Welcome to the Team, Ariella!

As our former Art Coordinator pioneers his new role as Art Director, the Chicago Studio was overjoyed to offer Ariella Miller a spot on the team.  With a background in 2D visual practice and a Masters in Art Education from SAIC, we are excited to have her help with ongoing professional development. Her drive to expand access to the arts outside of a classroom, and experience as a Graduate Curatorial Assistant at SAIC are exactly what drew her to apply.  “The Arts of Life is a great alternative space for me to use the skills I already have in talking about and making art, while learning so much every day from the artists and staff. I’m so happy to fill the role!”[[{“fid”:”12525″,”view_mode”:”default”,”fields”:{“format”:”default”,”field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]”:”A woman flanked by two men, standing in the gallery, smiling”,”field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]”:”Dave, Ariella, and Mike in the gallery”},”type”:”media”,”attributes”:{“alt”:”A woman flanked by two men, standing in the gallery, smiling”,”title”:”Dave, Ariella, and Mike in the gallery”,”height”:366,”width”:652,”class”:”media-element file-default”},”link_text”:null}]]As part of a team of active artists and makers, we were curious to learn more about Ariella’s own practice.  She shared with us some of her inspirations and preferred media.  “I like to play around with materials. My work is fairly abstract. I use acrylic paint and incorporate found images into my work. My favorite images are vintage pictures of houseplants and food, so I’ll go hunting at thrift stores for old cookbooks and gardening books.” In her work at the studio, Ariella appreciates the focus that our studio artists have for their process.  “The best part of making art, for me, is getting so engrossed in what you’re doing that time falls away. When I’m working one on one with an artist and we’re making something really cool together, and then all of the sudden it’s lunchtime — that’s a really great feeling.”  She’s also excited by the development of trust and mutuality in new relationships she is forming.  Most rewarding though, is participating in discussion about the progression of an image from a sketch to a finished piece.[[{“fid”:”12524″,”view_mode”:”default”,”fields”:{“format”:”default”,”field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]”:”A man and woman, Tim and Ariella, using an ipad in an art studio”,”field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]”:”Tim and Ariella working on social media”},”type”:”media”,”attributes”:{“alt”:”A man and woman, Tim and Ariella, using an ipad in an art studio”,”title”:”Tim and Ariella working on social media”,”height”:366,”width”:652,”class”:”media-element file-default”},”link_text”:null}]]Outside of work and her own visual practice, Ariella enjoys the company of friends, family, her cat, Ludi, and good food.  As an avid cyclist, she also takes advantage of warm, sunny days in Chicago riding through quiet neighborhood streets.

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