Feature image: L to R: Geornica Edwards, Green Goodies, R-Lo, Leovardo Aguilar and Anamarie Edwards. Not pictured: Fernando Rico. Photo: Artdose magazine.
Frank Juárez
Sheboygan, Wisconsin – Artdose is proud to announce the return of the emerging artists program in collaboration with the John Michael Kohler Arts Center. The new cohort features artists Leovardo Aguilar (Sheboygan), Añamarie Edwards (Milwaukee), Green Goodies (Madison), and R-Lo (Madison). In addition, we are thrilled to have Geornica Daniels (Cedarburg) and Fernando Rico (Madison) as mentors.
The Emerging Artists Program will take place during the Midsummer Festival of the Arts at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center, 608 New York Avenue, Sheboygan, Wisconsin 53081.
Programming
- Friday, July 18, 5 – 7 pm: Artist Talks at Paradigm Music + Coffee, 1202 N. 8th Street. FREE.
- Saturday, July 19, 10 am – 5 pm: Midsummer Festival of the Arts. FREE.
- Sunday, July 20, 10 am – 4 pm: Midsummer Festival of the Arts. FREE.
The Emerging Artists Program is a 3-day event that features a new cohort of BIPOC emerging artists. Bringing them together for professional development, support, networking, and camaraderie sets the stage connecting them with a shared experience. Artists curate their space inside the Matrix to exhibit original artworks. They will be in attendance and accessible for conversations about their creative process. Art will be available for purchase (unless otherwise noted by the artist).
Feature Artists
Leovardo Aguilar (Oneida/ Tejano) draws inspiration from the cyclical aspects of the natural world, the mysteries imbued in our existence, from comedic happenings in daily life, and global body modification practices. Leovardo relies heavily on organic materials to provide unique textures, physical support, and to expand educational opportunities surrounding the source materials for himself and others.
Notions of death and physical decay are freely displayed in his work by showing them as active states rather than inanimate forms or final destinations. While morbid, this act of healing and strength comes long after the traumatic loss of a young family member when Leovardo was a teenager. Allowing death to be seen as something other than dangerous creates opportunities to discuss the topic more easily.
Body modifications are often seen as forms of vulgar self-expression in the western world, though they are vital acts of cultural expression and belonging. Manipulating natural features allows us to come closer to the world around us by adding pieces of natural material from the earth to ourselves or subtracting pieces of the body and returning them into the earth. By participating in these activities, Leovardo feels a closer relationship with all of existence while setting himself physically apart as an individual.
Backroad Clowns – acrylic paint, clay, elk hide, glass beads, gold leaf, lichen,
sand, thorns, yucca fiber. Photo: Leonardo Aguilar.
Curandentista (I) – acrylic paint, clay, leather, metal findings, wood.Photo: Leonardo Aguilar.
Delivery – ash wood, basswood fibers, lumber, metal, turkey feather, yucca fiber. Photo: Leonardo Aguilar.
Get Him Out of Here, Please- acrylic paint, clay, freshwater pearls, horse hair,
stone, rabbit pelt, turkey bone. Photo: Leonardo Aguilar.
Good One (Booger Mask) – acrylic paint, artificial sinew, clay, horse hair, faux
teeth, metal, shell, stone, turtle shell. Photo: Leonardo Aguilar.
Anamarie Edwards work explores the intersection of identity, experience, and transformation, blending elements of abstraction and figurative representation to create visual narratives that resonate on both personal and universal levels. Through painting, mixed media, and installation, she reflects on the complexity of the Black experience, often using layers of texture, color, and form to symbolize parts of her own experiences as a black woman. Her creative processes are both introspective and outward-looking, rooted in the desire to understand how our individual and collective histories shape the way we move through the world.She is particularly drawn to the ways in which memory and perception influence identity and reactions.
Working with nontraditional materials, such as kanekalon hair, concrete, and found objects, Edwards works to evoke the texture of time and share reflections of past experiences. These elements allow her to create works that feel alive, with a sense of impermanence, as though they are in constant flux. She is interested in the delicate balance between chaos and order, and how this tension can produce curated conversations that lead to better understanding and appreciation for one another.Edwards’ practice is also informed by a deep appreciation for cultural narratives and the ways in which art can act as a bridge between different histories and perspectives. She is constantly inspired by the strength and resilience of her communities, and her work seeks to honor these stories, while also acknowledging the complexities and contradictions that exist within them and beyond.
Ultimately, my art is a reflection of my ongoing exploration of what it means to exist in my skin, to remember, and to transform. It is an invitation to engage with these themes, to pause and reflect, and to consider the ways in which we are all connected in the ever-evolving story of life.
Hair Dance Inside My Flag. Photo: Anamarie Edwards.
My Flag, Installation, 12’ x 6’, Kanekalon hair, mirror, wood, acrylic paint, crochet hair. An installation breaking down the American and cuban flags in the show space to perform in front of. Photo: Anamarie Edwards.
The Blues in Blue Bloom (2024), Soft sculpture – small installation, Blue silk fabric, wire, kanekalon hair, hoop earrings, crotcheet hair, yarn, beads, lace, barretts, stuffed with
polyester filling, (scale left to right- 2’3” x 1’6 x 1’5”, 2’3” x 1’ x 1’, 20.5” x 9” x 6.5”, 2’6.5”x9.5”x 10.5” ). Photo: Anamarie Edwards.
Head of Globe, Sculpture with found objects, 5’8”, Globe, acrylic pedestal, black spray paint, wire, rope. Photo: Anamarie Edwards.
Hermandad (2024), Mixed media painting, 52” x 48”. Photo: Anamarie Edwards.
“Can I paint you?” — a simple query that opens a profound narrative within “The Garden of 1000 Faces.” This art project has resonated widely, gaining substantial online support and serving as a vehicle for normalized consent. Beyond capturing individual uniqueness,
“The Garden of 1000 Faces” is a testament to fostering engagement, inclusivity, and an eco-conscious approach to creativity.
Individuals aspiring to be part of this artistic healing process submit an unfiltered photo of themselves, emphasizing principles of consent and self-acceptance. This project encourages meaningful conversations between minors and their guardians, enriching the exploration of consent.
The democratic selection of portraits by online supporters sparks crucial conversations on representation and inclusion. Guided by questions like, “Who is not being represented yet?” The project evolves organically, with even the sketches of non-selected photos adding unexpected layers to the narrative.
The online presence of “The Garden of 1000 Faces” has flourished beyond visual artistry. Content creation, particularly videos on environmental consciousness, has reached millions without ever leaving home. This transcends the boundaries of traditional art by inviting the viewer into the process of creation.
You can join “The Garden of 1000 Faces” — a celebration of diversity, consent, and the transformative power of art. “The Garden of 1000 Faces” unlocks a deeper awareness of our role in shaping a sustainable, interconnected world — a harmonious symphony of positive change resonating through our actions, creating a lasting impact on the planet and each other.
Can I paint you?
R-Lo, a southern-tier New York native, is a self-taught emerging artist. Using simple materials such as charcoal, a handful of erasers, a rag, a brush, and paper, he specializes in creating drawings ranging in scale from small to life-size works. R-Lo uses figures and abstraction to articulate narratives within dark fantasy, thematically exploring concepts of love, conflict, and loss, to encourage self-reflection for the artist and audience.
R-Lo recently broke into the art world in 2023 and started a committed career journey in art beginning with a full-year residency at The Millworks in Harrisburg, PA. This set in motion the first public viewings of his work and sprung R-Lo into his first invited gallery exhibition at Maryland Art Place (MAP). Following his first exhibitions, R-Lo has participated in a number of shows including a solo exhibition and residency with LOUD Gallery in Madison, WI.
R-Lo has also been featured in several press releases including features in The Burg, BmoreArt, Canvas Rebel, and Madison 365.
Mentors
Geornica Daniels
Cedarburg
@peachyneek
Photo credit: Alayna Pernell.
Geornica Daniels’ artistic practice explores the ephemeral nature of memory and identity through the lens of fragility and transformation. She is driven by a desire to encapsulate and preserve fleeting moments, even as she recognizes that memory is fluid, fragmented, and ever-shifting. This paradox shapes her use of materials—paper, beeswax, floral foam, rope, and found objects—which serve as metaphors for the impermanence and evolution of memory.
In her sculptures and installations, Daniels navigates the tension between preservation and loss. Her works often undergo a metamorphosis during their creation, transitioning from pliable and moist states to structured and rigid forms. This material transformation mirrors the way memories evolve over time, shaped by perception and emotion. The vessel recurs as a central form in her practice—not only as a container but as a symbol of the human instinct to hold on to what is precious, even when it threatens to unravel.
Her lived experiences as a Black woman, mother, and daughter inform her understanding of loss, resilience, and remembrance. These intersecting narratives deepen her desire to create spaces for reflection, connection, and shared meaning. Her work is also shaped by art historical influences, particularly themes of transformation and transcendence.
Ultimately, Daniels’ practice honors the tension between holding on and letting go. Through sculpture, she seeks to create quiet spaces where viewers can engage with the fragility of memory—spaces that invite stillness, contemplation, and a deeper awareness of what remains after time passes.
“Art is an obligation we have towards others; it is something that does not belong to us and that we have the duty to externalize, because art is light for humanity”. This was said by the Colombian writer Fernando González, and I can only subscribe to his words.
About Artdose magazine
Founded in 2013, Artdose Magazine LLC is an independent print and digital art magazine based in Wisconsin committed to connecting and supporting the visual arts in the Midwest. Published by Frank Juárez, the magazine is premised on the belief that we all share common goals of engaging, educating, and offering diverse art experiences to the public.
About the John Michael Kohler Arts Center
The John Michael Kohler Arts Center (JMKAC), located north of Milwaukee in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, is known for promoting the understanding and appreciation of the work of self-taught and contemporary artists through exhibitions and commissioned works of art.
Founded in 1967, JMKAC has preserved, studied, and exhibited artist-built environments, earning a worldwide reputation. Art environments involve an individual significantly transforming their surroundings into an exceptional, multifaceted work of art.
The Arts Center’s downtown Sheboygan facility includes eight galleries, two performance spaces, a café, a museum shop, and a drop-in art-making studio. Among its program offerings are community arts projects; artist residencies; presentations of dance, film, and music; a free weekly summer concert series; classes and workshops; an onsite arts-based preschool; and approximately twelve original exhibitions of the work of self-taught and contemporary artists annually. JMKAC also administers the renowned Arts/Industry residency program, which is hosted by Kohler Co. Source: jmkac.org
Gallery
Photos: Artdose magazine.
