Art a la Carte
MEET OUR PRINTMAKING ARTISTS
Lauren
Rauch
Growing up in Clifton, VA with my home surrounded by woods and a stream running through the backyard, I experienced nature from a young age and this sparked my deep interest in animals. I was raised to appreciate the beauty of all living things. My work is driven by my fascination of the natural world and influenced by the symbolism that animals serve in different cultures. I like to portray animals with personality and depict human emotions through the lens of non-human subjects. I graduated from the University of Mary Washington with a degree in studio art, where I had the opportunity to experiment and work in several different mediums, such as printmaking, painting, and ceramics. I find each media has its own benefits and limitations and I love the challenges that come with each new piece.
Morgan
DeCanio
Ink x Fin
Following a medical discharge from the United States Military Academy, I embraced a life centered around travel and exploration, building out a campervan and traveling thousands of miles across the United States before making my way to Baja, Mexico. There, I began spearfishing and discovered Gyotaku as a way to connect my relationship with the ocean to my appreciation for Japanese culture, where my mom grew up. Gyotaku is a traditional Japanese practice that has existed since the 1800s as a way for fishermen to document each catch.
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I see the process and each catch as part of a complete cycle—from free diving, to creating art, to sharing a meal. The nontoxic sumi ink allows the fish to remain edible, reflecting my belief that nothing should be wasted and that each life taken from the ocean should be honored. Through Gyotaku, I seek to preserve and immortalize the character of each fish while celebrating the connection between nature, food, and art. Since returning from Baja, I have shifted my focus from making art directly from my friend’s and I’s catches, to more local species often donated to me from local fishermen.
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Morgan has developed her practice through independent study, collaborations with a Gyotaku school in Japan, and most recently through working under Grand Master Gyotaku artist Mineo Yamamoto.
