Local artists unveil “Drawn Together” exhibit at local business

The Local Collective Art Project unveiled the “Drawn Together” exhibit last Sunday afternoon at The O.

The Local Collective Art Project has come together for its second exhibit.

“Drawn Together” was unveiled last Sunday afternoon at The O, located within Hotel STRY, with artists working with a theme by artist Stephen Gibb. Gibb is one of the 12 artists that make up the Local Collective Art Project and he created a drawing of a face with its tongue sticking out, divided into 12 squares, and artists had to use the lines from the original drawing and incorporate them into their artwork. Artists did not know the final design until the end.

The other 11 artists are Marshall White, Cameron Arksey, Matthew Zaidan, Andrea White, Brooke White, Rocco DiPasquale, Dylan White, Dennis White, Jermaine Baylis, Rob McLellan and Natalie White.

Gibb said the idea came from a grade school art project “and trying to get people to paint the same picture.”

Noting his father was an elementary school principal, Gibb recalled him doing a similar project.

“I remember him designing a project like this and each kid getting a segment of it to draw,” said Gibb.

Gibb said he saw some of the artwork before it was unveiled and thought it was coming together well. He was confident that people would enjoy the final project.

“I think people will be surprised,” said Gibb.

The setting at The O was good, he added, and he believed it was nice to have the venue support them as artists.

“It’s kind of an ideal set-up,” he said. 

McLellan said it has been a great experience to be part of the Collective, noting it has pushed artists such as himself out of their comfort zones.

“This has been an awesome experience,” said McLellan.Arksey thanked artist Dylan White for helping to found The Local Collective Art Project and Gibb for his vision on the “Drawn Together” exhibit.

Zaidan helped with the marketing, designing posters, flyers and social media posts. He said the  Halloween show coming up at The O beginning Oct. 19 features the Collective and other guest artists.  

 “I’m really pleased with how it all turned out, and I can’t wait to do more with this group. Big thanks to Dylan and Stephen for the well-executed concept and installation, and to our gracious hosts from Hotel STRY and The O.”

Local artists unveil “Drawn Together” exhibit at local business

By Ron Giofu