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VisArts 2020 Art Walk: Kelley Bell, Cory Oberndorfer, and Dunnie Onasanya

VisArts Art Walk

Kelley Bell: What You Need  Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is a motivational theory that attempts to classify and categorize the things people need in order to lead a fulfilling and satisfying life. Think of it as…

Kelley Bell: What You Need 
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is a motivational theory that attempts to classify and categorize the things people need in order to lead a fulfilling and satisfying life. Think of it as a food pyramid of the soul, starting with a solid base of the things we need to survive physically (food, water, sleep, etc.) leading up to the pinnacle of self-fulfillment (creative expression, success, accomplishment, etc.) As the basic organic needs of the lower tiers are satisfied one is able to strive for more abstract philosophical and psychological ones.

[/media-credit] Kelley Bell: What You Need

About the Artist: Kelley Bell is an artist, animator and educator living in Baltimore Maryland. Her work draws from a penny arcade of visual influences: automata, midcentury design and illustration, midway rides, carnival games and hand-lettered signage. Her animation and installation work includes screenings at the Visionary Arts Museum in Baltimore, Maryland, the Annapolis Film Festival, the Propeller Center for the Arts in Toronto, Ontario and the Ontario Science Center. Her large-scale projection mapping works and other illuminated art have appeared in numerous festivals like the MOMENTUM festival in Toledo, Ohio, Dlectricity in Detroit, Michigan, the InLight Festival in Richmond, Virginia, the Lumen Festival in Staten Island, New York, Light City in Baltimore, Maryland and Animafest Zagreb in Zagreb, Croatia.

Kelley holds an MFA from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County in Imaging and Digital Arts, and a BFA in Graphic Design from Pratt Institute. She is an Associate Professor of Design at the Visual Arts Department at University of Maryland, Baltimore County. www.cakeweek.com

Cory Oberndorfer: Pop Squad
When presented with a variety of flavors and styles of frozen treats, which do you choose and why?
The popsicle embodies an essence of innocence, youth, nostalgia, and the dream of an endless summer. Minimal in their shape, form, and color, they invite you to engage your own memories and associations with the frozen treats.

[/media-credit] Cory Oberndorfer: Pop Squad

About the Artist: Cory Oberndorfer has exhibited nationally, including Grand Central Art Center in Santa Ana, CA, Redux Contemporary Art Center in Charleston, SC, and Flashpoint Gallery, G Fine Art, and the Katzen Arts Center in Washington, D.C. He has completed residencies in Charleston, SC, Johnson, VT, and Ålvik, Norway. Cory has received multiple Artist Fellowships and project grants from the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities, the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County, and Public Arts funding in Arlington, VA. He currently lives and works in Rockville, MD. www.coryoberndorfer.com

Dunnie Onasanya: Revolution Journey
This mural is a part of Dunnie Onasanya’s freedhand journey series. This multilayered design was intuitively hand illustrated while she reflected on the significance of the current Black Lives Matter Movement. We are witnessing a pivotal awakening in our nation’s history. This Revolution is a not a destination but a transformational journey. The colors chosen for this mural derive from the Rastafarian Colors & the Pan African Flag.

The BLACK represents all black lives and all black people all over the world.

The RED is represents of blood that unites all people of Black African ancestry, and shed for liberation.

The YELLOW represents happiness & joyful spirit that Black people possess through all adversity.

The GREEN represents hope & the abundant original natural wealth of Africa.

[/media-credit] Dunnie Onasanya: Revolution Journey

About the artist: Dunnie Onasanya is a Nigerian American visual artist and muralist. Dunnie is currently a full time studio artist at VisArts where she is devoting her time to polishing her skills as a canvas painter and muralist.

Her work is heavily influenced by her West African heritage and faith in GOD. As an expressionist intuitive painter she creates breathtaking abstract works, cultural masks, hamsas and other historic symbols with the use of bright colors, and metallic paints while incorporating 3D elements such as crushed glass, gold leaf, glitter and jewels. www.dunnietheartist.com

About the VisArts Art Walk:
The VisArts Art Walk is a partnership between VisArts and Westfield Montgomery Mall to present large scale art installations on the facades of business locations inside the mall that are in transition between tenants. Westfield Montgomery Mall has partnered with VisArts since 2018 on the VisArts Art Walk. The partnership has provided an opportunity for local artists to bring their ideas and work to life on a grand scale..