The new recruit. An interdisciplinary artist with a passion for art, music and mystery, Ari also has production skills. Fascinated by spirals, fractals and other patterns of growth, Ari loves watching ice crystals form... and of course, lugging around refrigeration plates. He's our guide to Chicago and has managed to fix up a previously mangled bicycle, which he rides everywhere.
Katie has a BA in Fine Art from University of Nebraska, Lincoln. She has passion for creating ceramic sculpture and enjoys oil painting, traveling and yoga, as well as Chicago's "offerings of art & culture." Although she answers whenever anyone calls "Katie" (there are 3 interns names Katie) she's an enthusiastic worker, and a welcome addition to Paintings Below Zero intern crew. "I love it," she confessed.
Matt is an artist, bicyclist, disc jockey, self-taught keyboardist and photographer who likes to write. This is his first Paintings Below Zero gig, and he’s a keeper - always ready to lend the hand that‘s needed. Matt says "it’s incredible what water and color can do when they get together and dance a bit. The freezing of their movements is like a photograph of that spirit intertwined.”
Katelyn recently moved to Chicago from Michigan, and works as a paintings assistant for artist Tim Lowly. She has a BFA in Painting, & a BA in Art Education (Western Michigan University). An artist who paints, Katie also plays violin with a number of groups in the Chicago area. She's new to Paintings Below Zero, and describes the experience as absolutely "ice"tastic.
Katie Louise Williams really likes ice. She grew up making ice rinks in her yard, playing hockey, staring at frosty grass, and, eventually, driving a Zamboni. The project has been one of her favorite experiences with both ice and Canadians. She rides her bike everywhere. When its warmer she's a vegetable farmer.
Technical crew. Laura is new to Paintings Below Zero. She describes herself as a "multi-faceted artist looking to explore both the technical and artistic elements of creating objects in a stimulating, collaborative environment."
This is Jaz’s third installation with Paintings Below Zero. Jaz brings a Bachelor of Arts degree in Design from Emily Carr College to the project. A fanatic of typefaces, Jaz designed & produced the artbook on the Italy installation, created the flash web site from scratch: paintingsbelowzero.com, designed a full page ad in Modern Painters (Feb 2008 ) & numerous smaller design projects for Paintings Below Zero. Jaz most enjoys goofing amidst hefting and pouring in the icy environment -- with friends.
Raised in Calgary, Winnipeg, Nairobi, and Boston, Erik is an artist and graphic designer, (Bachelor of Design Emily Carr, 2005), who has cultivated a distinct visual art practice informed by design and international travel. Following his studies with voyages to Honduras, Italy, London, England, Toronto, and Harlem, New York, Olson returned to his native Calgary to open IDEAL, a contemporary art space. www.erikolson.ca
River grew up in Northern California and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Sculpture) from UC Santa Cruz. His wild, youthful days of travel ended abruptly when he fell in love with a dancer. Now he's married, with 3 kids, a house, 2 cars and a dog living in semi-rural British Columbia as a stone mason. He relishes "being part of a purely creative venture" and loves cutting into "a material much softer" than stone.
Originally from the U.K., Nancy is now based in Toronto. With a background in art education, she first worked with Paintings Below Zero as a volunteer docent for the Nathan Phillips Square installation at Toronto's City Hall (2007). Nancy loves the lively interaction that Paintings Below Zero inspires.
Adrian has worked in the Broadcast, Film and Live Production fields for the past 28 years and is presently Lighting Consultant to the CTV Television Network, TSN and Rogers Sportsnet. He also counts amongst his clientele the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, for whom he is the Lighting and Set Designer for their worldwide festivals.
Art spends most of his time continent hopping with Accent Refrigeration in the cool quest to design and install the perfect system. His favorite gig is Paintings Below Zero - and will continue to be until hell freezes over. He calls home Victoria, British Columbia with his wife and 4 daughters.
This is JC’s fourth installation with Paintings Below Zero. A dedicated professional who doesn’t take “no” for an answer, JC was hired to construct the wall for the Millennium Park installation. He has a diploma in Furniture Design and a BFA in Theatre Design. During the year, he is head carpenter for The Arts Club Theatre on Granville Island in Vancouver.
Nancy has worked with Gordon and Caitlin with PBZ since the 2005 Italy installation. She’s the go-to person behind the scenes. Nancy is responsible to have everything in place before the crew hits the location. She brings 21 years of event management experience to this gig, and she is inspired by the work. “To me, the magic of the ice paintings is the response from people when they see the exhibit and how much it touches them.”
