‘Of Chaos and Order Art Collective Activates the Surface and Evergreen this Fall!’

The Of Chaos and Order Art Collective is proud to present ‘Activating the Surface: Exploring the Expressive Qualities of Paint’, opening October 22, 2026 at the Center for the Arts Evergreen, 31880 Rocky Village Drive, Evergreen, CO 80439.

Of Chaos and Order Art Collective (OCAO) is a group of five artists who began meeting in 2019 with the goal of building community, while challenging themselves, each other, and their artwork. Their monthly dinners and discussions have been an opportunity to talk about their careers and the works on their easels. As the Covid pandemic interrupted life and meetings moved online, it was a lifeline to grounding and connection with other creatives. The friendship and bond have continued for seven years, even as one artist has moved to a different state. OCAO artists include from Colorado: Dan Oakleaf, Sascha Ripps, Richard Rodriguez, and Elizabeth Rouland. And from New Mexico: Hazel Weckbach. 

Since the group’s inception in 2019, OCAO has presented two exhibitions at the Curtis Center for the Arts in Greenwood Village, Colorado, ‘Lessons from Chaos’ in 2022 and ‘On the Edge of Transition’ in 2024. Each of the exhibitions has focused on a visual idea that the artists discussed and then responded to in their bodies of work. The ‘Lessons’ exhibition explored the visual idea of ‘equalization’, working with repeating patterns, while the ‘On the Edge’ show was a chance to work with edges in new ways. 

OCAO is excited to present new work in their third exhibition, this time at the Center for the Arts Evergreen from October 22 through November 28, 2026. ‘Activating the Surface: Exploring the Expressive Qualities of Paint’ is about playing with marks and paint in whatever ways feel expansive to each artist. The artists have discussed using this time to fall in love with painting all over again. For some, this might mean investigating thick, juicy paint in fresh ways while for others it might look like working with thinner paint application, transparency and glazes. It’s all about stretching each artist’s mark and visual vocabulary in new ways. A variety of mediums and colors were explored and sometimes, tools besides paint brushes were wielded. Different subject matter was explored or familiar subject matter was painted with a distinct approach. It has been an interesting time of growth and discomfort as each artist has broken out of their routines and familiar tools. 

‘Activating the Surface: Exploring the Expressive Qualities of Paint’ will open at the Center for the Arts Evergreen on October 22, 2026, with an artist reception from 4 -7 pm. Some of the OCAO artists will be on hand to demonstrate their work every Saturday from October 31st - November 21st from 11 am-1 pm, with a Closing Reception and Artist talk on November 28^th from 2-4 pm.  For more information, please go to www.evergreenarts.org .

I'm so grateful to be among the 62 Colorado artists accepted into the 33rd Annual Governor's Art Show at the Loveland Museum of Art. The opening night gala was a wonderful time, and I'm thrilled that three of my works have sold! Thank you to everyone who has come out! The show is up through June 9, and I will participate in a Meet and Greet on May 25 and a live painting event on June 1.