Currently on view in the gallery is Unless & Until, a multimedia collaboration between Julie Püttgen (paintings), JS van Buskirk (text), James R. Carlson (music) and Matt Gilbert (video).

Evolving from a series of narrative, pictorial paintings to story lines and songs with the addition of animation, Unless & Until is the result of a collaboration in chance and friendship. A recent conversation with the artists illuminated the creative process behind their work.

UNLESS & UNTIL ~ a collaborative project                             
Paintings by Julie Püttgen. Videos by Matt Gilbert.
Music by James R. Carlson. Text by JS van Buskirk.

Exhibition dates: May 21 – June 19, 2010
Gallery hours: Wednesday – Saturday
11 am – 5 pm or by appointment.

The exhibit Unless & Until has evolved as the result of a collaboration in chance and friendship.  In January 2008, Julie Püttgen created a series of paintings on paper called Cloudmapping.  Each painting began as loose, chaotic washes of color, into which she would gradually “read” a narrative, pictorial space.  After about six paintings, Julie realized there was a story linking the paintings together that needed to be written.  She contacted her childhood friend, Stephanie Paulk (JS van Buskirk), to construct the narrative, write the text and compose the lyrics. During this process, Julie agreed not to read the story in progress until she had completed the twenty-four paintings in the series. 

Around the same time, Julie’s friend and colleague, Jim Carlson, saw the paintings, heard about the collaboration and offered to compose music based on the text.  Meanwhile, Julie created the prelude animation as a way to bring all the other elements together.

Realizing that animation was the necessary next step in the project, Matt Gilbert became the last addition to the crew as digital animator, pushing the definitions of the project far beyond what had been imagined possible.

The book, CD & DVDs are available for purchase at the gallery.
CD/Score > $12; DVD/film > $25; Book > $80.
Complete Set > $125.00