The Modbo presents March’s First Friday: “Rule Number 1: New Works by Christine Flores and Riley Bratzler.” The opening reception is from 5:00 pm until midnight on Friday, March 2nd. There will be live music at 9 pm by My Name is Harriett. The show runs through Friday, March 30th. The Modbo is located in the Arts Alley in downtown Colorado Springs at 17C E. Bijou. Find the stretch of Bijou that is between Cascade and Tejon, and go south down the alley. Street parking is available, but The Modbo recommends the lot on Cascade just north of Bijou, which is only a $1 after 3 pm. The Modbo can be reached at themodbo@gmail.com, themodbo.com, or 633-4240.
“Rule Number 1: New Works by Christine Flores and Riley Bratzler” explores the theme of femininity. Although both artists created within the same theme, they worked separately to make their own bodies of work. The result is a collection of drawings by Flores and mixed media pieces by Bratzler that illustrate quiet moments of femininity. In her new body of work, Flores captures moments, people and objects that are — while not necessarily exclusive to women — representative of her experiences as a woman. Within her continued work for Visual Supply Company, Bratzler reviews thousands of sexualized images — i.e. deletes inappropriate dick pics — and as a way of coping with the emotional labor, she creates piercing portraits with colorful ornamentation.
Christine Flores is an artist living in her hometown of Colorado Springs. Inspired by storybooks, cartoons, and scientific imagery, she works primarily with dry media on paper to document and illustrate the joys and pains of her personal life. Using her art as a form of storytelling, she aims to connect with people in an intimate and tender way that is reminiscent of looking through a photo album with loved ones. As an art student at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs and a gallery assistant at the Galleries of Contemporary Art, Flores dedicates most of her time to art, but she also enjoys climbing, hiking, biking, and taking care of her plants.
Riley Marlene Bratzler is a local printmaker, photographer and mixed-media artist. In 2013, Bratzler worked for Visual Supply Company, a creative start up. As a curator there, she selected various photographer’s work for both print and digital publications. She trained under Holly Garlow at Ragged Print Co., which jump started her love of printmaking. With her use of both representational and linear patterns, Bratzler creates vibrant prints that emphasize the female form. When not in the studio, Bratzler enjoys traveling, trying new food, and rock climbing.