Wayne Rainey, the brains behind monOrchid, has announced the debut exhibition by the newly formed nine-member monOrchid Artist Collective.
Opening next month, "All-Hands-On-Deck" will feature the work of the collective's relatively-unknown-to-Phoenix artists (save for Randy Zucker's digital-centric creations), including Estevan Bladeras' graf art inspired by his upbringing in the Chicago ghettos and Michael Carson's figurative oils.
Other members of the cooperative include painter Nikki Aiello, ceramicist Bob Metelits, tattoo artist Christine Vallieres, mixed-media-ist Sandra Whyman, painter/sculptor Loren Yagoda, and Vangela Geiss.
According to the Los Angeles Times, monOrchid, located in a rehabbed warehouse at 214 East Roosevelt Street in downtown Phoenix, "launched the [downtown art] scene" last decade. The circa 1937 Del Webb art space has changed it's M.O. over time - it used to host the offices of the now defunct magazine Shade; now it contains an award-winning photography space called Bokeh Gallery - but the flashy 14,000-square-foot space, with its high ceilings and corrugated metal walls, remains.
The opening reception is scheduled to take place from 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, December 2. There will also be a free First Friday reception on Friday, December 3. Admission is free. Go to www.monorchidartistcollective.com.
