Local Currents: Swell Artist Collective

 In LOCAL CURRENTS

 

Meet Swell Artist Collective

Four full-time artists with beyond-local impact, set up shop in BODO with a studio and gallery. They also happen to be Evermore clients and we are grateful to be able to work with a diverse group of artists, pushing the Boise art scene in exciting new directions.

Here’s what they had to say about their creation, Swell:

Swell Artist Collective-The Artists

Swell Artist Collective is the brainchild of Julia Green, Noble Hardesty, Kelly Knopp and Cody Rutty. We had all been working with each other in various group shows and events over the years and decided to take it to the next level. All of us had been either working out of our homes or in studios off the beaten path and decided it was time to bring our work to the forefront via a space in downtown Boise. This of course gets tricky with big personality creative types, so it was important to make sure we could all work together. This particular installment of artists made total sense and has always worked well together in the past. It was a natural fit.
When the economy tanked in 2008, most of the galleries/artist spaces disappeared, leaving a hole in the arts community that has been struggling to return. Our goal is to be bringing some of that vitality back, with a small gallery, vibrant work space and be event oriented. We would also like to bring up and coming artists into the spotlight that otherwise struggle to be seen. The talent pool in Boise is solid and should be politely exploited.
I asked what the future Swell might look like:
[To] outgrow the current space and get into a shop at street level, bring in national and international artists and nurture a thriving artistic community. We also want to inspire other groups of artists to create similar spaces, events and dialogue to further strengthen and possibly put a viable art scene on the map. To make Boise an art destination, among the other things this great city is known for, rather than anyone worth their salt leaving for Los Angeles or New York City to seek out a living.
Recommended Posts
Contact Us

Need to schedule an appointment, check the status of your order, or have a quick question? Send us a message.

Not readable? Change text. captcha txt

Start typing and press Enter to search