DAAS Co-Op Art Gallery & Gifts is starting the year right, presenting the works of multifaceted artist Lafe James in January.
The exhibition will feature a selection of old Florida inspired works printed on wood, from the artist’s 1923 Trading Co. project.
The opening reception is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 8 from 6 to 9:30 p.m. in conjunction with the rescheduled Fort Myers Art Walk.
For James, creating art has always been a major part of his life, not only as a hobby, but also a career. “Spending the first half of my life working my way through the culinary arts, I was eventually lured away by the glow of a computer monitor. I’ve spent the past 18 years weaving through all facets of visual design: photography, print layout, web design, brand development, packaging design, and all the posters and tee shirt graphics in between. I currently serve as the art director for a Fort Myers based marine and paddle sport accessory development agency,” says James.
“When I’m not designing for them, I’m running and working on my own business and projects. Those projects include my wood print project (1923 Trading Co.) and the clothing line (Nineteen Twenty Three),” adds the artist.
The art created for the 1923 Trading Co. Project and this exhibition is inspired by the old Florida way of life. This is a wood print project that features old Florida map designs, Florida wildlife photography, and vintage posters and postcard designs. The artist created a unique print process that gives the wood print a distressed, vintage aesthetic. Each print is 100% unique and individually handcrafted in Cape Coral.
“I am a ‘90s kid raised on gangster rap and death metal, poisoned by television, guided by the internet, misled by society, educated through experience, self-medicated and overly analytical, but optimist and realistic with a mind polluted with images and information,” confesses James, whose personal artworks can be found online, along with his music project Massive Degree at www.lafejames.com.
The exhibition will be on display through Jan. 30. DAAS Co-Op is located at 1815 Fowler St. in the Butterfly Estates complex in Fort Myers. The gallery’s temporary business hours are Wednesday to Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. More information about the venue and how to become a member can be found at www.daascoop.com or by calling 239-590-8645.
