Erika Rosales
Artist-in-Residence

October brings a new Artist in Residence to our taproom! We’re very excited to welcome Erika Rosales and her artwork through December.

Erika took some time to answer some of our questions very thoughtfully–see below for a window into her inspiration and philosophy behind the artwork.

Where did your art journey begin?

I consider myself a multidisciplinary artist, so my path to painting was long. I drew as a child, but over time, I moved away from it. When I reconnected with art it was through cultural dance. I have danced as a traditional folkloric dancer for over 20 years, mainly traditional Mexican dance, but I have also done other forms, such as Afro-Peruvian. Visual arts eventually called to me again, and I decided to try abstraction because I felt intimidated by drawing. Alcohol ink was the perfect medium for reconnecting with visual art. It required me to let go of control and go with the flow. I then expanded to acrylic, which is now my main medium. Recently, I have been creating my own pigments with earth materials to honor Mother Earth in my process.

Your canvases really highlight textures. How else do you use materials to add physical and emotional depth to your pieces?

As someone who feels deeply, I use texture to convey emotion. I create it with earth materials such as dried corn, beans, sand, and charcoal, along with textured molding paste. These materials are especially meaningful to me, especially the beans and corn, because I grew up with them. They have nourished my community and symbolized resilience and resourcefulness.

Your show name is Between the Intangible and Tangible. Are these pieces intended to bridge that gap, or are they more focused on challenging the viewer to explore the interstitial space?

Between the Intangible and Tangible is both personal and impersonal, grounded in the individual and collective human experience, our connection to the earth and to universal energies. This ranges from energies based on experience, such as exploration of other energetic realms and emotional journeys, as well as physical aspects that accompany these explorations as part of existing. I am fascinated with the secrets of the universe and all its vastness, physically and energetically, and how it connects with us as humans; how it guides nature; how these patterns are part of divine intelligence; and how divine intelligence shows up and forms our world. It forms our emotions, our songs, our music, our art, our languages. The exhibit invites the viewer to explore the beauty of existing beyond our so-called five senses, and instead embrace existence as multidimensional.

We pride ourselves as being a community space, and we love surrounding people in art made by our community. Do you think art can help build community, and how? 

Absolutely, I believe art created by humans is incredibly powerful. There is an imprint of ourselves in the art we create. Art reminds us what it is like to be human, in all the ways that this earthly experience can show up. Art moves us, creates conversation, and can bring us together. Art can say so much more than what words often can, and it can unite us in the process. During challenging times, such as the ones we are experiencing right now, art can bring hope and inspiration, which we all need.

Aside from textures, your website also highlights works described as “Flow.” What materials do you use to make these pieces, and how does that medium differ in expression from the textures? 

I primarily use alcohol ink on paper. However, in my earth materials exploration, I have been creating my own alcohol inks with dried herbs. This medium is vastly different from acrylic as it is much more fluid. Both my acrylics and alcohol ink works ask me to let go of control, but given the fluid nature of the alcohol inks, I have to allow it to do what it wants to do. I often have an idea of what I want to create, and I realize the ink wants to go in a different direction. I listen and follow what it wants to do. The majority of the time, the result is much better than my original idea.

If people want to buy originals or prints from you, how can they go about it?

They can contact me directly through my website at erikarosales.art or email at erikarosalesart@gmail.com.