BEFORE THE HANG “in motion”

One afternoon in the past, cold drizzling rain created a fortunate meeting at an unfortunate art fair. Seated next to Anisa of Unorthodox Glass proved to be doubly illuminating. The first was her beautiful and provocative stained glass; the second was her brilliant character. With more raindrops than customers, we fast became good neighbors and delved deeper into our processes, outlets and creative sparks. Also was able to meet her partner Rob (another amazing artist) and the three spirited kin.

Subsequently, Anisa was invited to participate in some Location Gallery group shows. Every time she brought treasures while trying out new approaches to her work, which is an artistic pathway that Location encourages. We were thrilled when she and Rob, an amazing ink artist, said yes to a duet show for Art Family Values campaign. Mixing her thoughtful approach to glass with his cross-hatching, stippling and pointillism techniques gives “In Motion” a visual journey of talent.

10 QUESTIONS

With Anisa Nonya and Rob Nonya

In one word, what is your present state of mind? 

Anisa: Alchemizing

Rob: Discombobulated

Were there any challenges or new techniques used when creating this work?

 Anisa: While there were challenges working with bone and wood alongside glass, most of my challenges are internal... centering around organizing my thoughts and guiding them into a clear direction, especially as I continue experimenting with new ways to present glass as an art form.

Rob: My biggest challenge is choosing a subject matter, once I start a piece i know which direction I'm going.

How many UFOs have you seen?

Anisa: Growing up in Arizona, about 11 miles north of the Mexican border, the night skies were renowned for stargazing. I witnessed some spectacular activity that I’d like to think were UFOs.

Rob: at least 4.

Aside from art, what were your favorite school subjects in school?

Anisa: I was raised in a fundamentalist homeschool environment that didn’t follow a formal academic curriculum. Because of that, I never attended a traditional school or had a typical range of subjects to choose from, so I didn’t really have a “favorite subject” in the usual sense. My education was more experiential, and I’ve had to build much of my learning path on my own as an adult.

Rob: I didn't stay in school long enough to have a favorite subject. 

 Name 3 people, living or dead, that inspire you the most.

Anisa: Tom Waits, Frida Kahlo, my husband... no seriously!

Rob: Pushead, Hank Sr, my wife

 What is your favorite snack food?

Anisa: Popcorn

Rob: Reese's

What 2 colors have you put together that resulted in an unexpectedly amazing color combination?

Anisa: Copper and Pink

Rob: Black and Grey

What do you listen to when creating artwork?

Anisa: Bridge City Sinners, Tom Waits and a lot of folk punk.

Rob: I grew up in New Orleans, I love a wide variety of music. Everything from Louis Armstrong to Leftover Crack. 

What famous artwork blew your mind when finally seen in person?

Anisa: Dr Seuss "Unorthodox Taxidermy" 

Rob: The Mark Ryden Exhibit  

What is the most important trait for an artist to have?

Anisa: The ability to stay curious in the face of uncertainty.

Rob: Patience.

STAFF PICKS

BEFORE THE HANG “SURFACE BOUND”

Surface Bound has been an organic process that sparked when sisters Joy Dunigan and Manda Faye Dunigan artworks were hanging next to each other in our November 2025 show. Although the work was distinctive to each artist, their shared graphic eye and crisp technique had a similar approach. Joy’s new method of layered print and informed construction of the natural world counterpointed and complimented Manda Faye’s perfect cyanotype process of light, chemistry and time. 

The working title was called “Surfacing” to relate to their processes and to avoid any lunar references as our partner non-profit is Over the Moon Diaper Bank, an incredible organization that helps women and mothers in need. Yes, there were many conversations with this pair of marketing mavens that landed with “Surface Bound”.

10 QUESTIONS

With Joy Dunigan and Manda Faye Dunigan

In one word, what is your present state of mind? 

Joy - Evolving.

Manda Faye - Clear.

Were there any challenges or new techniques used when creating this work?

Joy - Every new body of work presents an opportunity to explore and refine process. With this series, the focus moved further into the relationship between surface treatments—matte, gloss, and painted applications—and how those finishes interact with the underlying photographic imagery. I’m constantly interested in how these material decisions can either reinforce or disrupt the subject matter. It’s definitely still evolving, but it’s been a great exercise in understanding and accepting that figuring out what doesn’t work, is just as important as figuring out what does work.

Manda Faye - I decided to involve digital processes in my work on this project in a way that I haven’t before. Previously in my work, I have been sparing in my use of digital tools because I love that the analog process of cyanotype unfolds in a really organic and fluid way. Cyanotype just comes with more variables. The end result almost always defies my expectations and working with my hands is so good. With Surface Bound I decided to explore digital collage. In my mind, the themes of the work tended to lend themselves to moving in that direction. The computer has totally different controls. It was interesting relying on a machine to create images and I was revisiting skills that I have not flexed in a good minute. But, cyanotype and photography are technology too, so I thought a lot about how I was splicing them together and I sort of loved that later technology can be in harmony with newer technology and it feels open and playful.

How many UFOs have you seen?

Joy - I’ve never seen a UFO. That said, I do believe it’s unlikely we’re alone. The scale of what exists beyond us suggests there’s more out there—whether we understand it yet or not.

Manda Faye - All objects that I have seen flying can be identified. 

Aside from art, what were your favorite school subjects in school?

Joy - Music, English, and history. Each offered a different way of understanding structure, narrative, and rhythm—elements that continue to influence how I think about visual work today.

Manda Faye - Literature, history, music, biology and socializing — no surprises there. 

Name 3 people, living or dead, that inspire you the most.

Joy - I tend to be more inspired by what people produce than by the individuals themselves. That said, Andy Warhol stands out for his approach and the way he redefined how art could engage with culture. Beyond that, I draw a lot of inspiration from NASA and space exploration, as well as from fashion and music—fields that constantly push material, form, and perception in new directions.

Manda Faye - I can’t really narrow that down to three people — my friends are what inspire me at the end of the day. I’m very fortunate to have so many interesting friends.

What is your favorite snack food?

Joy - I try not to snack.

Manda Faye - Cake, pastry, chocolate with good coffee. 

What 2 colors have you put together that resulted in an unexpectedly amazing color combination?

Joy - Metallics paired with orange - particularly silver and orange, or gold and orange. There’s something about that contrast that feels both industrial and organic at the same time.

Manda Faye - A shade of purple and a shade of brown. It doesn’t sound like that would be unexpected, but purple, is always a strong and challenging color to pair with other colors.

What do you listen to when creating artwork?

 Joy - A wide range - electronic, classical, alternative, and jazz. Music that leans abstract tends to support the process best. 

Manda Faye – The music that I listen to varies pretty wildly and my playlists don’t really reflect one kind of groove. Listening to music is a very passionate and soothing thing for me — I just crank it up and feel it. If I do start to feel chaos creeping in, I want silence. Sometimes there is nothing better than hearing the HVAC tick on and off.

What famous artwork blew your mind when finally seen in person?

Joy - Seeing Snowflakes by Henri Matisse was a defining moment—being able to see the physicality of the work, even down to a visible thumbprint, changed how I understood scale and touch. Similarly, experiencing the work of Ellsworth Kelly in person reinforced how much scale shapes perception. What reads one way in a book becomes something entirely different when you’re physically in front of it.

Manda Faye - At the top of the list is Edgar Degas's original wax sculpture, Little Dancer Aged Fourteen... Marie van Goethem’s spirit is so alive in that vitrine… Also, completely mind blowing for me — Agnes Martin’s, The Rose and Cornelia Parker’s, Thirty Pieces of Silver. (Although the lore around The Rose — “is the rose still a rose?” — irritates me a touch) Both pieces seem to have had a force field around them. I love when art makes you want to stay.

What is the most important trait for an artist to have?

Joy – Patience.

Manda Faye - Definitely being a problem solver.

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MIND ITEMS

We knew going into the campaign of Art Family Values that there would be lots of curious conversations both visually and physically. Especially with siblings because…sidebar chats. Having years of training with a spousal Irish-American family, you realize they never talk directly to a sibling about problems, but rather they tell all the other siblings or a brother from another mother. The best advice I give my fellow in-laws is “Just pretend you are watching television” and let it unfold and then fold back to a lovingly tribal unit. 

BEFORE THE HANG “abundance”

Sometimes we conceptualize shows to accent the non-profit and sometimes the non-profit is selected by the artists. Such was the case with Anna and Steve Bliss who really wanted to work with Migrant Equity Southeast due to the great and varied work they do for our local community. Adding in a third voice to the visual dialog between two creatives becomes an interesting, if unexpected, trio.

10 questions

With Anna and Steve Bliss

In one word, what is your present state of mind? 

Anna- Uncertain

Steve-Mmmmmm.

Were there any challenges or new techniques used when creating this work?

Anna-Editing is always my biggest challenge.

Steve- I think making new work should always be challenging. For me these works involved investigating older analog means and translating their aura to digital production. At the same time, the principal dichotomy that I wanted to play with was that of the mechanical grid versus the natural flower- that relationship, for me, paralleled the analog/digital conundrum.

How many UFOs have you seen?

Anna-Zero.

Steve-Only one that I recall.

Aside from art, what were your favorite school subjects in school?

Anna-History, because without it, we know nothing.

Steve-English, History and Geometry.

Name 3 people, living or dead, that inspire you the most.

Anna- Howard Zinn, Frida Kahlo, Michelle Obama

Steve-I have way too many people who’ve inspired me to cut a list down to three. Maybe I could commit to categories: visual artists, writers, musicians

What is your favorite snack food?

Anna-Peanut Butter.

Steve-That varies a lot too. I tend to love one thing, say a chocolate croissant... and then do it death and move on to another.

What 2 colors have you put together that resulted in an unexpectedly amazing color combination?

Anna-Pink and red after Wes Anderson.

Steve-I colored a lot when I was young; when I became a photographer finding that Red and Green light together created Yellow was a real shock.

What do you listen to when creating artwork?

Anna-My brain second-guessing me.

Steve-Pop songs until I burn out and then quiet works best.

What famous artwork blew your mind when finally seen in person?

Anna-Everything at The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh.

Steve-Again, a lot of artworks blow my mind in person- I love museums for that singular thrill.

What is the most important trait for an artist to have?

Anna-Freedom

Steve- Adaptability.

STAFF PICKS