Introduction

My name is Jamie Lang and I’m a mixed media artist working in Denver, Colorado. I have a background in ceramics and painting. In 2008, I combined these two mediums which has since culminated in my current work: encaustic (wax) paintings on handmade adobe tiles. Four years ago, I moved to Denver from Minneapolis to pursue my art full-time. Since then, I have exhibited in a number of invitational & juried exhibitions, national & regional art fairs and began showing with two new galleries. I’m currently working towards a solo exhibition this November at Northern Clay Center in Minneapolis, MN, entitled Scenes from the Side of the Road. 

The exhibition will be comprised of two components. First, I will be creating 10 to 15 wall pieces which will be inspired by photographs I’ve taken of architectural structures in their landscape. These pieces will consist of cast adobe tiles followed by multiple layers of encaustic, pigment and image transfers. The second part of the exhibition will be a collaborative piece consisting of a large grouping of small tiles with image transfers of photos taken by the public. This is where you come in!

What I Need & What You Get

I’m inviting you to send me photos from your daily life; things you see while your going to work, coming home, or getting a cup of coffee, etc. I’m essentially asking you to take a moment to look around and photograph the things you might miss while going about your normal routines. My hope is to receive somewhere between 80 and 160 photos. These can include a detail of a building, a sunset or a landscape, etc., but please do not send photos of people. The photos will be used to create encaustic image transfers on 3” x 3” adobe tiles, which will be displayed together in a horizontal grid (see below) as part of the exhibition in the gallery. 

Mock-up of the 80 tile grid

It all starts with you and your photo. First, select a tile option from the perks (1, 2, 3 or 4/3). Once you have selected your perk, I will send an email on where to send the photo please also include: your name, the location of the photo, and where you are from. You will also have the option to remain anonymous if you so please. Since this exhibition is already in process, I will begin creating your tile once I receive your photo. This tile is also your reward and it will be displayed in the exhibition. After the show closes, January 3rd, 2016, I will ship the tile with your photo on it to you. The project will begin once the first image is received. 

select a perk (adobe tile) & I'll put your photo on it

Any digital photo will do, whether shot with a camera, phone, or a tablet, just as long as you’re able to email it to me. I will often use Instagram to document moments in my day, and it’s a great platform for submitting your own images.  The nice thing about Instagram is that it’s already in the format of a square (like the tile) and doesn’t need to be cropped. If do you use Instagram for your photo, please use the hashtag #SFTSOTR15 or tag me @langco.

example of a 3"x3" adobe tile

The money raised from this project will help to cover the costs of the exhibition, Scenes from the Side of the Road. The biggest expenses will be traveling with my work to Minneapolis for the installation, and having the show professionally documented. Other expenses include art materials and supplies to create the artwork. As a bonus, if I reach my max goal of 160 photos through this campaign, I will produce a small catalog which will feature all of the collected photos, as well as, all of my work included in the exhibition. 

The Impact

The concept for this exhibition is a further exploration of an idea I’ve been examining in my work for the past several years, which is based on the idea that our subconscious influences have a direct link to our self-identity. My hope is by engaging the community in this process, both the viewers of the exhibition, as well as, the participants of the project, will give pause in their daily life and create a conversation regarding their own mindfulness.

40 views of clouds, 2012

Risks & Challenges

The biggest risk I have through this process is I won’t receive enough photos from participants to fill the space I have designated in the gallery. Should this occur, I plan to use some of my own photos to fill in the void. However, I hope there will be enough excitement about the project that I won't have to. The other challenge will be finishing the work in time for the exhibition. This is my first solo exhibition in over six years, and I plan on doing everything in my power to make it an impactful and complete show. 

Other Ways You Can Help

If you’re unable to contribute but would still like to help, please share my project with your friends, family or anyone you think might be interested. You can also follow my progress in preparing for the exhibition on my Facebook page or on Instagram. 

I look forward to working with your wonderful photos and collaborating on this piece for the exhibition. Thank you in advance!