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    Columbus Makes Art Presents Chaz O’Neil and Tanya Anne Long at ROY G BIV

    ROY G BIV’s latest exhibition features the work of Chaz O’Neil and Tanya Long, on display from Sept. 10 – Oct. 2. Catch the opening during Franklinton Fridays on Sept. 10 from 6-8 p.m. or join us when ROY talks with the artists on Saturday, Sept. 11 at 2:30 p.m. over Zoom here. We chatted with Chaz and Tanya about their work.

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    Lynette: Tell us about your practice.
    Chaz: My studio practice has taught me to push myself and how to be resourceful in various situations and stages of life. I am always in pursuit of the next big idea, opportunity or adventure. Art has taught me to share my mania and how to appreciate others’.
    Tanya: My work is influenced by the fabricated components of the world around us, including utilitarian objects, furniture, domestic interiors and architectural details.

    Terraform by artist Chaz O’Neil.
    Terraform by artist Chaz O’Neil.

    Lynette: When did you begin creating art? 
    Chaz: My self-driven artistic practice started at a young age with cartoon, comic books and later, anime. Later, I sought out all courses in school where I could work with my hands and problem solve.
    Tanya: I was introduced to ceramics while pursuing an undergraduate degree in graphic design. I quickly fell in love with the tactile nature of the material and the challenge of working in three dimensions. My practice and life has continued to follow the clay path ever since.

    Lynette: What word do you hope viewers will express when seeing your work? 
    Chaz: Innovative.
    Tanya: There is not a single word that I would choose. When viewers see my work for the first time I hope they feel something between familiar comfort and uncertainty, something easy to accept but difficult to live with.

    Lynette: What’s on your playlist? Do you listen to music when you’re creating art or does something else inspire you?
    Chaz: My music playlist is always eclectic. I always have a hard time picking one artist or genre so I listen to it all. Electronic/techno, movie soundtracks, classic rock, pop and alternative rock. I also love bad B-movies so I watch Red Letter Media videos, MST3K, How Did This Get Made? and Cinemassacre
    Tanya: I usually listen to podcasts instead of music while making work. Generally I start a day with news-oriented podcasts and then switch over to other topics ranging from art and design to deep-dive interviews with professionals in other fields. One of my favorite design podcasts is 99% Invisible. It offers a uniquely detailed history of the objects and infrastructure in our daily lives that people often take for granted.

    Artwork by Tanya Anne Long.
    Artwork by Tanya Anne Long.

    Lynette: What was the last art experience you had?
    Chaz: My experience with art happens daily. I am currently the Museum & Gallery Assistant at Otterbein University. I handle the installation for our four gallery spaces and the shows we have on display this fall are stunning! Please come visit!
    Tanya: A recent exhibition I really enjoyed was Making Knowing: Craft in Art, 1950-2019 at the Whitney Museum in New York City. It was really excellent to see such a broad group of artists curated together in a show that focuses on process in craft, not just a single material. Several artists who I have long admired – Ree Morton, Betty Woodman and Richard Artschwager – were included in the exhibition.

    Lynette: What is the best thing about the Columbus art scene right now? 
    Chaz: The best thing about the Columbus art scene right now are the new hot spots for your up-and-coming artist to get exposure and to connect and to collaborate with the local community. Areas like West Broad and Franklinton.
    Tanya: As a native New Yorker who has been residing in Cleveland for the last two years, I am not familiar with the current Columbus art scene. I know that ROY G BIV is a great venue for emerging artists and I look forward to discovering more about the artist community in Columbus through my participation with the gallery.

    See the work of Chaz O’Neil and Tanya Long from Sept. 10 – Oct. 2 at ROY G BIV Gallery, 435 W. Rich St. in Franklinton. Catch the opening during Franklinton Fridays on Sept. 10 from 6-8 p.m. or join us when ROY talks with the artists on Saturday, Sept. 11 at 2:30 p.m. over Zoom here.

    Columbus Makes Art Presents is a bi-weekly column brought to you by the Greater Columbus Arts Council – supporting and advancing the arts and cultural fabric of Columbus. The column is a project of the Art Makes Columbus campaign, telling the inspiring stories of the people and organizations who create Columbus art. Learn more about local artists, organizations, public art and events at ColumbusMakesArt.com.

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    Lynette Santoro-Au
    Lynette Santoro-Au
    Lynette Santoro-Au is the director of ROY G BIV Gallery for Emerging Artists.
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