Inner View with Steven LaRose

In the summer of 2019, while preparing to open our newest shop at the Marin Country Mart, we were struck by the idea of having an exterior mural above the entrance to the store.  We reached out to our dear friend and artist, Kelly Staton, to create something magical (which she did in the blink of an eye)!  But who could paint this incredible mural?  Kelly introduced us to her friend and artist (and scenic painter, muralist) Steven LaRose, who immediately said yes to the challenge.  What transpired was not only a stunning mural, but a lovely friendship between us and Steven.  Over the last couple of months, a conversation began about creating some of his original work for an exhibition at flora and henri.  And now here we are!  We hope you enjoy this special exhibition and that you fall in love with the world of Steven LaRose as deeply as we have here at flora and henri.  Read on for Steven's Inner View.

artist statement on the work:
The cluster of paintings that became this suite were made uniquely for flora and henri during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. I chose specific parameters of scale and materials in a controlled attempt to generate objective meaning extracted from bouquets of flowers. The titles became very important. Teresa Sloven is an anagram of Steven LaRose.

THREE WORDS TO DESCRIBE YOU:
Fluid, goofy, and balanced.

WHO OR WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
Currently, I'm finding inspiration in flowers. In the past however, I’ve been motivated by garage doors, ink blots, and the human figure.

WHAT CAN YOU NOT LIVE WITHOUT?
To say that I could not live without water seemed such an incredibly snarky answer, and yet, I kept coming back to it. I’m a true Pacific Northwest fan of water whether it be solid, liquid, or gas.

WHEN ARE YOU MOST HAPPY AND IN BALANCE?
When a kitten sneezes on my face.

HOW HAS YOUR TIME IN QUARANTINE BEEN?  THOUGHTS? PROJECTS? DISCOVERIES?
Quarantine has been like any other artist residency in many ways. This Teresa Sloven body of work is a perfect example.

IF YOU COULD TRAVEL ANYWHERE, WHERE WOULD IT BE?
West Seattle. . . ha ha ha, but really, New Zealand , or maybe the Chelsea Hotel in the sixties.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ITEM IN THE STORE?
Caran D’Ache Fluorescent Pink Pencil, Robert McCloskey’s, Blueberries For Sal, Bright Beam Goods Camel Tangram Puzzle.

YEARS FROM NOW YOU WILL BE?
Playing bass guitar for the new old people music.

Steven LaRose lives in Seattle, WA. He received his MFA from the Claremont Graduate University, and a BFA from Whitman College. He has had solo exhibitions in Seattle, Chicago, Los Angeles, Portland, and Ashland, OR. His work has been discussed in the Los Angeles Times, ARTnews, The New Art Examiner, The Chicago Tribune, and on the Internet.