The image is from a photo I took in fall of 2018. My husband and I went to see my friend Julie and her family in Copenhagen, Denmark. This trip was taking place 20 years after Julie and I met. We met when I was 16 and a junior in high school, when I spent a year living in Copenhagen to study abroad. Now Julie is married and with two kids. She has a little boy who was about five at the time and a little girl who was almost three. I took this picture when the three of us were about to leave for the park. Anna had her jacket and her sunglasses on and she was waiting impatiently for us at the door to get our shoes on. I absolutely fell in love with Anna, she reminded me so much of her mom, with all of her sass. It is really beautiful to see where life can take us. My dad is Danish and just took a trip to Copenhagen, and he delivered a copy of this to my friend, Julie, and a copy to Anna’s grandma and grandpa. Anna’s grandpa’s actually an amazing painter and musician named Ole Fick, and it is an honor to know that my art is in their house.

What was the first artwork you created that really mattered to you? 

This is a tough one. For my artistic progression, two moments stand out. One would be the first 50|50 Show I participated in, back in 2014, as it was the first juried show I’d ever participated in. Working on a series of 50 small works in a limited amount of time really makes one grow. The other would be my red ceramic octopus sculpture from the AGP Members show in 2019, because it was the first award I’d recieved for my work and it led to my exhibition award. Misha Flores curated the main gallery in 2020, for the members show winners from 2019, and I had three large paintings and ceramics sculptures taking a fourth of the main gallery. This was a big deal for me, and another moment of growth jn my artistic life.

I am hoping to sculpt a ceramic deep sea creature for the next AGP show, Positively Beastly.