Special Events

JEROME CO-OP presents, “Mark and Lana Get Silly-cosis”

Artist couple Mark Lucas and Lana Rochelle are debuting their second joint show at the Jerome Artists’ Cooperative Gallery, titled Mark and Lana Get Silly-cosis.

Every two months, the JAC hosts a rotation of its members in its Featured Artist Room where the artist--or artists--design and curate their own show. Next month, artists-in-love Mark Galen Lucas (glass) and Lana Rochelle (ceramics) will be presenting collaborative pieces as well as new work.

With a name like Mark and Lana Get Silly-cosis, can we expect some silliness in the gallery space?

“No, not really,” says Lucas.

Rochelle elaborates:

“There might be some silliness sprinkled in, but it’s going to look like functional glass and ceramic wares.”

So why the name? Rochelle chimes in first:

“Our last show was called Mark and Lana Are Kilning It!—I guess we’re kind of fixated on the puns that unite our crafts.”

“Silly-cosis, you know, it’s a dark humor,” concedes Lucas, “At first it just made us laugh. Now we’re considering silliness more deeply—as a political act of resistance. Like it takes a sense of humor just to carry on.”

Lana continues: “The work we’re showcasing is really celebratory—lots of really inviting drinking glasses. Mark is working on some stunning glass jewelry. We both have been working on block-carving and printing. I think there’s going to be an exuberance that comes through. I hope so.”

Mark Lucas has been a glass artist in Jerome for 19 years. Mark creates pieces that range from small vessels whose impossible thinness make them float in the hand, to full-sized figures sculpted in his signature networked-glass style. Mark and Lana Get Silly-cosis will feature several new pieces in his Aloft sculpture series, which combines the thin blown forms with networked glass tubes.

“They came about as a natural evolution of the work I was doing with the networked glass, making it more tangled,” Mark explains, “They remind me of root systems. And, like, potatoes,” he laughs. Is this the first glimpse of silly-cosis?

Lana Rochelle is a longtime Verde Valley resident who first took ceramic classes at the Sedona Art Center. Her ceramic work is concerned with functional wheel-thrown wares. The decoration on her pieces is composed of finely piped illustrations and labyrinthine patterns. Lana describes the order she’s applied to her work:

“I’ve resisted doing anything to warp or even texturize the form of my wheel-thrown work, but that’s changed after I started doing more pinch pots. I’ve become more open to organic forms.

“The work I have coming up speaks with Mark’s [work] more than before. I’m making iterations of intentionally tweaked little vessels, but the centrifugal force of the wheel informs what that ‘tweak’ looks like. The same forces are acting on Mark’s blown glass, and he ends up with similar forms. I think they’ll make an interesting collection in our show.”

We can look forward to more of Mark and Lana's collaborations at their future venture: Firebrick Studio will be located in the lower level of 300 Hull Avenue—just up the street from the JAC. When will it open?

“Hopefully, by May,” says Lana, “we might have some sidewalk sales before then, on the patio.” Mark chimes in:

“Two years ago we had our first art show together at the Co-op and we were excited to see what we could make together. Now we’re so excited to see what we can build together.”

Lana concludes: “We have a lot to do. But first we have to get silly-cosis.”

The JAC will have an opening reception for the artists on Saturday, April 5, in conjunction with Jerome’s First Saturday Art Walk. Beer, wine, and snacks will be available by donation. All ages welcome. Mark and Lana Get Silly-cosis will run until June 4.

Connect with the Jerome Artists’ Cooperative Gallery on Facebook or follow us on Instagram, @JeromeArtistsGallery. Follow Mark and Lana for updates on their studio space @Firebrick_Studio.

The JAC is currently accepting applications from artists in all mediums. Find an application in person at 502 Main Street in Jerome or online at www.jeromecoop.com/membership.