"Man Trap" by Dana Holst - FRESH PICK Volume 1 Edition 22

Man Trap” by Dana Holst is from a new series "Prey" which explores from a psychological perspective the human/animal instinct to stalk other beings - sometimes for survival but mostly for fun. It is a look at the need to act out upon and keep in touch with primal urges, filtered through a sanitized world of industrial and computer prowess where human hunters use technology against lowly beasts, often to unfair advantage. In the drawing “Man Trap” a young woman in silk tights and a frilly can-can costume lifts her skirt up, concealing her face and exposing her legs and panties, setting her trap. Playfully humorous, drawn with delicate and bold marks in black oil paint on pink paper, “Man Trap” uses feminine wiles alone, with the viewer being the stalked prey. "Prey"evokes fairy tale darkness, surreal charm and wry wit, all commenting on human ignorance and our oblivious desire for fun.

Award-winning artist, Dana Holst was born in Kitchener, Ontario in 1972. She graduated from the University of Waterloo with a BA in Fine Arts in 1995. Post graduation, she received the Don Phillips Scholarship resulting in a year long printmaking residency at Open Studio in Toronto.

Her work has been exhibited across Canada and is in private collections throughout North America. Public collections include:The Glenbow Museum in Calgary, the Agnes Etherington Art Centre in Kingston; Carleton University Art Gallery in Ottawa; the Alberta Foundation for the Arts in Edmonton; the Art Bank ; the Colart Collection in Montreal and Ernst & Young in Toronto. Original works are available at Latitude 53 Contemporary Visual Culture, Edmonton, Katharine Mulherin, Toronto and Galerie St. Laurent + Hill, Ottawa. Her 2010 exhibition schedule includes the Odd Gallery, Dawson City Yukon and the White Water Gallery in North Bay Ontaro. Her personal web site is www.DanaHolst.com.

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"Best of the Wurst" by Michael Swaney - FRESH PICKS V1 E19

With summer barbeque season in full swing, Michael Swaney's collage and gouache on paper artwork "Best of the Wurst" whets our appetite.

The artwork is a first for the artist in the way in which he created his reference material. Michael built a desk-top installation in his studio, photographed it and then used the photo as the reference material for the resulting collage. This process is a new movement in Michael's work, one where he is investigating the idea of documenting an ongoing performance through illustrating residual elements of the stage set or backdrop upon which a performance may have just taken place.

Michael Swaney was born in Kimberly, BC and has studied both fine arts and graphic design. He was a founding member of the Vancouver Art Collective "Human Five" (2001-2008) and now lives and works in Barcelona, Spain. He has recently published a book with Stickit called "The Performances". Other book projects include "Artifacts of Finland" with Le Dilly and an upcoming project with Picnic Editorial. He has an upcoming solo show in September in Barcelona with Iguapop Gallery.

Although now based in Europe, Michael has kept up his North American connections. Last year he attended the Fountainhead Residency in Miami during which he prepared and installation shown at Miami's Locust Projects during the December art fair mayhem. Additionally, Michael is working with Katharine Mulherin in Toronto and has upcoming projects with Trepanier Baer Gallery in Calgary.

Click here to buy "Best of the Wurst" starting at $45+ !