2011.03.31
TOLEDO FREE PRESS HAS DETAILS ON GHOST HUNT IN LATEST ARTOMATIC 419 COVER STORY
... In an effort to help visitors move through the art in a way that will allow them to see as much as possible, one local artist has developed a creative interactive experience.
Ryan Forquer is an illustrator by trade, but this year he decided to add another dimension to his display at Artomatic 419! He created a sort of scavenger hunt through the Washington Street building that will have participants covering the entire building as they piece together a story.
"It's a little bit of a puzzle. Basically you're sent to the building to investigate paranormal activity and you're looking for pieces of a journal," he said. "The building is old so I thought a ghost story would be cool."
Patrons who choose to follow Forquer's story will receive a card from the information table in the Washington Street building. There is a clue that will lead them to the next piece of the story, which is hidden in an exhibit. This path will continue through five artists' exhibits, until participants reach Forquer's table at the end.
At that point, Forquer said, participants have a decision to make.
"There are two options for how the story will end. People can vote for which one they want, and whichever one gets the most votes will be posted on my website," he said.
Everyone who participates will be entered for drawings, with prizes donated by local artists and restaurants.
"I think it will be very fun," Forquer said.
Michelle Carlson, programs director for the arts commission, said Forquer's idea will help move people through the exhibits in a new way.
"It's a really great way to make the exhibits more meaningful," she said.
2011.03.27
TOLEDO BLADE ARTICLE ON ARTOMATIC 419 MENTIONS STUDIO QUE GHOST HUNT
... A ghost hunt in the creaky 19th-century Washington Street building will be held each day. Clues, one leading to the next, will be hidden in artist spaces, and the "report" submitted by participating hunters will serve as their entry into a nightly drawing for artwork or restaurant gift certificates. (Check at the information tent.)
"I wanted to design an interactive experience that encourages visitors to explore some of the great artists participating in the show," said Ryan Forquer, a graphic designer who conceived of the hunt...
2011.03.21
STUDIO QUE HAUNTS ARTOMATIC 419
The large, three-story former warehouse at 407 Washington Street in downtown Toledo is haunted. There's no other way to explain the whispering voices, pockets of temperature extremes and bizarre spots of light that have been experienced there. Is this actual paranormal activity, or simply the creaks and groans of a building built in 1887? It's up to you to find out.
Yes. You.
2011.03.15
PORTRAIT MAGNETS HAVE ARRIVED!
Portraits of Mos Def, Q-Tip and Common have just arrived in magnet form! These business card sized magnets are a perfect way to spice up the fridge (or any magnetic surface). These will be available exclusively at Artomatic 419 in early April for only $5 apiece, then to the interwebs shortly afterwards.
2011.02.23
NEW PROJECT: COMMON PORTRAIT
Ryan just finished up a portrait of hip hop artist Common. The project page has been updated to showcase this new painting. Limited run image transfer to vinyl records are available for purchase. Contact Ryan here if you're interested.
2010.12.13
TOLEDO URBAN FOREST PROJECT BAGS ARE NOW AVAILABLE!
(from ufp-toledo.com)
In Spring 2010, The Urban Forest Project planted banners by local artists and designers on light poles throughout Toledo. Each banner used the form or metaphor for the tree to make a powerful visual statement about the environment. Together they created a forest of thoughtful images in the urban landscape and raise awareness of sustainability and youth mentoring.
The banners were hung on light poles in a series of high-traffic locations in the greater Toledo area mid-April, in celebration of the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day. The banners have since come down, and are to be recycled into unique tote bags designed exclusively for the project. Sales from the product will benefit the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo (ACGT) to support their Young Artists At Work Program (YAAW).
Tire Swing bags are available as a messenger (pictured) or a tote.
2010.10.08
NEW PROJECT: MOS DEF PORTRAIT
Ryan just finished up a portrait of hip hop artist Mos Def. The project page has been updated to showcase this new painting. Limited run image transfer to vinyl records are available for purchase. Contact Ryan here if you're interested.
2010.07.13
Q-TIP PORTRAIT ON DISPLAY AT THE TOLEDO MUSEUM OF ART
Back in the days when I was a teenager /
Before I had status and before I had a pager /
You could find the Abstract listening to hip hop /
My pops used to say it reminded him of be-bop
~ Q-Tip
Recently completed an image transfer to vinyl record of a digital painting of Q-Tip. It will be on display at the Toledo Museum of Art as part of the temporary exhibit "Arts Gone Wild".
MORE INFO ON ARTS GONE WILD.
SEE THE PAINTING.
2010.04.06
TOLEDO URBAN FOREST PROJECT LAUNCHES ON EARTH DAY WEEKEND
Come downtown for the ribbon-cutting party!
Saturday, April 24, 2010
7-9 PM
Grumpys
34 S. Huron, Toledo Ohio
The Urban Forest Project will plant banners by local artists and designers on light poles throughout Toledo. Each banner will use the form or metaphor for the tree to make a powerful visual statement about the environment. Together they’ll create a forest of thoughtful images in the urban landscape and raise awareness of sustainability and youth mentoring.
UFP GLOBAL OFFICIAL WEBSITE.
UFP TOLEDO OFFICIAL WEBSITE.
2010.02.03
NEW PROJECT: Q-TIP PORTRAIT
Ryan just finished up a portrait of hip hop artist Q-Tip from A Tribe Called Quest. The project page has been updated to showcase this new painting – along with a short video showing stages of progress from start to finish. Contact Ryan here if you're interested in purchasing a canvas print.
2009.12.30
THE URBAN FOREST PROJECT
My banner for the Urban Forest Project Toledo was accepted as part of the outdoor exhibit! There will be an unveiling party at Space 237 on Friday, January 22nd. Mark your calendar!
–
The Urban Forest Project is a series of unprecedented outdoor banner exhibitions taking root in cities around the world. In each location, artists, designers, students and the general public will employ the idea or form of the tree to make a powerful visual statement on banners that will be displayed throughout the community.
The UFP has been launched in NYC, Baltimore, Denver & Albuquerque. It's coming to San Francisco, Toledo & Washington DC this Spring!
UFP GLOBAL OFFICIAL WEBSITE.
UFP TOLEDO OFFICIAL WEBSITE.
2009.12.26
UGANDAN ARTWORK
We just received a small shipment of amazing artwork by various artists from a friend in Kampala, Uganda. He asked for helping getting the artwork displayed in America to bring more awareness about situations in Africa. We're hoping to use the proceeds from the sale of the artwork to help support the families of the artists.
There are paintings, beadwork, weavings, leatherwork, and more. Photos to come soon. Anyone with any leads on a place to display some (or all) of this material please contact me. Also looking for advice on how to display some of it.
Ryan
ryan@studio-que.com
2009.8.14
GREAT LAKES CREW RELEASES "THE LAND OF THE LAKES" MIXTAPE
Toledo's own Great Lakes Crew just released their latest project, "The Land of the Lakes" mixtape. theNaturalists produced the beat for track 12, "The Other Side". It's a free download on their site right now! DOWNLOAD THE NEW GLC MIXTAPE.
2009.7.11
A LITTLE BIRDIE TOLD ME THE PROJECTS WERE UPDATED
Added a new t-shirt concept to the projects gallery. This one revolves around the concept of "Pre-Loved". CHECK IT OUT!!
2009.4.29
ARTOMATIC 419 UPDATES
Been hanging out at Artomatic 419 the past two saturdays. The event has been a huge success! It's been a blast meeting new people and catching up with old friends. The art on display here is top-notch!
If you're in the Toledo area stop by for the final day of artomatic Saturday, May 2, from 11am - 11pm. Stop by and say hi!
For more photos, check out the artomatic Flickr pool.
2009.3.27
STUDIO QUE TO EXHIBIT AT ARTOMATIC 419
Artomatic 419 is a large visual and performing arts event in Toledo, OH. Keep an eye out for us! We'll be set up in a small room to the right of the performance stage. Booth 13D. Stop by and say hi.
Straight from the horse's mouth:
Artomatic 419! will be back in 2009! For three Saturdays—April 18, April 25, and May 2, 2009—we will be infusing a building in downtown Toledo with a diverse collection of the area's best visual, performing, and literary arts
For the third time, local creatives and arts enthusiasts are joining their talents and hard work to present the next Artomatic 419! to the Greater Toledo area.
Artomatic 419! hopes to engage a larger audience for the arts as well as providing a backdrop and forum for continuing to build the Toledo arts community.
The first Artomatic 419 was held at 1717 Adams Street in Uptown Toledo in September of 2006. Over 100 local visual artists and 40 local performing arts groups filled 12,000 sq ft of underutilized space with their art and creativity. Approximately 5,000 people attended the event during its four Saturdays.
In September of 2007, Artomatic 419 presented a condensed event, called Artomatic 419 Lite at Fort Industry Square in downtown Toledo. Over the Saturday and Sunday of the event, 3000 visitors enjoyed the talents of over 150 local visual artists and 50 local performing arts groups distributed throughout 25,000 sq ft of under leased commercial space. MORE INFO.
2009.1.09
TOLEDO ADDY AWARD ENTRY DEADLINE
TOLEDO ADDY AWARD ENTRY DEADLINE
The deadline for entry submissions for the 2009 Toledo Addy Awards was today. The awards will be held Thursday, February 26th in the AVCC (Audio/Visual Classroom Center) at Owens Community College. Look forward to seeing you there! MORE INFO.
2008.10.10
SCOTT MCCLOUD PRESENTING IN BOWLING GREEN
Cartoonist & theorist Scott McCloud will give a keynote address, “Comics: A Medium in Transition,” at 6:30 p.m. Friday (Oct. 24) in 206 Bowen-Thompson Student Union. This lecture is free and open to the public. MORE INFO.
2008.8.16
DESIGN WHAT? EXHIBITION
The DesignWhat? poster exhibition had their opening reception August 15th. Hosted by Toledo AIGA, local designers were invited to create a poster based around various themes. Studio Que artist Ryan Forquer had a poster in the show and won people's choice for best in its category!
The show will be running through October 15th, 2008 - so head down to Space237 and check it out! MORE INFO.
