The Journal
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The Journal 〰️
Director’s Note
In the hallway, on the second floor of my house, is one of the first pieces of art that my partner and I picked out together. It's a colorful wall piece, made with unexpected materials, that balances being beautiful and funny. It made both of us think about a sunny day and the feeling of play. We felt strongly that it was the kind of piece we should have in our home, so we decided to invest in it.
We placed it on the wall at the top of the stairs where you can see it from every room on the second floor (there aren’t so many rooms!) and where guests might see it on the way to the bathroom.
The artwork creates a point of pause. When guests first encounter it, they often ask what it’s made from. My toddler has started to point at it when we walk past it. I often take a moment to stop and touch it (shhh! Don’t tell anyone).
When we work with clients—whether in an office, a hotel, or an educational site—we strive to create those moments in every room. Our work is not just about adding a pop of color that looks good with that couch; it’s about placing a piece of art that makes you pause. Perhaps the art calms, inspires, brings joy, or simply causes you to turn away from your phone for a moment.
These experiences spark ideas, conversations, and feelings. Study after study shows that the right art in a space can not only enhance productivity and boost morale but also improve mood and even bolster interpersonal bonds. These moments allow us to come back to ourselves as a whole—not just who we are at work or at home, but who we are in essence. They inspire us to step back and then step up.
Can’t wait to show you the piece of art that helps you pause.
Casey
Spring 2023 | Vol. 2 / Issue 1
Casey Droege
Founder + Executive Director
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Jayla in the Sky
Read about the mural project we managed, featuring the work of Pittsburgh artist Jayla Patton.
Behind the Branding
Jeremy Pelley, the designer behind TASC’s iconic logo and branding, talks about his process.
Functional Decorative Art
TASC’s Hannah Turpin discusses art that serves a practical purpose.
Meet Brent Nakamoto
Eriko sat down for a brief interview with artist Brent Nakamoto, who we’ve worked with on numerous projects.
The Intersection of Art and Leadership
Tara Fay Coleman gets into the nitty gritty of the arts economy.
Testimonial Highlights: Porter Loves
Read about Sam Laffey and Nathan Shaulis’s experience working with us throughout the years as CDCP and TASC.
How do you best support and mentor artists on upcoming projects?
Three stakeholders weigh in on how to best support artists while managing many projects.
Mary Martin
7 Vases, 2021–22
Ceramic
Website
IG: @marymartin_art
Jessica Alpern Brown
Bookends, 2023
laser-cut acrylic
Website
IG: @jessicaalpernbrown
Why certain types of art are good for your space:
Functional Decorative Art
By Hannah Turpin
Collecting art can sometimes feel overwhelming.
What should you buy? Where should it be displayed? How much space does it require? How much does it cost? One way we at TASC like to bring art into your personal and professional realms—especially if you’re feeling a little tight financially or spatially—is through decorative objects that also embrace functionality.
Jakob Marsico
Chandelier
custom software, digital video, LEDs, glass
Website
Mark Franchino & Jeremy Boyle Extension Cord
Various hardwoods and a ten-foot woven cord in black & white or yellow
Website
Meet Brent Nakamoto
By Max ‘GEMS’ Gonzales
We recently talked to artist Brent Nakamoto about what fuels his work and process as an artist.
We’ve worked with Brent at CDCP for consulting projects and have sold his work at our former concept store, Small Mall. We’re excited to continue working with him at TASC!
Behind the Branding
By Eriko Hattori
When we started rebranding our consulting arm into The Art Supply Co., we knew that strong, identifiable design would be a critical part of the launch.
As a company that has a strong sense of personality and specializes in art, we wanted our branding and website to clearly communicate to prospective clients who we are and what it’s like to work with us. We turned to Jeremy Pelley to do our branding and logo. Take a second to get to know the minds behind our redesign in the interview below!
Jayla in the Sky
By Eriko Hattori
Back in the summer of 2022, TASC was approached by a global tech company with offices in the Pittsburgh area about creating a mural in their building.
We reached out to Pittsburgh-based artist Jayla Patton, who we’ve worked with in a variety of capacities. She wanted to make something whimsical and playful, but that still had a connection to tech. With that in mind, she designed a colorful cloud mural.
The Intersection of Art and Leadership
By Tara Fay Coleman
TASC’s parent company, Casey Droege Cultural Productions (CDCP), began in 2016 as an artist-run startup that developed into a business focused on building a sustainable economy for artists and arts workers.
Since the beginning, we’ve aimed for our programming to encourage collaboration by bringing art to the public, fostering connections, and facilitating the growth and development of artists’ practices and careers. This has remained the common thread throughout our many partnerships and events.
What are some ways that you follow to best support and mentor artists on upcoming projects?
By Hannah Turpin
As a team of both artist and arts workers, we understand how imperative it is to offer support to members of our community. We reached out to three arts powerhouses and asked them what they they think support looks like when it comes to mentoring individuals in the arts.
“Weekly check-ins are a must when working with an artist towards a solo show or project. They keep us both focused and allow us to collaboratively resolve any road bumps. I’m also often connecting an artist with other artists if they need help with a specific technique, especially when working with new processes and/or materials.”
Lexi Bishop, Owner, here gallery, Pittsburgh
“I have found that the artists I work with feel most supported when I'm able to foster real connections with them, enabling them to be candid about their own needs. By offering frank throughlines into my own life and experiences, my goal is to recognize the accepted systems that don't serve individual artists. How can we consider the barriers we have experienced in the past and work through them together? What extra skill sets can I offer that you haven't been given the opportunity to foster yourself? By digging together, we can build better pathways together, too.”
Kitty Rauth, Artistic Director, Comfort Station in Chicago IL
“I like to think of mentorship as a peer-to-peer structure rather than a top-down approach. I always find that I’m learning just as much from someone as I am giving in a successful mentorship. I try to start by just getting to know someone and their interests and goals; that allows me to understand what connections or resources I could offer that could help support their vision.”
Natalie Sweet, Executive Director, Brew House Association
"We met Casey Droege in 2017 at a workshop she led about collaboration. And we've been collaborating with her and her team ever since! We have worked together to create workshops and resources for artists, document exhibitions, and document some of TASC's exciting arts consultation projects. They also are great connectors within the arts community, having sent several artists to us over the years. Working with them is a true joy - we honestly get a massive smile on our faces whenever we see an email from them with an opportunity for us to work together again. Even at times when we might be a little too busy, we're always inclined to make it work for the TASC team because we know we'll get to work with someone friendly who respects our work and our time, we'll get paid promptly, we'll get to meet another local artist, and we'll get to see and interact with some good art."
Sam Laffey + Nathan J Shaulis, Porter Loves