July 5 – July 29, 2012
Ashley Brown Durand (b.1983, NH) has been making things for as long as she can remember. Quilts, miniature soft sculptures, photographs & drawings… sometimes functional or decorative, other times deeply personal, confessional, confrontational. Her strength lies in the ability to create work that is expertly crafted, yet shows the warmth of a human touch. Her personality and spirit radiate from each piece. Much of her recent work succeeds in giving comfort and inspiration to others because it is first made as a comfort or inspiration to herself and her friends. The sentiment is genuine. Ashley graduated from Montserrat College of Art in 2007, and has since participated in shows across the country. For six years, she has maintained a successful independent business handcrafting one of a kind pieces for clients all over the world. She can be found sewing everyday and believes there’s nothing better than sleeping under a handmade quilt.
Justin Brown Durand (b.1980, MA) spends countless hours in his studio drawing pictures. He imagines a world populated by grotesque humanoids that act out his darkest and most romantic visions. He works intuitively, constructing an open-ended narrative, guided by dream logic and personal mythology. Sometimes funny, sometimes disturbing, always striving to present his thoughts and feelings honestly. He very literally uses his work as a tool for confronting and overcoming internal struggles, and as a way to connect with others. He graduated from Montserrat College of Art in 2004, and has shown in galleries and alternative art spaces around the United States. Justin has sold more than 400 small drawings to people all over the world, and recently had his first solo shows in Cleveland, OH, & Houston, TX.