Art House 310 First Friday – Jae Lear & Patrick Heath
April 7, 2023 - April 23, 2023
Art House 310 First Friday – Jae Lear & Patrick Heath
Opening Reception | First Friday April 7th, 2023 | 6-10pm
This event is free to attend and open to the public. Show hangs through April 23rd, 2023.
Art House 310 is located at 310 S. Laura. Two blocks SE of Douglas & Washington in downtown Wichita.
JAE LEAR
I am an artist who has always found joy and inspiration in the world of creativity. From my earliest days in grade school, I eagerly anticipated the weekly art class, where I could immerse myself in my own imagination and bring my ideas to life. Over time, I honed my skills in a variety of mediums, including graphite, charcoal, pastels, colored pencils, markers, inks, acrylics, watercolors, and hand-built ceramics. Under the guidance of high school art teachers Sergio Ramirez, Brian Hutchinson, and Greg Maxwell, I discovered my passion for art and knew that it would be a lifelong pursuit.
After graduating from Barton Community College in 2020, I moved to Wichita, Kansas, with the intention of starting my own art business in a vibrant, urban environment. It was there that I discovered the incredible sense of acceptance, love, success, and camaraderie that exists within Wichita’s queer and neurodivergent community. This community has provided me with the support and encouragement I need to continue pursuing my passion for art and making a positive impact on the world around me.
In the past year, my artwork has focused on the power of tactile experiences and repetitive patterns. By incorporating heavy texture acrylic paints into my pieces, I invite viewers to engage with my art in a way that is both visual and physical. The act of repetitive touching or other sensory actions is referred to as stimming, and it is an important tool for managing emotional dysregulation among neurodivergent people. My art provides a self-regulatory tool that is accessible to everyone, regardless of their background or experiences. Through my work, I hope to create a space that is welcoming and inclusive to all, and that promotes the importance of self-care and self-expression.
Working with local non-profits such as OpenStudios and Wichita Pride has given me the opportunity to engage with my community in meaningful ways and grow as a person. Through advocacy events and accessible artwork, I strive to promote a message of acceptance, love, and solidarity for all. Wichita’s young population of artists provides an endless source of inspiration and friendship, and I am proud to be a part of this thriving community.
See more of Jae’s work online at LearHeathStudio.com, on Instagram: @LearHeathStudio, and @j.a.e.creative
PATRICK HEATH
The 2000s was a transformative period for many young creatives like myself. The emergence of new technology provided many new platforms for artistic expression, and I consider myself lucky to have grown up during such an innovative and exciting time. My artwork is a manifestation of the inner child that is still present within me. It reflects the type of nostalgic media that my peers can appreciate. I am passionate about uplifting my fellow creatives and celebrating the power of art to connect us all. This is why I am excited to present my artwork at Arthouse 310, a gallery that is dedicated to giving back to the Wichita art community.
Art has been an essential part of my life since I was young. I was fortunate enough to learn basic artistic principles at a very young age, which gave me a lot of time to practice and perfect my drawing process. During high school, I focused on illustration and 2D design, utilizing materials such as graphite and colored pencil. After high school, I moved to Wichita and broadened my artistic identity to include digital design, photography, and sculpture. I was fascinated by the endless possibilities that digital technology provided, and I found that it allowed me to experiment and explore my creativity in ways that were not possible with traditional media alone.
My style is heavily influenced by pop culture and nostalgia. I draw inspiration from the movies, TV shows, music, and culture that I grew up with. I am fascinated by the interplay of light and shadow, and I often use these elements to create dramatic effects and emphasize certain features of my artwork. My style is constantly evolving, and I am always experimenting with new techniques and approaches to create exciting pieces.
Two years ago, Jae Lear and I founded Lear Heath Studio with the goal of sharing our art and collaborating with other local artists. Establishing an art business in the middle of a pandemic came with a lot of stress, but the friends and opportunities that we found in Wichita proved to us that we made the right decision. Through our studio, we have been able to produce several large-scale events in which the community came together to celebrate art, music, and performance. I hope to continue making a positive impact on Wichita’s creative community through engagement and advocacy.
See more of Patrick’s work online at LearHeathStudio.com, on Instagram: @LearHeathStudio, and @patrick_heath_