Educating the Public through Rotational Works

Words by Jessi Devenyns Photos by Will Bowling Art by Suzanne Wyss

It turns out that 20 individual artists mixed together is the perfect recipe for a balanced body of work. “It actually works out pretty well,” explained Jonas Criscoe, one of the founding members of Icosa Collective. “We cap it at 20 members, never any more, never any less.”

It also turns out that this number makes a great name, too. Icosa is a geometric collective where members create, educate, and show work on a rotational schedule that echoes the form of an icosahedron, or a twenty-sided polygon.

With 20 different artists – not including the frequent visiting artists – and one month each for a show, the math dictates that there will be more creatives than months in the year. To solve this mathematical quandary, as well as add an additional level of interest in the revolving gallery, Jonas explains that each show is a double-feature where two artists with two diverse styles and/or mediums work jointly to create an exhibit. “It’s really great when you see those two-person shows, and you think, ‘how is this even going to work?’” laughs Jonas who explains that he is routinely in awe of the ways in which two seemingly incongruous bodies of work exist in harmony within the walls of the gallery. “It’s so disparate, yet it comes together,” he marvels.

However, over the past year, not everyone has been able to come together, and for months, the Icosa Gallery was divided from the public by a thick pane of glass. Instead of becoming a barrier, their creative minds repurposed the idea of window dressing to suit the needs of a gallery. In a moment of inspiration, Jonas remembers that he and some of the members chose to have their monthly shows face the window and rotate the display at a measured weekly cadence to allow passersby to enjoy the experience of walking through a gallery but without actually crossing the threshold. “Art…” Jonas explains, “doesn’t stop.” 

While this precautionary measure has given way to appointments and limited visiting hours for masked groups, the playful spirit of creativity pops in the air of this gallery. On any given day, a member of the collective is showing the work of their peers to the public, or someone is diligently crafting in the background, absorbed in art, much in the same way the gallery hopes to draw in viewers.

Jonas says with conviction, “Art is very important to us. I mean, we put our money and our sweat equity where our mouth is.”  

Can’t Get Enough? 
This fall, browse additional shows by members of the Icosa Collective at the Spellerberg Projects Masur Gallery in Lockhart, Texas.

Contact:
916 Springdale Rd., Bldg. 2 #102
icosacollective.com