Interview: Gary Taxali

The multi-media artist discusses balancing commercial and personal work and the perils of a blank white page

Art and commerce are traditionally thought of as opposing forces. Of course, this is especially true for artists who’s work lands on both advertisements and gallery walls. Finding inspiration from commercial work while maintaining a sense of integrity in the art world is no easy task, but Toronto-based artist Gary Taxali proves it’s not only possible but, at times, beneficial. Taxali is set to open …

Off Piste: Neon Daze and Winter Waves

Artists Corey Smith and Mike Parillo bring snowboarding back to its roots with experimental handmade boards

Four years ago, burnt out on the way mainstream snowboarding was headed, artist and professional snowboarder Corey Smith turned to his Lake Tahoe garage/studio for refuge. Here, he founded Spring Break Snowboards, an art project aimed at bringing the activity he loved back to the basics by way of handmade wooden snowboards meant for riding deep powder. Shortly thereafter, we caught up with Smith and …

Art Shanty Projects

A temporary community of artist-made ice huts brings the audience into the arts experience

Minnesota may be known for ice fishing, but the huts many a grandfather once huddled in have nothing on those created for the Art Shanty Projects, an artist-driven community temporarily located on White Bear Lake, MN. Centered on the idea of repurposing unregulated public spaces, the project aims to create artistic environments in the hopes of exploring the notion of what art is and can …