Weekly art pop-up graces garden gallery
Artists Blair and Peter Chandler exhibit their artwork outside their home on Sundays
While art galleries and museums are slowly opening up and welcoming a select number of masked patrons back into their creative spaces, one North Boulder couple is providing the public with weekly open-air pop-ups outside of their home at 2205 Emerald Road.
“I had a vision — it started with an interactive repurposed medicine cabinet that had been installed on the street in front of our property,” said watercolorist Blair Chandler, who created the pop-ups with her husband Peter Chandler in September. “I use it to inspire myself and others with a quote on the outside and an invitation for anyone and everyone to add a creative touch by using the pens inside.”
With many still feeling the stress of the pandemic and lingering isolation, this interactive feature of adding art and quotes has created a much-needed sense of connection among neighbors.
“It is cleaned regularly and I have heard nothing but incredibly positive feedback,” Blair Chandler said. “It has been up for about two months. We have many walkers in the neighborhood who stop and connect because of it. People leave hearts and turtles and inspired sayings.”
In addition to folks adding to this repurposed medicine cabinet, they are able to check out the extensive artwork of the Chandlers, all of which is for sale on Sundays.
“I thought about how we have the perfect white fence to use as a backdrop for larger pieces of art,” Blair Chandler said. “I sit and paint on the front steps almost daily and I envisioned a way that I could share with neighbors some of my art safely because art brings beauty, joy and soul expression into the world — and it is more fun to see in person than online.”
The Chandlers have also previously utilized the sides of their pickup truck as a makeshift gallery wall.
“I get to witness others saying, ‘Gosh, I have some paintbrushes I haven’t picked up in years — thanks for reminding me,’” Blair Chandler said. “I’m using our fence now, but my next vision is to use the entire outside of the house and the shed so people can walk around the yard and enjoy our larger outside gallery. Also, I’m running out of space on walls in my house. I want to move art so I can afford to create more art.”
Although she comes from a family of writers and singers, Blair Chandler’s journey to visual art came later in life.
“I went on a painting retreat over eight years ago and — having never painted seriously before — found that I enjoyed the outlet for my overly busy life,” Blair Chandler said. “I returned every year for the solitude, connection to the earth, joy, freedom, community and nourishment it offered. The technique of veil watercolor painting meant that I could just get lost in the color until maybe I started to see something, an image arise that could be developed into a motif, but it is mostly about developing imagination and letting go and allowing the painting to take its own course.”
Blair Chandler offers a variety of items at all price points.
“I have note cards, prints and original framed and unframed art — something for everyone, any day — and for the upcoming holidays,” Blair Chandler said.
Entrepreneurism is nothing new for this mom of three. In 2012, she started Blair’s Herbals, as a way to bring her love of plants and natural self-care to her family and community.
“Although I do still make salves, lip balms and herbal infused oils, I am not currently at the Boulder County Farmers Market or in retail outlets as I think about where and what it would look like to find its new form,” she said.
For now, she’s offering the public serene visuals for their wall spaces.
“It has been great because
people are hungry for art and connection,” said woodcarving artist Peter Chandler. “When we decided to do this art pop-up, it was quite clear that I could see making my work more accessible to people who would rather not attend busy holiday markets. My large pieces are more conducive to this style anyway.”
Peter Chandler gets all of his bark from downed cottonwood trees and often creates custom pieces for patrons.
“I spend some time with a piece of bark before I start exploring what type of design might emerge from the wood,” Peter Chandler said. “Sometimes, I just start carving with no specific design or form in mind. Something usually emerges if I give it time. At other times, the unique shape of the bark piece suggests a particular direction to go with the carving. Plenty of my carvings have started as one idea and morphed into a completely different thing. I carve mostly spirit faces, but sometimes recognizable symbols, like hearts and crosses and goddesses.”
He also provides carving lessons to those with the desire to explore the art form.
“Interestingly, much of the thick bark is solid wood,” Peter Chandler said. “The wood in the bark is not splintery like the main part of the tree. The bark wood is soft, very forgiving and is easy to finish with different grades of sandpaper and polyurethane. It is really a fantastic creative outlet. It helps me stay in touch with nature. I offer some standalone pieces. Some I finish by framing them on reclaimed cabinet doors. It feels very satisfying to witness what some might see as just bark transform into art.”
The next pop-up will be noon-4 p.m. Sunday. The Chandlers plan to hold the event weekly through the first Sunday in November, weather permitting.
“More visitors are coming and talking about this,” Blair Chandler said. “It is exciting to see the word spread.”
Like at all gatherings, guests are required to wear masks and follow social distancing guidelines.
“People really do want to support local artists and local anything,” Blair Chandler said. “They want to see and talk to others and to have something calming and joyful to share that doesn’t require much of anything except time — which we have now. They can walk by at their own pace, feel safe to approach the art, and hopefully, take that spark forward in the world.”