There is nothing prehistoric about Lex Gjurasic's art. With a fresh and almost psychedelic take on the southwest, Gjurasic transforms desert colors and shapes into everything from sculptures to paintings and even earrings. Ìý
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She also has a fun Instagram account, Ìýwhere she shares her life as an artist and what it's like to live in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ after moving here three years ago from the Pacific Northwest.
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Here's what Gjurasic had to say about her work and why Instagram is the perfect place for her to share the creative process.
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What made you start an Instagram account?
Taking photos has always been a way for me to continually be engaged artistically in my daily life even if I don't get to the studio that day. IG (Instagram) provides me with a platform to showcase my aesthetic observations.
What do you like to post?
As an artist I don't feel compelled to reflect a "brand" or confined by limits. Of course I post images I find visually inspiring such as patterns and colors but I also post my life as a mother and my cats. On my IG I tend to post works in progress direct from my studio that I don't post on other social media platforms.
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What inspires you to create a share your art with others?
I simply want people to know I exist! That I'm here in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ passionately and consistently making art. On my IG you can see art that is more experimental that you probably wouldn't even get to see in an exhibition. The really oddball stuff!
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We’re totally obsessed with your nopales earrings, what is the idea behind them and how do you make these earrings?
My cactus paddle earrings are directly inspired by the work of Ted DeGrazia. When I first moved here I researched DeGrazia and became enamored with his cast cactus vessels. I began hunting for them at estate sales and resale shops...I made a few items cast from cacti then when I made the earrings for myself my friends when nuts and wanted a pair. Then as demand grew it flowered from there. Now it feel like I'm never not making earrings.
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What are some of your favorite pieces?
I love all my work! They are all my babies! But the piece that was most fun to share via IG was the day-to-day process of the mural Sacred Heart of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ I created with artist Rachel Slick as part of the City of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Mural Program last spring. IG was the perfect venue to display that process in real time.
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What advice do you have for the aspiring artist?
When I was a fledgling artist there wasn't social media to be distracted by and there also wasn't an instantaneous response to your work. As a result there was a quiet space for art to grow past its initial bloom. I would tell an inspiring artist not to get caught up in social media and it's resulting commentary. You can have thousands of followers or an effective hashtag but still be making crap.
What do you hope people take away from your images?
By engaging with my images on IG I hope people are intrigued enough to see my work in person. I hope their takeaway is a deeper insight into, not just my process, but my voice. I also hope they can tell that I have a sense of humor. Even though I take my art seriously I don't take myself to seriously.
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Who else do you like to follow on Instagram?
Though I follow loads of art-focused accounts, I tend not to follow very many other artists as not to distract from my own artistic vision. I really enjoy accounts that are authentic, vulnerable and not overly curated. I like to see how other people live. Its kind of like the same pleasure I feel from going to estate sales just to see the inside of someone else's private domain. I guess I'm just a voyeur at heart!