Steve & Cynthia Adams casa |


art | studio


Can you explain the abstract art style, and describe what this genre attempts to capture on canvas? Abstract art is the manifestation of feelings and emotions onto canvas or paper. There’s a certain energy that comes through in an abstract piece, whether it’s color, line, texture or composition, which allows the viewer to personalize their interpretation of the work. When you look at a representational piece of work, the viewer can instantly say, “That is a landscape, that is a still life,” but when you look at abstract art, it’s more like looking at cloud formations. One person sees an elephant, while the other person sees a clown on a sailboat. With works that are more representational, like landscapes and still life paintings, the viewer is presented with the subject rather than coming to their own conclusions. Our paintings are mostly about the energy they evoke – they allow people to identify with it in a personal way that is unique to them.


Darren Miles Photography


Do you work on pieces as a couple, or just share a studio space? We enjoy doing collaborative pieces – we each bring unique aspects to a painting that complements the other’s work. When other couples visit our studio, they often comment that they’ve never agreed on a painting until they’ve seen our work. The yin and yang of being a couple must somehow be evident, which makes other couples respond to our work. The main mediums that we work with are acrylics, plasters, organic papers, metal leaf and pastels. We also create our own individual pieces, and like telling each other what to do – that must come with over 20 years of marriage!


What led you both to become artists? Total disdain for the corporate environment! Well, not really, but it was a motivating factor that helped us take a chance on an artistic career path. Both of us have always enjoyed being in a creative environment, and eventually it became our comfort zone.


What’s it like being a husband and wife artistic team? How does that dynamic play into your work? Well, it’s certainly come in handy with our body painting experiments! We actually met in a corporate environment in the late 1980s, so we’ve always had the experience of working together in some capacity. We find that working together inspires us to new levels, and also creates a synergistic energy that keeps us motivated to create, create, create!


How do you decide who gets studio time, and who has to pick up the groceries? That little issue is still up for negotiation! We’re very relaxed with each other and strive to maintain a peaceful balance. Sometimes one of us spends the day working on business items or the website while the other is painting. Whoever gets the groceries means that the other person has to clean the litter box and get the laundry underway. We’re definitely a team!


I noticed on your website that you’ve done alternative mediums like sea glass and bone. How did these projects come about? We’ve been inspired by many artists who work with applied objects. In particular, we like it when there is an organic or natural element to these items. We’ve used carved bone, bamboo, sea glass, fossil stones, Chinese coins, etc. Years ago, Cynthia took a few workshops from long time Naples artist Joan Osborn-Dunkle who works in mixed media, and came away from those classes with a newfound inspiration that took her work in a new direction. We, along with Joan and 20 other artists, are now part of a local arts organization called Shirley Street Galleries & Studios (formerly Shirley Street 16). We organize open house shows and studio tours on the third weekend of every month from October through April.


Every artist wants their work to be displayed, but with a name like ‘casa’ you’re specifically emphasizing the power of art in the home. What role do you see art playing in the home and in a person’s home life? In our case, ‘casa’ actually stands for Cynthia Adams Steve Adams, although the play on words is not lost on us! Having art in one’s home allows that person to show a greater depth of who they are, rather than just being identified by their job, if they play golf or tennis, or how socially involved they are. Pieces of art hanging on your walls can shout: “Look at me – I am full of energy and love these vibrant colors! The plasters and textures in this painting remind me of living out west when I was a kid. The carved bone makes me dream about the far off, exotic places where I hope to travel in the future. The weathered sea glass makes me reflect on the awesome power of the ocean – I wonder where the glass came from and how far it traveled to eventually arrive on this painting in my home.”


In addition to the gallery, are you involved with other local events or showings? We are very active in the local arts community. This October marks


the beginning of our fifth season with the North Naples Arts Alliance that created ‘Underground Art Wednesday,’ a monthly art event in the North Naples industrial park area. Our group of studios and galleries are open to the public from 6-9 p.m. on the first Wednesday of October through April. The newly created ‘Shirley Street Galleries & Studios’ has open studio and gallery tours and works for sale from 11-4 p.m. on the third weekend of every month. We are 23 artists, all with studios within walking distance, which makes for a fun opportunity for people to see artistic works in progress. Our work also hangs at Sweet Art Gallery, located on Trade Center


Way, and as of October 1st, a new Gallery called Art 41 is opening next to Fresh Market. All pieces displayed there will be original works by local artists. In addition, we’re very involved with The Foundation for the Developmentally Disabled (www.FFDDnaples.org) and hold art workshops for the organization. In early October, we will oversee a Raku pottery class for disabled adults in conjunction with Annabelle Johnson Pottery and Rosen Studios. We’ve recently started hosting one and two day workshops for people


interested in exploring their inner artist! All levels of experience are welcome, and classes are very affordable, ranging from only $75-125 per artist, depending on the class. A portion of the materials needed are supplied.


If readers want to know more, where can they go? Is the gallery open to the public? We can be reached at 239-289-5070 or check our calendar of events online at www.casaartstudio.com to find out what’s happening. Most days we’re working in our studio, but our front door sign states that hours of operation are “By Appointment or By Chance.” So if you’re in the area, stop by and take a chance! Interested readers can also learn more at www.facebook. com/casa.art.studio.


Pulse Magazine SWFL | 23


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