OWENS AND CRAWLEY
Indianapolis, IN
While based in Indianapolis, the works of Quincy Owens and Luke Crawley can be found far beyond the city limits. From England to India and across the U.S., you’ll find work from this duo who is now bringing their sculptures and installation art to Beloit.
DEVIATE is all about being interactive and that’s exactly what Owens & Crawley are doing on October 15. When you come to DEVIATE be sure to check out their booth where you can try your hand at “Coaster Pong.” Think beer pong meets county fair games. Intrigued? Us too.
october 15
How would you describe your work?
My work runs the gamut. As an artist, I am constantly pushing to explore new materials in painting, sculpture, installation, and site-specific work all of the time. The work I will have on display at DEVIATE started out as simple collages many years ago. I then transformed them into functional coasters and for a number of years have turned the acquisition of them into a game of chance known as "Coaster Pong." Coaster Pong is meant to be visually beautiful and striking while fun and interactive. Participants purchase a set number of balls that they then try to land in one of many pieces of glassware scattered throughout a floor covered in coasters similar to how a person wins a goldfish at the county fair.
Our work is dynamic and varied. We started out by making sculptural sound objects but that has morphed into national public art installations and a fully furnished fabrication studio and design team. Most of our work, at the very least, plays with the principles of color both through a physics lens and artistically.
Where do you find your inspiration?
I find inspiration for my work everywhere. Most often recently, I spend a fair amount of time reading as an exercise in reflection and the physical act of doing so brings about visual and psychological inspiration for my work. We find inspiration for our work in a number of places but always attempt to explore a scientific concept as well as a humanistic one.
How long does it take for you to do a piece from start to finish? Some works can take minutes while others have taken years to complete. We often source local materials as well as site-specific materials and supplies.
Where can we find your work? Examples of galleries, stores, and events you have been involved in. I have exhibited my work around the world including England, Spain, France, Greece, India and China. The easiest place to see my work is by contacting me or visiting my social media accounts (@QuincyOwensArt).
We have exhibited all around the US including the Indianapolis Museum of Art, Reading Public Museum, and more. We have permanent installations in Indiana, Washington DC, Wyoming, Pennsylvania, and more.
Is this your full-time job? If so, where do you work? It is full-time and then some! I keep my personal art practice very active doing predominantly commissioned-based works at this point in my career. On top of my own work, Owens+Crawley commissions keep me busy with a whole other list of projects. I am blessed to have two studios. One of them is at the Harrison Center for the Arts where I have had a studio for 18+ years. Luke and I share it now. It has a little "gift shop" and is where we create and display most of our gallery-based works.We even built a deck and have two koi ponds full of koi fish that keep me company while I'm creating. Our other space is our fabrication studio. It's a massive space within a warehouse where we keep all of our machines and large tools such as our welders, plasma table, and cnc router. We make most of our larger public art projects there alongside other fabrication commissions.
What are your future goals for your pieces? I would say my main goal for the future is always to focus on quality and growth in the present.
What do you want us to know about your art, your design, or anything at all?
That's a tough one. I guess an easy answer would be that there is art out there for everyone so give ours a look.
What is your background? I have just always loved making things ever since I was a kid. I went to the University of Indianapolis where I got my BFA. I started out focusing more on ceramics and sculpture then shifted toward large abstract paintings. Now I do it all.
What are you most excited about for DEVIATE? I'm really excited to set up Coaster Pong. People have a blast playing it! Owens+Crawley is excited to set up an immersive environment that will bathe people in light.