Dana Hart-Stone’s digital paintings are rooted in a deep engagement with the historical and cultural fabric of the American West. His childhood explorations of abandoned homesteads in Eastern Montana fostered a fascination with the fragmented narratives of settler life and the broader, often obscured, histories of the American frontier. These formative encounters continue to inform his work, now expressed through meticulously composed digital paintings constructed from vintage vernacular photographs. These recontextualized images investigate intersecting themes of race, gender, sexual identity, class, and socioeconomic struggle. Dana Hart-Stone’s work powerfully reframes collective memory, challenging dominant national narratives and creating space for the voices and faces of the historically marginalized to finally be seen and heard.

Frances McCormack’s lush botanical abstractions reflect a freedom of expression honed through years of artistic practice. In 2019, she turned to collage, a medium that allowed her to work on a smaller scale. This shift required a change in approach, as collage demands patience—a quality McCormack muses she wishes she had learned earlier. The process involves a meticulous search for perfect details, whether from a drawing, photograph, or instruction manual. Though smaller in scale, McCormack’s collages carry the same energy as her large-scale paintings, referencing the natural world through the lens of the marvelous. These works invite interpretation and are structured organically, like the walled gardens and spaces she has sought out for inspiration. Her travels to Italy, Spain, Turkey, Mexico, and her home state of California have provided thoughtful respites where the noise of everyday life fades, allowing creativity to flourish.