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Americana-loving portrait artist Stephanie Guidera has had her sights set on Lowertown since she was a teenager, and last year she took root in the community that inspired her. Her poignant yet inviting works depict real people in real situations; some haunting, some tinged with humor. We caught up with Stephanie this week to talk about her work, the Lowertown vibe, and what’s to come during the spring Art Crawl, happening this weekend, April 29th-May 1st.

How long have you been working in Lowertown and why were you drawn to the area initially?

I wanted to live/work in Lowertown since I was in high school and attended my first Art Crawl. I was initially in drawn to the architecture and layout of the individual studios. Also seeing the quality of work and community of artists was immediately something I was interested in. I’ve been living here over a year now, and love the location and vibe of the community – especially in the spring and summer!

How would you describe your work? What is your creative process?

My work revolves around the human form. Mostly, I do expressive portraits that illustrate contemporary life in America. In the past, my work has been very influenced by international travel. Since I graduated college, I haven’t been able to travel quite as much, and have turned my focus on America – the values and images of the culture. My current body of work is focused on illustrating stereotypes found in American culture. For these, I have chosen to have the composition (and sometimes pose) taken from formal portraits of art history. For example, a pose used to show Napoleon’s grandeur and power is used to show what I call “The Tool,” a joke of masculinity. The concepts keep me quite interested and my painting style – a sort of mix between realism and expressionism – keeps me challenged.

What do you have lined up for the Art Crawl? What can people expect to see at your studio?

I have quite a few new pieces from the above mentioned series that haven’t been seen before (except online). My roommate, Genevieve Mariani, will also be showing her wonderful watercolor illustrations. Together, we have quite a few pieces to show, so come with thirsty eyes!

What other artists or events are you excited about this art crawl?

One of the downfalls to showing your work in the crawl is that you don’t necessarily get a chance to check out others’ studios! I know my fellow Tilsner-ites will have great things on display. I also would always make sure to head next door to the Northern Warehouse. A to Z Gallery has a great variety, and make sure you go upstairs and visit the artists’ studios!

How do you see the area evolving over the next few years?

I think that the growth in terms of the light rail and a possible ball park could be really good things for Lowertown. As a community I think it’s getting there. With more shops, eateries and resources in Lowertown itself, it could be amped up to a new level. Downtown St Paul and Lowertown seem to have a bit of a divide as far as what kind of a city we want to be. Minneapolis has the night life sorted – so what about St Paul? Bringing more people down here could really help Lowertown become more of a destination. However, this may result in a loss of it’s small authentic feel. The gears are already in motion, so time will only tell what becomes of it!

For more info on Stephanie visit her site at www.stephguidera.com

For more info on the St. Paul Art Crawl visit www.stpaulartcrawl.com