Tim Portlock: No Vacancies
By Gulnar Tuli
At first glance, artist Tim Portlock’s digitally generated illustrations might be mistaken for photographs. Created using a combination of gaming software and 3-D animation tools, Portlock’s work is permeated by a distinct sense of melancholy. Ethereal sunsets cast their glow on dilapidated, toy-like buildings, each landscape seemingly stretching back for miles.
Portlock’s second artist residency at 18th Street Arts Center is supported by a grant from the Alliance of Artist Communities, awarded to previous recipients of the Pennsylvania-based Pew Fellowships in the Arts. The program awards up to twelve Pew Fellows annually with residencies in other states. 18th Street Arts Center hosts a Pew Fellow each year. The program’s mission, to support artists “to push their artistic practice and expand their horizons,” runs parallel to that of the 18th Street residency program, which provides artists with time and space to explore new approaches to their work in a new and stimulating environment. 18th Street Arts Center also offers Portlock opportunities for artistic exchange through public programs including a Champagne Social on July 27 where his studio will be open to visitors including curators, art collectors, and artists; as well as panels and artist talks that contribute to a general creative dialogue within the community.
