moxie DaDA art gallery presents "bogus Journey" by Michael Koehler & Thad Kellstadt

EXHIBIT: JUNE 2 – JULY 29, 2007
Artists Thad Kellstadt and Michael Koehler will take you on a journey. This journey travels and “riffs” along thoughts, dreams, and life as the artists attempt to position and balance themselves in the universe. Their artwork is an expression of this balance or imbalance, insecurities, ego, change and humor. Please join them Saturday, June 2 from 6-9 p.m. for the “BOGUS JOURNEY” reception (free and open to the public). (This is a unique two part exhibition which will include a collaborative, interactive installation through the month of July. Details about the reception for the “BOGUS JOURNEY” INSTALLATION will be coming later!)

Michael Koehler
Artist Statement 2007
This series is made up of small works on wood and canvas. In them are dreams, nightmares, and conversations about periods of transition and stagnation. They are reactions to change, and the struggle between logic and instinct when it comes time to act upon something, bringing up the idea that these feelings and conflicts, whether positive, negative, or somewhere in between, define who we are.

Biography
Michael Koehler has lived in Pittsburgh for the last twenty-three years. He graduated from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh in 2005. Some of his influences include nature, animals of all shapes, family, and attention starved hermits. In his spare time, Michael enjoys skateboarding through the hills of Pittsburgh, making noise in an imaginary ragtime band, and shredding documents. He would like to thank his wife, family, and friends for their inspiration and support.

Thad Kellstadt
Artist statement 2007
Being aware of ones place in the world of (dirt and air) is sometimes a difficult task. Beyond domestics, advanced livestock and cultivation of food and medicines, sex and post-work hobbies there exists a need to nurture ones position with the “everything”.
The artwork I make is emulating and exploring my surroundings, “riffing” with whatever sidewalk conversation or bus drywall stained epiphany that slaps itself on my day to day. Hopefully a sense of humor rides through my work, mirroring the hilarious side of a sometimes-sad life.

Biography
I was born in 1977 in Ohio. My first exposure to anything beside cable television or top 40 radio was a hand-me-down coverless thrasher skateboard magazine from my older brother. That issue drastically changed my life and how I would view the concept of art making. His friend later sold me an old board with the graphics worn off. I knew what they looked like originally from photos I had seen and restored it back to a somewhat original state with sharpie markers. I still use sharpies as well as work with video installation, sculpture and painting. I moved to Pittsburgh in 1995 to attend the Art Institute of Pittsburgh and have lived here on and off since that time. Since 2000, I have shown in the Pittsburgh Biennial at the Center for the Arts, the Mattress Factory, Space, Lump Gallery in Raleigh, Andenken Gallery in Denver and Skol in Montréal.

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