Alyssa Koski's Changing Seasons above. See it in action at 225 6 Ave SW, Calgary, AB. It is located over what used to be a green door. Come for the animation unveiling on Friday, September 07th at 5pm. This will be your first chance to see the AR animation of Changing Seasons! More info here.
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Artist // Alyssa Koski
Article// Kathryn Pearce Q: Tell us a bit about yourself! A: I graduated from the Alberta College of Art + Design in 2017 with a degree in Visual Communications. I was born and raised in Calgary, and currently live in Okotoks were I am involved in supporting my community through my art, which I consider to be the most valuable voice I can offer. Q: Tell us about the work you usually do. A: I love illustrating for children’s book and creating all forms of sequential art (from graphic novels and comics to picture books), as well as crafting specifically interactive experiences for people through my art. Storytelling is one of my greatest passions, so the work that allows me the opportunity to speak the most through my art is what I gravitate toward. Q: How did you come to develop your artistic “style”? A: I love to create what I find visually pleasing, so tend to stick to certain aesthetics. Even though my style is always evolving as I take on diverse projects and try to challenge myself, I seem to always fall back into styles that are ornate, whimsical, or cute. I create what I want more of in the world and what makes me happy. Q: What is one of your most recent projects, or a project you’re most proud of working on? A: One of my favourite projects I finished recently was for the “Wizarding World of Okotoks”, a community event put on by my local arts council. I created several logos and a themed map for the event, which I felt was vital to immerse the town into a world of magic and wonderment, and truly create an experience for the townspeople. I’m currently working on the graphics for the “sequel” to the event, “Enchanted Okotoks” Q: What was the inspiration or story behind Changing Seasons? A: Stephen Avenue has a beautiful Victorian aesthetic, from the floral manholes covers and ornate lampposts to the Art Nouveau influenced history blurbs posted on the street. I decided a Mucha-esque mosaic backdrop would fit in perfectly. The animation shows the life cycle of the maple tree, playing with the cyclical theme of our reality: life and death. Being located in the heart of a bustling metropolitan environment connects us to the forever moving, infinite cycle of nature. Q. What was the most challenging aspect of creating Changing Seasons? A: It was important for me to create something in the physical world that would be enticing enough to pull people in so that they can experience the augmented reality world. I also wanted to create a piece that really fit the space it was in, that sang to its location and heritage. It was challenging not to fall into the trap a lot of Art Nouveau influenced work tends to fall into; I didn’t want to make something that was only pretty to look at with no meaning or depth. It was an exciting challenge to tackle, and I hope I accomplished my goals. Q: How would you like Calgarians to show their appreciation for your artwork? A: Calgarians should definitely be sure to have the Augle app downloaded so they can fully experience the magic of augmented reality. And if they enjoy what they see, I would love to hear about it on social media, just tag #Augle! They can also follow me on Instragram @Alyssa_Koski_Art to see more of the art I do! Q: What type of work would you like to do in the future? A: I’d love to continue working on community projects, and bringing to life new and exciting experiences for the world around me through art and design. alyssakoski.com |