Contributing Artists
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These artists have contributed artwork to The Firetree Project or provided creative skills pivotal to its development.
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Alejandro Franco
Contribution: Cosmic Origins Location: Mounted on the shelf beneath the cart. Content: A sculptural assembly of materials representing the forces that must have intersected in some mysterious way within the cosmos to create planet Earth. |
Franco’s artwork breathes new life into obsolete materials. Born in Colombia, he merges his childhood experiences in South America with his many years spent living and creating in the United States. His artistic journey began with acrylic paints, which later evolved into sculptural creations he calls, My Little Contraptions. This collection of miniature set designs revealed to him the poetic potential of castaway objects. Franco's skill and vision with repurposed products have garnered him numerous artist residencies and commissions, including a performance for the 20th anniversary of the Miami based, Locust Projects and a stained glass window for a suite at the 21C Hotel in St Louis. With his partner, he operates the art collective, La Vispera, where they design and fabricate stained glass windows out of single-use plastic.
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Sara Tang
Contribution: The Takeaway Location: Four shaped panels, two mounted on both ends of the Firetree cart. Content: Painted images and/or symbols of the memories or feelings that each of us might take with us when we depart from life on this Earth. |
Sara Tang is a multidisciplinary artist, illustrator, and creative facilitator who uses reclaimed and discarded materials and creative processes to illuminate the mystical and sacred deeply embedded in our lives and surroundings. Sara’s creative practice and process is mindful of drawing people in to a deeper empathic encounter with themselves, with their communities, and with what is strange and beautiful about humanity and existence. Sara is proud and honored to be a member of the #notwhite Collective, JADED PGH, Asian American Pacific Islander Collective, and the Digital Content Curator for Anthropology of Motherhood.
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Steve Groves
Contribution: Photographer Steve's artful eye caught the many memorable images you see on this website from the inaugural Firetree Celebration in 2018. |
Steve combines his love of music and photography into one inspiring artist portfolio. Perhaps his talents as a trumpet player and vocalist have influenced his skill behind the camera, for it would be easy to suggest that his photographs have the rhythmic phrasing of a musical passage or that of a memorable lyric. Not unlike a song or a sonata, his images can be appreciated and enjoyed time and time again. When not behind the camera, you can hear Steve perform with Uptown Rhythm & Brass (uptown-rb.com)
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SaraBeth Post
Contribution: Water Glow Location: Steel troughs at either end of cart Content: Assembled glass work. |
SaraBeth feels that glassmaking is a beautiful artform. In her home studio and the Pittsburgh Glass Center, this artist investigates the rich versatility of glass not just in sculpture and installations, but also through handblown and engraved cups, plates, and decor for the home. Through these creations and her flame and coldworked glass jewelry, SaraBeth shares a personal message, one of encouragement to others; travel the path that draws you in, the road less traveled that can brighten your internal flame.
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Anders Anderson
Contribution: Fabrication Location: Steering mechanism, wheels, tree structure Right from the start Andy was part of our “I’m Ready” marketing campaign. He was a pivotal force in getting the steel fabrication into action mode. In fact, it was Andy who gave Duncan his first instruction on stick welding. A multi-talented artist, Andy co-founded Red Clay Tile Works, a very successful artisan tile company creating a wide range of designs in glazed, relief tile. Andy also creates outdoor steel sculptures that reflect his powers of observation and creative interpretation.
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John Ritter
Contribution: Poster and Marketing Brochure At many times John stepped forward to offer his design skills for graphics on this project. His skillful interpretation of the project has undeniably broadened its message and strengthened its message. |
John Ritter is an American post pop artist whose vibrant depictions of celebrities and popular culture have consistently defined the pages of the New Yorker, Time, GQ, The New York Times, and Harper’s. Ritter has seen his uncompromising interpretations of film, writers, musicians, and politicians work their way into the collective American psyche. His work has also been seen in Broadway advertising campaigns, corporate art installations, product packaging, and gallery exhibitions.
www.ritterillustration.com
New artist contributors coming soon - macramé and glass!