Printmaking. Photography. Fine Art
GILLIAN POKALO
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That time I made the front page of the Times Herald

4/10/2021

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www.timesherald.com/news/local/one-artists-pandemic-journey/article_a566b9a4-80e1-11eb-b6f7-3b773d89a050.html

One artist's pandemic journey
  • By M. English For MediaNews Group
  •  
    • Mar 11, 2021
When COVID-19 restrictions began changing “normal” in March 2020, Gillian Pokalo, an art teacher at Plymouth Meeting Friends School, was on a plane with several students, returning home from PMFS’s 50th Mexican exchange program.
But as Pokalo looks back, she realizes her real journey played out at home as she spent much of the past year “asking myself what I’m doing here, what significance it has and how I can best help and serve this planet with my skills.”
“We took off from Mexico with the grumblings of what was going on here in the U.S., but there, it seemed completely abstract until we were navigating empty airports,” she remembers. “We arrived home the day everything shut down. I process everything in my life through the lens of my work, so the photos I took in Mexico became the subject of a series. As the pandemic wore on, I wound up uncharacteristically destroying all of that work because there was suddenly nowhere to show my art, and I felt, at the time, no reason to make it. It was truly heartbreaking.”
During the summer months, Pokalo grew a dyer’s garden and cultivated medicinal herbs. She also took photos of rural Pennsylvania and – during a visit to her sister — Vermont. Those photos inspired her “to create a series where I attempted to find ways to make peace with the then-current state of our country by making work about rural America.”
“I used the plants from my garden in cyanotypes, which formed the skies in my pieces on wood panel, and then painted them using encaustic paints,” she says. “The processes I used took more time. Cyanotypes take several minutes to hours, depending on the quality of light, and working with encaustics involves meticulous layering of colors and scraping away layers. In working with the wax, I felt like I had some control over something.”
As the weeks progressed, Pokalo made a pair of espadrilles, crocheted 100 snowflakes into a tapestry, sewed masks, created a paper theater piece for a Vermont festival, did a lot of reading, sewed a new wardrobe, “got better” at painting portraits, learned how to carve wooden spoons and – come fall – happily reconnected with her students.
Months later, her participation in a mid-January exhibit called “Re-create” at Paragon Gallery and Framing in Phoenixville brought unexpected rewards. The show “consisted of five women artists, who all created an installation piece that was a reflection on current times and…set the tone for the new year.”


“My piece was inspired by my time in Iceland, which, throughout all of this, has been the place where I’ve longed to be and I’ve drawn strength from,” Pokalo continues. “It was an interpretation of the map of Iceland, landmarked by its abandoned farmhouses. Those abandoned places are what remains, in spite of everything they’ve endured, and they took on a deeper meaning in the creation of my piece — titled ‘Re: main.’
“In it, the viewer would walk through a silk tent that extended from floor to ceiling. Paper models of the farmhouses illuminated the way while shadows of the abandoned farmhouses were cast from my photographic imagery. Unassembled paper models were there for the taking so that people could cut them out and assemble them, write an intention for the year ahead and place an LED light inside to illuminate their paths ahead. Standing in the tent, the viewer was surrounded by prints of Icelandic wildflowers as though he or she was in a field of them. The piece required me to learn how to paint on silk and was almost too big for my studio. It was so therapeutic to work that large because I had to paint with my whole body, and I loved it.”
Pokalo believes the piece “instilled a rhythm for working that is currently carrying me through the winter months.”
“My newest painting has taken on a color palette from the view from my studio window,” she says. “I’m back to working on multiple pieces at the same time. In other pieces, I’ve started to work with layers of resin and acrylic poured paint. The resin takes days to cure, while the acrylic pour takes a long time to move across the panel. In both cases, they take time…or they mark time.”
Reflecting on the past 12 months, Pokalo finds her work “feels more significant in its scarcity.”
“It’s been a year of learning and trying new things because I have the time to do so,” she says. “I’ve learned more digital media platforms than I know the passwords for, how to teach online…and experienced a myriad of online art festivals, virtual tours, online music festivals, workshops and more. I’m amazed at how the creative community transitions into virtual reality. It’s gritty, low-fi and beautifully human despite being distanced.


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Show at Black Moth Gallery, Ardmore

4/10/2021

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www.blackmothtattooandgallery.com/gallery-at-black-moth#/current-exhibitions-at-black-moth-gallery


Gillian Pokalo- Remnants
March 1st- 31st
In Pokalo’s mixed media artwork it is immediately evident she is carrying the torch of the radical art movements of the early twentieth century to our present day. The compositions balance excitement and harmony, the exposed as well as the cryptic, which pull the attention of the viewer in, to maintain there for dissection and appreciation.
The works are incredibly innovative in their vision and applied techniques of layering materials with recognizable and unrecognizable imagery. Pokalo employs painting, photography, and printmaking techniques in her art making to create an extremely one-of-a-kind result while hitting the mark of intention. Not content with being a one trick pony, she is always looking for new ways to spark the creative direction, seeking the right blend of content and materials that responds to the experience or concept. Pokalo notes she is “influenced by the sociological shift in the communities that were originally built around industry and the remnants of places that no longer exist. I photograph buildings that are in some way imperfect, or have a humble, almost forgotten quality.“ Striking contrasts of values and dynamic arrangements will pull you through the body of work, then inevitably you will want to revisit each piece for further investigation.
Do not miss the opportunity to view these wonderful works in person. Stop in the gallery 5 days a week to view and add to your collection.

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Holidays and Workshops!

11/9/2020

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For your holiday season shopping this year, please consider supporting your local artists. Here are some great events where I'll be vending along with several amazing, local Artisans and Makers, with all social distancing and safety protocols in place. We all really appreciate your support!

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Don't forget! You can also purchase my work online here:
www.etsy.com/shop/GillianPokaloFineArt?ref=shop_sugg

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Or you can be the talk of the town when you get my licensed images on things like shower curtains, mugs, pillows, and much more here: 
https://society6.com/gillianpokalo

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You are also welcome to make an appointment to visit the studio by contacting me. 

And don't forget about WORKSHOPS! 
Read the full description under the workshops tab.

Tuesdays Are For Printmaking (First 3 consecutive Tuesdays of the month) from 7pm EST to 8:30pm EST on Zoom. 

Each month we focus on a different printmaking technique. November it's Screenprinting. December is Monoprinting. Get your creative juices flowing, build a rhythm of working, and knock out some holiday gifts while you're at it. Sign up today!


Tuesdays Are For Printmaking (Level 2) 
(4th Tuesday of the month) from 7pm EST to 8:30 EST on Zoom. 

So you've taken my printmaking classes before - THANK YOU! And you just can't get enough, but you are ready to take your work to the next level. This class meets once a month and is designed to build and maintain community with a critique, a goal and theme for the coming month, and a chance to bounce ideas off of other printmakers. PLUS: a discount on the level one classes AND if you sign up for the year you'll get an original work of art on paper by me between now and June.


Art Club for Kids (Thursdays from 4:30-5:15 EST on Zoom, see webpage for exact dates)

Is your elementary-age student getting enough art in their diet? Sign up today either by the month or by the week, to have 45 minutes of art club after school. Lessons are designed to meet students of all elementary ages where they are at so that they can unleash their creativity! Each lesson includes art instruction and a story. Supplies used are ones you likely have around your house, but a kit is available for purchase if interested. Hope to see you in the Zoom Art Room!


Thank you for your support and I hope stay healthy and warm as we round out this year. 




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Liminal Spaces, A Series Made While In Quarantine During the Summer of 2020

9/14/2020

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This series began with photographs of abandoned farms in both rural, western Pennsylvania and rural Vermont. In an age of quarantine, I was able to visit my "quaranteam" - my sister and my closest friend from college. In an attempt to stay away from people, I found myself on winding country roads, trying to find solace as well as the spirit of my coutnry which, over the past several months seemed as lost and desolate as some of the farms I passed in my car. 

How did we get here? Why are these structures left here? Atop mountains in Pennsylvania, farms emerge among field sof gravel from the fracking industry. And in Vermont, weather-beaten wooden structures lean wearily with age. They exist in  both the past and the present, and raise questions about the future.

This isn't the first time I've seen some of these structures. Indeed, as I've traveled these roads before, I've witnessed nature slowly and gradually reclaim them. I return to them like old friends, searching for evidence of the past year, finding meaning in their resilience. 
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The next stage of the process happens in my studio. Of the hundreds of photographs I take, I whittle them down until I find the photographs that are emblamatic of and best allude to an experiential and emotive sense of the places I experience when I'm there. I search for elements that tell the story of their place of origin. I then develop the images in black and white for screen printing and I burn the images as silkscreens. 
While out and about I noticed weeds and wildflowers, and I collected them as I made my way along the roads. It never ceases to amaze me how much biodiversity exists in fields and meadows. I wanted to capture a sense of time and the best way was to cyanotype the collection of wildflowers I collected. Cyanotype, one of the earliest forms of photography, relies on the light of the sun to create a chemical reaction, leaving behind a brilliant and distinctive blue dye. Because the cyanotype emulsion is liquid, I painted with light around the screen printed photographic imagery. 

In a way I saw this series as documentation and meditation. I was here, now. Before the backdrop of a challenging collective experience, there was beauty to be found. This was a collaboration with nature, extended further by the use of encaustic, which is painting with pigmented, molten wax. With roots that can be traced to ancient Egypt, encaustic paintings have existed for centuries. As i reflect on these times I draw strength from the history of artists who came before, using this medium, and all the human story that connects our current experience to the past. 

Check out the series in person at Chester County Studio Tour and purchase pieces from this series from my shop
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Crazy times we're living in, folks

3/20/2020

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We could never predict that this whole world would get turned upside down because of a virus, but it has. And so I'm sending out health and hope to everyone in internetlandia. I've started to post some educational videos to my Instagram page so you can see my process as well as some of the photos that are inspiring the newest work. Follow the link to my IG page and thanks for connecting across multiple platforms with me! 

This spring season is going to be a bit of a challenge for many of us, and especially us small business Makers. Many of the art markets and vending opportunities that we rely on for income have been cancelled. If you're able, now is the time to support your Maker community. Please share our work, like and comment on our social media pages and, if you're able, please consider purchasing from us. As you may have figured out, all aspects of my art business are handled by a real person - me, and I literally do a happy dance when I know that one of my artworks has made it out of the studio and into the hands of someone who will love it as much as I have. 

I've got some time on my hands, folks, so please visit my updated Etsy shop for my original works and please visit my Society 6 shop for licensed merchandise. Every bit helps and helps me to, in turn, help those around me.  Thank you as always for your support. 
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Winter Class Offerings

1/3/2020

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There is still time to sign up to take one of my workshops this winter session! 

Printmaking Without A Press
Community Arts Phoenixville 
Tuesdays, 6:30-8:30pm
Jan 14-Feb 25 (5 sessions plus an open studio)
In this class we'll cover a lot of printmaking techniques: screen printing, intaglio, block printing, monoprinting, and more! No class Feb 4. 
https://www.communityartsphoenixville.org/adult-classes

Discovering Screen Printing
Main Line Art Center
Thursdays, 6:30-8:30pm
Jan 9-Jan 30 (4 sessions)
If you've ever wanted to screen print, this is your class! I'll show you how to go from your photographs to burning a silkscreen, to working with your images on virtually any (flat) surface!
https://public.mainlineart.org/public/ClassDisplay.faces

Screen Printing on Clay (co-taught with Sharon Bartmann)
Black Hound Clay Studio
Sat Jan 11-Sun Jan 12
Pretty much what it sounds like: a blast.
https://www.blackhoundclay.com/classes-workshops/screenprinting-on-clay

Block Printing Demo at Artists and Craftsmen, Chestnut Hill
Sat Jan 25, 11am - 1pm
Learn how to use Speedball products to create your own block prints!
https://www.facebook.com/events/486314172001013/



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Holiday Shows Extravaganza, 2019

11/17/2019

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Autumn Show Lineup!

9/29/2019

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The Spring Whirlwind

4/17/2019

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Here's the spring show lineup thus far, and now with an exciting twist! I'M A HOST STUDIO FOR CHESTER COUNTY STUDIO TOURS! 
Check out the website for all the details below:
www.chestercountystudiotour.com/Studios/4
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Holiday 2018 Lineup and the Story of the Work, 2018

11/25/2018

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May this season of light bring you joy, peace, and love!

I just finished up the series I've been working on the past several months, featuring images of places I'm grateful to have experienced this year. 

These images were based on my photographs from as near as Phoenixville, and as far as Italy, France, and Iceland, with a special nod to my dear friends at Guesthouse 1x6 , whose patronage and friendship allowed me to return to Iceland. The work I created there was the starting point for this series that continued when I got back to my studio in the US. 

And here's the backstory:

In August, Nat and I returned to Iceland and drove up to the Westfjords, with the goal of reaching Isafjordur. The weather was so kind to us, and we were able to photograph some incredible vistas, with long, colorful sunsets that stretched across an endless sky. He returned home and I was able to stay on at 1x6 and work on the start to this series. I burned screens using the sun's light, taught a workshop at Bokasafn Reykjanesbaer, and painted a refrigerator and a headboard in the Guesthouse. Those paintings formed the foundation for these works. In them, I am reflecting on the places I photographed and the stories behind each of these abandoned farmhouses. I think of the conversations that inform these works and the emotive effect each place had on me. I think of the music that accompanied each piece and the kindness of the people surrounding and supporting the making of these pieces. And I'm humbled and grateful.

While I'm at it, I might as well tell you about the other works, too

When my college roommate and very close friend suggested that the two of us should go to Europe during my spring break, neither of us really believed it could happen, until the right airfare, the right connections, and the right dates all lined up beautifully. And, blink, blink, there we were, landing in Paris. Our trip took us to Venice, Florence, Cinque Terre, Genoa, then to France to experience Nice and St. Remy and Provence. In a glorious whirlwind, we experienced some of the most gorgeous cities Europe has to offer, and needless to say I came home with more photographs and inspiration than I can fit in a brief paragraph. It wasn't until summer that I was finally able to start to work through some of the ideas I had, as school in spring is a whirlwind itself. Here are some of the pieces I created, and as time goes on I'm sure I'll revisit this imagery again. 

Home Sweet Home

Photographic inspiration is everywhere. My morning commute to school, a trip to the grocery store, a quick errand downtown...every day I encounter the perfect compositions that lead to new work. Sometimes I'll drive past a building for weeks, plotting the moment when I could come back, when the light is right, and there's not too much traffic, to get the right shot. Sometimes, the moment is just right. Sometimes I'm a tourist in my own town, or I'll get word about a particular place that has a history that needs to be documented. In any way, there are moments that need to be part of my artwork and so they are. Southeastern PA, in all its seasonal forms, is a beautiful area in which to live and work. 

What you're actually looking at:

My work starts with my photographs. I take photos of places that are abandoned and forgotten, because I'm fascinated by the stories those structures tell. Behind each of those photos are levels of stories. The ones I choose to I develop as silkscreens are those images that at once are distinctive of their place of origin, but can also be anonymous and at once be a symbolic shorthand for any place. I print those images over my paintings and then paint back into them, using acrylics or encaustic paints. Each piece I create is made as an original. It's not part of an edition, nor is it reproduced by mechanical means. I think of these pieces as the meeting place between printmaking, photography, and fine art. 

All images (c) Gillian Pokalo, 2018

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