June Final Friday
June 27th through July 21st
Say goodbye to June with the Phoenix Gallery this Final Friday!
In the Phoenix Underground Gallery, we have Amy Baber’s exhibition, “Sweet Revelry”. A local tattoo artist and painter, Amy’s work will wow you with realism and pull at your appetite for more. To both see the fantastic artwork for yourself and have a chance to speak to the artist in person, join us Friday night!
In the Upper West Gallery, we will have favorite local artist Bboggled Art by Cindy Berry, with her new show "Infusing Life with Color”. The show will debut new and exciting artwork from Cindy, showcasing the next era of her resin artwork.
You can meet the artists and gain insight into their exhibition on opening night, June 27th from 6pm to 9 pm.
Opening night music will be provided by local musician Darrell Lea.
_______________________
Amy Baber
Lawrence, KS
Artist Statement
My artistic process is greatly influenced by the technical methods of Baroque oil painting, but I have recently been exploring my color palette to expand beyond the traditional dark aesthetic into something brighter and more playful. Alongside the Baroque, I am inspired by the jovial themes of the French Rococo and its icons of joy. My feelings of nostalgia and a vague memory of comfort are tied to my subject matter, seen in my interest in balloons, sickly sweet treats, and decorated dresses. I am devoted to reclaiming femininity both physically and artistically, and the labels of “girly” or “feminine” as being unserious or inferior inspire me even more to push it to the forefront in the fine art world.
Artist Biography
Aminah "Amy" Baber is a 23-year-old oil painter and tattoo artist. She was born in Seattle, Washington, but grew up most of her childhood between Fort Worth, Texas, and Wichita, Kansas, and now resides in Lawrence, Kansas. An interest in art making was always a part of her, with homeschooling allowing her the time to explore those interests further. Her passion for learning the craft of oil painting expanded when she apprenticed under artist Ernest Vincent Wood III at age 15. While still early in her career, she has won numerous awards and showcased her work nationally, from Kansas to the Washington D.C. Capitol building and Carnegie Hall in New York. Her artistic career was put on pause during a brief period attending the University of Kansas from 2023 to 2024, but she has since left university studies to devote her time solely to tattoo apprenticing and oil painting, and now studies under artists Christopher Stubbs and Anne Herrero in Kansas City.
You can find Amy’s exhibit in the Phoenix Underground Gallery.
To view Amy's work online or to purchase, please click here.
_______________________
Bboggled Art
Cindy Berry
Olathe, Kansas
Artist Statement
My art, under the name Bboggled Art, explores the captivating interplay of flowing forms and calming aesthetics, all brought to life with vibrant colors. Through my work with resin, I’ve discovered a myriad of unique techniques, allowing me to blend unexpected objects and infuse them with rich hues, manipulating the material in ways that often lead viewers to mistake my creations for glass.
In today’s often-chaotic world, my aim is to offer a visual counterpoint—a moment where the entangling craziness of life meets a sense of serene beauty. My deepest desire is for my art to overflow into your space, inviting you to embrace the joy in every day.
Artist Biography
Cindy Berry is an artist whose diverse creative journey has culminated in the captivating world of "Bboggled Art." With a four-year design degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), Cindy initially honed her skills in foundational design principles. This rigorous academic background provided a strong framework for her subsequent explorations in various artistic mediums.
For a decade, Cindy dedicated herself to the intricate art of handmade paper, a process that deepened her understanding of texture, form, and material interaction. This hands-on experience laid crucial groundwork for her next artistic evolution. It was the discovery of resin that truly ignited her passion and became her primary muse, allowing her to create the unique, multi-layered abstract works seen in "Bboggled Art." Through her art, Cindy aims to invite viewers into a space of continual discovery, where each engagement reveals new details and perspectives.
You can find Cindy's exhibit in the Phoenix Gallery's Upper West Gallery.
To view Cindy's work online or to purchase, please click here.
_______________________
Opening night music will be provided by beloved and fan favorite local musician Darrell Lea.
_______________________
These exhibits will be in the Phoenix Underground Gallery and the Phoenix Gallery's Upper West Gallery, with our featured artists stopping by on opening night to discuss and promote their artwork. Be sure to like and follow our Facebook before the show so you can be kept up to date on events involving the Final Friday June exhibition.