Meet Our Artists Part Four
Every week until the big night, we will be featuring a small group of artists creating pieces for the 2020 Chair Affair. This year we are working with 20 local artists selected by our Guest Curator who all work with different mediums, have diverse styles, and bring a new perspectives through their artwork. This week we are featuring Lea Saccomanno, Christian Rodriguez, Kate Shooltz.
Lea Saccomanno
As a child, Lea would take trips to Philadelphia from the suburbs, they were exciting experiences where she was filled with awe at the rich and colorful neighborhoods, and the art and artists that inhabited them. It was the same creative and inclusive experience that drew her to move to the Fishtown area years later. She initially learned to embroider as a young girl, and rediscovered her love for textile arts shortly after her move into the city. Lea is constantly inspired by the people she meets and the experiences she has here and in travels beyond. Her work celebrates the magic in the everyday and focuses on feminine energy. Lea enjoys using repurposed materials in her work and workshops because, like the rich history behind the art of embroidery, utilizing these materials adds depth to the “story” of each piece, and helps lessen the burden on the planet that sustains us.
For the past year, Lea has been hosting embroidery workshops, where the participants have created their own wall hangings, patches and have personalized their clothing. Sharing the experience of creating and allowing others to harness their own artistic abilities inspires her greatly. She's so grateful to have found this expression of creativity and to be able to share it with others.
Christian Rodriguez
Christian Rodriguez also known as TAMEARTZ is the first Graffiti artist to be featured in the Philadelphia Art Museum for a 3 month showcase. He is also the first Graffiti artist in the world to be associated with Paleo-art and had the chance to paint a Dinosaur graffiti style. This can currently be seen at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, and has been on display for a year. Through that project Christian was interviewed by Animal Planet to talk about his concept and the graffiti influenced on the dinosaur. The name TAMEARTZ is an acronym for TRUE ART MUST EVOLVE. In the past few years Christian has done just that.
Kate Shooltz
Kate Shooltz is a Philadelphia based artist also known as Kate the Earthling. Inspired by the natural world and her time spent outdoors, her creations encourage a biophilic lifestyle enriched by nature. By using only preserved natural elements her creations require no water or sunlight. Her no-maintenance designs bring nature to all, regardless of their green thumb. The happiness she has found in a life filled with nature is truly fulfilling. Through her creations she hopes to inspire others to live the same.
