Photo by Taylor Humby
Jordan Erb, The Arbiter
In its unique ephemeral way, the Freak Alley Gallery spent the past week evolving into this year’s set of murals, which will be officially revealed on Saturday, Aug. 11 from 4 p.m. until 10 p.m. Saturday’s event will display the new artwork that took the place of last year’s art in the ever-evolving gallery.
Freak Alley Gallery was created in 2002 by founding artist and director Colby Akers as a middle finger in the face of Boise’s exclusive and mainstream gallery scene. Sixteen years later, the outdoor gallery is the largest of its kind in the Northwest, and functions as a highly inclusive space for any artist–-experience or not–-to display their work.
Photo by Taylor Humby
“The formalities of the ‘legitimate art world’ ax a lot of people out who are talented artists, but aren’t given the opportunity because they don’t have a piece of paper that says they know what they’re doing,” Akers said.
The selection process is open to all, and that’s just the way Akers wants it. Individuals with an idea and a drive to get things done have a good shot at getting in.
Wyatt Wurtenberger, a junior illustration major, was selected by Akers to contribute to the gallery, and spent the past week putting up his design. Inspired by a painting he made of his backyard, Wurtenberger calls his blocky and big-brush-stroke style a unique, fun and weird sort of impressionism.
Painting started at 6 p.m. each night this week–or 7:30 or 8 p.m. in artist time. Soon thereafter, the area would buzz with artistic energy and pedestrian curiosity. Wurtenberger and his neighboring artists would collaborate or work alongside each other as interested passersby drifted from station to station.
Wyatt Wurtenberger, a junior illustration major, was selected by Akers to contribute to the gallery, and spent the past week putting up his design. Photo by Taylor Humby
“I like having the regular, pedestrian, non-painter folks come in and seeing what their thoughts are,” Wurtenberger said. “You may be looking at something and you’re like, ‘I could have done that better,’ then someone walks by and says, ‘that’s amazing!’ It’s really a good morale boost.”
Down the lane from Wurtenberger, through crowds of paint bucket-wielding artists and guitar-strumming musicians was Ashley Dreyfus, a Boise artist. In contrast to some of the darker paintings in the alleyway, Dreyfus’ artwork is a vibrant social commentary–literally.
The neon-colored painting, titled “Stop to Smell the Flowers,” uses Dreyfus’ recognizable characters, called Alter Egos, to demonstrate society’s infatuation with technology. As a tribute to those individuals who are disconnected with the world around them, two Alter Egos are using their flip phones while the other is happily smelling a flower.
“Stop to smell the flowers”. Photo by Taylor Humby.
Alter Egos, according to Dreyfus, are humans in their most natural form. Her quirky and colorful paintings can be found at local coffee shop Push and Pour, where she thinks they fit in. Rather than in a gallery, Dreyfus said her artwork finds a home in colorful, lively places. Freak Alley Gallery fits the bill.
“My pieces are very colorful, so when they’re in a colorful place, they react better. People can interpret them better, and they’re more accessible,” Dreyfus said. “When people walk into a gallery they feel a little intimidated in that the art pieces are just hanging on a wall and you might not meet the artist, whereas at a coffee shop, everybody knows this person and their artwork is here.”
There’s a learning curve associated with moving from one medium to another, but Dreyfus said making the shift has been a challenge worth tackling.
“It’s the best challenge, just because it’s so gratifying afterwards,” Dreyfus said. “And it’s just fun; why not challenge yourself to something crazy like this? Take risks.”