Three to Get Ready
Kris Busini, Hiwa Mijena & Sophia Rosselli
Kris Busini's Artist Statement:
This is a body of work based around exploring the facets of my life and personality through moments of connection, articulated through the softness of fantasy creatures. I particularly enjoy exploring texture and movement through paint strokes and layering effects: as a lifelong digital illustrator, this recent de-evolution into classic media is an intentional refusal to participate in machine-sameness. I cherish the mistakes, and consider each a new layer in a cohesive anthology.
Kris Busini's Artist Bio:
My name is Kris Busini (he/they). I went to high school on Long Island, NY and dropped out of college in my fourth year at Mansfield University, PA due to the tragic disease most artists come to know called “depression”. After bopping around California and Oregon for a half a decade, I returned to the east coast and slowly began to make a nice, stable career for myself, all the while keeping my creative juices flowing by drawing commissions for people in the furry community. Anthropomorphic, cartoon sensibilities is set dressing for all of the work I produce, and I’m delighted to bring those aesthetics into a space that perhaps less frequently entertains that form of expression.
Hiwa Mijena's Artist Bio:
I am Hawi Mijena, a multifaceted artist whose work integrates a rich artistic talent with a strong academic background in public health. Born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and currently based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, my diverse life experiences profoundly influence my artwork, often exploring themes of community, cultural identity, and health.
I hold a bachelor’s degree in public health with a concentration in Community Health from the University of Massachusetts Lowell, in addition to a biology diploma from Bunker Hill
Community College. This academic foundation enhances my artistic practice by providing a unique perspective that merges scientific understanding with creative expression.
My proficiency spans various mediums, including painting, drawing, sculpture, and printmaking, along with digital art and graphic design using Adobe Creative Suite. With a strong eye for composition, color, and detail, and an extensive knowledge of art history and theory, I create works that are both aesthetically pleasing and intellectually engaging.
Throughout my career, I have actively contributed to the art community through collaborations with several galleries, including Nearby Gallery in Newton Centre, Enso Gallery in Brockton,Truscott Street Gallery in Taunton, and the Hopkinton Center for the Arts. My roles in these venues involved assisting with the installation and deinstallation of exhibitions, conducting research on artists and artworks, and engaging with visitors, reflecting my commitment to fostering a vibrant and accessible art scene.
My artistic endeavors have been showcased in prominent exhibitions such as the "Bold & Beautiful" exhibit in July 2022 and "Love for This Is America" in February 2023. These
exhibitions have allowed me to address contemporary issues through my art, resonating deeply with a diverse audience.
Since 2011, I have been professionally creating and selling original artworks and prints, both online and at local art shows. I work closely with clients to produce custom pieces tailored to their preferences, promoting my work through social media, networking, and word-of-mouth. My meticulous approach to managing sales, expenses, and inventory underscores my professionalism and dedication to my craft.
Beyond my artistic career, I have acquired valuable experience in various professional roles. As a Teller at Citizen Bank in Boston, I maintained accurate transaction records and promoted banking products with exceptional customer service. In my role as a Front Desk Agent at Harvard Square Hotel, I ensured guest satisfaction through prompt and effective problem-solving.
At the Office of Multicultural Affairs at UMass Lowell, I supported the personal and social development of a diverse student body, fostering an inclusive and supportive environment. Currently, as a Day Support Professional at TILL inc. in Watertown, MA, I implement individualized programming for clients, track their progress, and collaborate with clinical staff to ensure comprehensive care.
I continue to enrich the artistic and broader community with my diverse skills, unwavering dedication, and passion for creating art that speaks to the heart of cultural and social issues. My journey reflects a harmonious blend of artistic excellence and a commitment to public health, making me a distinguished figure in both fields.
Sophia Rosselli's Artist Bio:
The work began as a response to growing up and making art in a home filled with beautiful paintings created by my grandmother without having met her. As an adolescent artist, I admired the paintings for their historic, dream-like aesthetics and the ways in which they connected my family. I would sit and listen to the stories of the memories each family member has within the paintings over and over again until they became a tradition to tell. In the past, there is naturally a political nature to my aesthetic choices in the work as I examined the space I attended protests and rallies in the same spaces where my grandmother would once sit casually paint. Layered within the political aesthetic of the work is the yearning for a deeper connection with my grandmother, humanity, and feelings of benevolence within the communities of people in the paintings and at the rally’s which further influenced my work.
My work has never been solely a personal reflection of just myself. Each piece I create has always been made with my family lineage in mind in many ways; for example, the objects that I use to create with. Most recently, I’ve been working with objects such as the rusty wire my dad gave me or the rusty nails and tools and parts. The new work is transforming from old work, from literal to more abstract. It maintains the dynamic of family, identity, and memory. I’m becoming increasingly interested in objects from my home and family, while creating a conversation about my own experiences and identity through memory.
In this recent start to a new series, the hammer I use to hammer in nails to hang work, is part of my lineage of craftsmen, artists, and builders. The rusted parts of old lawn mowers and trucks I’ve used to dye with are from the early 2000s. I leave the work in the woods of the home I grew up in, as an experiment in how nature will decay the materials and fibers. I presume different elements besides using vinegar will help in the oxidation of the rust. The oxidation in the work describes how painfully slow yet fast passage of time can be. I am in control when I am using vinegar, and I am out of my element when I leave the weavings to the natural elements of mother nature.
I create work based on my own memories, and the stories of memories I have been told over and over again while thinking about time in relation to these memories. The old truck parts I use are from when my dad had lost his job during the recession, and he had to buy a book and learn how to fix his car himself because we could barely afford our home let alone the luxury of getting a car fixed. The materials I use are from these times, the pieces memorialize the time, and journey that my family has endured. I memorialize those times from having nothing to being secure and safe.
I am also inspired by artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude. I am interested in how they recontextualize familiar spaces in nature, as I am recontextualizing a more personal space. I am also interested in the ambiguous changes to land similarly to Christo and Jeanne-Claude. The memories I have in the woods are ambiguous, sometimes it is my safe place. I’ve been told stories so many times that I think of them as my own, and other times I struggle to remember certain memories both good and bad, both of which are an important part of my growth as an artist. As I create these pieces, the memories I have in these spaces become more clear as I reconnect with the space.