it's hip to be square

The friendly folks at the Riverside Arts Market have celebrated a one year anniversary for a venture that’s quickly become Jacksonville’s “happening place to be” on Saturday mornings. Well-known for its variety of vendors and carnival atmosphere RAM is now launching its newest creation, the RAM Art Gallery under the guidance of R.A.P. and directed by Ryan Strasser.
To initiate this all-inclusive art exhibit space they created “Get Squared Away.” It’s a art exhibit that calls for public participation by creating your own visual design on a pair of art squares that will be on exhibit at the RAM Arts Gallery and available for sale. The 9×9 inch wooden squares come unfinished and are available at the Riverside Avondale Preservation office at 2623 Herschel Street (just north of King Street in Riverside), or the Riverside Arts Market on Saturdays and purchase your kit for a mere $36.
Starting on October 9 the display of artists works will open at RAM, then the pieces that haven’t sold after four weeks will move to the Jacksonville Landing for the month of November.
“I did my squares in oil,” says Ryan Strasser, a Riverside native and UNF grad. Strasser explains that using oils takes a more time, because of the time it takes for the paint to dry. Both creations are being considered for album cover art. “One is an underwater diver and the other is an astronaut – each is reaching out.” But using oil is just one of many choices in medium for the squares, just as Strasser is but one of the artists. “Some people are using acrylics and some collages – really creative stuff, and it’s an honor for me to be able to hang my work next to the likes of Jim Draper and Joanelle Mulrain.”
So if your artistic side needs a fun and creative outlet “Get Squared Away” and make something incredible, or a grown-up version of refrigerator art.