Mid City Artist Mike Weber is California Dreamin’

From Cecile Oreste at danceDC

Mike Weber has been involved with the DC art scene for nearly a decade. In addition to being one of the founding members of Mid City Artists, he has exhibited his work at both Longview Gallery and gallery plan b. He also managed his own art consulting business for eight years, representing more than 40 artists worldwide. Weber lives and works in the Logan Circle area.

Prior to moving to DC, Weber lived in various cities including St. Louis, Dallas, New York City and Milan. Despite his plans to move to Venice Beach, California, next month, he acknowledges that he has gained a lot from living in DC: “I love the historical significance of DC. The presence of history is so in your face. I’m going to miss that.”

Background in 3D Animation

Weber comes from a background in visual communication and 3D animation. He designed and directed broadcast graphics for various films and television shows after receiving his degrees in Visual Communications and Computer Animation/Multimedia from Southwest Missouri State University and The Art Institute International of Dallas.

Currently, Weber is preparing for his upcoming show, “Within These Walls,” beginning October 7 at Austin Hill Art in Atlanta. The work in the exhibition is inspired by his childhood memories of exploring rural farmland and abandoned homes outside of St. Louis.

In this collection, Weber layers old homestead photographs with paint, text and modern design elements, breathing new life into memories that have long been forgotten.

Bloodlines

According to Weber, his work often explores the concept of genealogy and tells a narrative of bloodlines that have ended. He regularly attends auctions to purchase family photographs, finding inspiration in stories depicted by the images.

Weber experiments with free form and computer-generated text in his pieces. Intentionally leaving some of the text obstructed can “change the feel of the piece from light and airy to haunting,” he said.

As for his creative process, Weber enjoys writing before creating any images. He writes about his initial idea, conducts research and outlines a general plan which helps him with the visuals. He tends to work in stages often working on multiple pieces at the same time until he feels like they are complete. “I just know when they’re done,” he said.

Weber hopes his work evokes a sense of mystery and the passage of time. He also hopes to hold onto the emotions and feelings he has absorbed from living in the District when he makes the move to California.