Welcome to Gallerie’ d’Crisana, the world’s only collection of art created by yet-to-be-famous Fairview artist Crisana Speer!
We begin your tour with a welcome sign and a friendly reminder:
Just in case you can’t read the fine print, it says: Do not toch exept for: family, relitivs, and Raegan, if she ever sees me again I miss you Raegan.
Consider yourselves warned. And missed.
If you’ll allow me the privilege, I’ll be your docent on our tour today. We even have a window into the mind of the artist herself through her own words, written inside the placard beside each piece. It *is* an interactive gallery, mind you, to a certain extent (or if your name happens to be Raegan).
Your tour begins with “Crisana’s Critical Circus”, a 3-D piece of mixed media on paper. You’ll notice the colorful big top suspended above the backdrop of the circus, the trapeze artist and tightrope walker gracefully drawn over the cages containing the circus animals. Note that the animals also double as finger puppets, which would be a wonderful thing if you could toch them.
The Artist Says:
Well, I didn’t think of this my art camp teacher thoght of it so I wanted it to be in my art gallery.
See yo later,
Crisana
Created at Christ Fellowship Art Camp, 6-17-11
The next stop in our gallery tour is “The Blue Horse”, a work of acrylic on canvas. You’ll notice the bulging pectoral muscles of the horse and the use of shading to define his features. You’ll also see a hand-made sign describing Crisana’s Spichel Art Gallry nearby, just in case you forgot where you were.
The Artist says:
I painted this at art camp it took a long time and it was hard work. It was based on a painting called “Blue Horse” by Franz Marc. He died when he was 36. In 1916.
Created at Christ Fellowship Art Camp, 6-15-11
As we continue along our tour, we now are able to view “The Dog Party”, a clever little sun hat done in mixed media on laminated paper. Tissue paper flowers, colorful feathers, and a blue pom-pom surround the little black scotty dog placed on a purple background. The blue ribbon provides security, holding the hat in place against gale-force winds as proven on our trip from the library door to our car.
The Artist says:
This pichter is the first thing I made at Alen Library’s “crafternoon.”
Created at Allen Public Library’s “Crafternoon” program, 6-18-11
Next up, we get a taste of Vegas – not Paris – with “The Eiffel Balloon.” A multi-piece exhibit, this display includes a wire sculpture of the Eiffel Tower – specifically, the miniature replica in Las Vegas – alongside a stand-up mixed-media painting of the Hot Air balloon – also in Vegas, according to the artist. You will also notice the stamp the artist created and used to make the hot air balloon painting.
The Artist says:
Well, wene I made this my picher spoke to me and it said,
“I don’t know what you thot but I love the sun set part with the silver and pink.”
Created at Christ Fellowship Art Camp, 6-14 & 15- 11
The next exhibit is “The Foamie Collection” – a grouping of handmade foam-and-cardboard stamps for use in painting. Note the different designs, such as curlicues and a heart. There is also a bee, a flower, a torch, and a bug.
The Artist says:
Well the fomie’s I did at Christ feloship’s Art camp and we made them out of cardbord and fom. They are relly stamps thogh.
by: Crisana
Created at Christ Fellowship Art Camp, 6-16-11
Continuing our tour, we now are able to view the mixed-media piece, “The Garden.” You’ll see a creative use of pom-poms as spots on the ladybug and centers on the flowers, creating visual interest and a 3-dimensional effect. The light, tissue-paper flowers add an esoteric, ethereal feel, balancing the weight of the ladybug in the center.
The Artist says:
I worked on this with my mom. We used tishue papper, papper, crayons, and puffballs.
Created at Allen Public Library’s “Crafternoon” program, 6-18-11
As we make our way to the next exhibit, you’ll notice another sign reminding you of gallery etiquette, namely, not toching the artwork unless you are family, a relitive or your name is Raegan (if she ever sees me again).
Continuing our tour, we now arrive at our next exhibit, “The Goldfishy.” Actually one of her earlier pieces, this acrylic on canvas was painted when she was 7 years old. You probably noticed the homage to Henri Matisse, yet the artist maintains her own style with the addition of purple flowers and gold stars behind the fishbowl. The artist studied under the same Master Teacher for this painting as she did for the Christ Fellowship Art Camp, warranting its inclusion in this display.
The Artist says:
I made this at my 7th birthday party at Studio Art House. It is based off a painting by Henri Matisse. It was my very first painting on canvas.
Created at Studio Art House, 1-22-10
For our next exhibit, we will view “The Magical Puppets”, a collection of crayon on paper. The artist created two puppets: one for herself and one to honor her older brother. In a serendipitous twist, these two animals represent the same two animals chosen by the artist and her brother when they attended “Wildlife Camp Grandma” last summer: the American Brown Bat and the American Coot. And yes, they are finger puppets, which would be a delightful thing if you were allowed to toch them. Too bad, so sad for you.
The Artist says:
Well, I thoght it wold be nise and fun for me to make me and my brother Trey finger puppets!!! So I did!!!
Created at Allen Public Library’s “Crafternoon” program, 6-18-11
Let’s not dwell on the negative, shall we? On we move to our next exhibit, “The Muscular Horse”, a two-part collection of pencil on paper stencil and oil pastels on paper.  You’ll see some definite similarities between this exhibit and “The Blue Horse”. The artist allowed herself to be photographed with this exhibit.
The Artist says:
These were based off “The Blue Horse”. I traced the stencil on the canvas to paint “The Blue Horse” and on the paper to make the oil pastel. I liked the oil pastels because they were SO MESSY! And I didn’t know what colors they were!
Created at Christ Fellowship Art Camp, 6-16-11
Set off with a view of the great outdoors behind it, our next exhibit, “The Outdoors” showcases a fun summer day in mixed media on paper. You’ll note the artist’s use of scale – how the butterfly dominates the bee, and how the small dog is nearly half the height of the human.
The Artist says:
The reson I felt like making The Outdoors was I wanted to remember the fun I had with my old dog who dide.
Created at Allen Public Library’s “Crafternoon” program, 6-18-11
And since today is Father’s Day, our next exhibit is especially appropriate. The artist’s family actually celebrated Father’s Day a week early, since the father of the household would be out of town on Father’s Day. But that didn’t stop this artist from creating her next piece, “The Special Day Card”, a work of mixed media on paper, to give to her father when he returns.
The Artist says:
Well, this picher didn’t speak to me like the Ifle baloon. I just thoght of it. by Crisana Speer
Created at Allen Public Library’s “Crafternoon” program, 6-18-11
We’re nearing the end of our tour. Our next-to-last exhibit is entitled “The Spectacular Sky”, a work of marker on cardstock. The bright sun echoes a message of joy and cheer from Psalm 118:24: “This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
The Artist says:
I thoght this was just a fun activity at art camp. by Crisana
Created at Christ Fellowship Art Camp, 6-13-11
At long last, we have reached the final exhibit on our tour. “The Super Sketchbook” is a collection of pen and pencil sketches on paper. Someday, these sketches might be worth millions. Or they might end up in the recycling bin. Your guess is as good as mine.
The Artist says:
I used the skechbook to sketch my fomies.
Created at Christ Fellowship Art Camp, 6-17-11
That concludes our tour.  I hope you’ve enjoyed your visit today…and thanks for not toching the artwork.