From journal entries to artwork

As Tyler Downey hitch-hiked throughout the United States and then into other countries, including Ecuador, Thailand and Australia, he documented his nearly five years of travels in journals using words and sketches.

“I just didn’t have what I needed here in Creston and was soul-searching and art-searching and wanted to see something different,” said Downey, 24, formerly of Creston.

Now, the soon-to-be Portland, Oregon, resident has created several pieces of art using words and images from his travel journals. Downey’s work will be on display at the gallery in the restored Creston Depot for the month of June.

For First Friday, an artist reception with Downey will be from 6 to 8 p.m. tonight at the depot. Open mic night will take place as usual, but this month, it will be held 7:30 p.m. tonight at the Rainbow Park bandshell, located at the corner of South Birch and East Fremont streets in Creston. Those who want to perform should arrive early to sign up.

Creston: Arts President Bailey Fry-Schnormeier said she’s “incredibly excited” about the body of work Downey has on display especially because he is her former student. Downey graduated from Creston High School in 2010.

After high school, Downey went to college for two years but had a longing to travel.

“His whole body of work for this show is all imagery and text pulled from these journals he kept while he was on these adventures,” Fry-Schnormeier said.

One series Downey created that is now on display includes pieces that feature animated renditions of himself at different stages of his travels – in one, he has long, shaggy hair, and in another, he looks more clean-cut. In the background of these pieces are copies of sketches and writings from his travels, collaged behind each cutout self-portrait.

Another of Downey’s works has a juxtaposition of elements, including contrasting colors and subject matter: an elderly Vietnamese woman Downey met in Vietnam, a Buddha statue he saw on the top of a mountain in Thailand and dragon statues he saw in Thailand. In the background are words taken from his journals.

“I start out with original, (hand-drawn) sketches from my journal, then I go into PhotoShop and delete the backgrounds, add colors in, chop different images and put them together, and then add in words from my journal that are either relevant or fit well visually,” Downey said. “I’ll have some direct copies of sketches and also concepts edited from the journals.”

His journals are used in place of taking high-quality photos while traveling, he said.

“Keeping a camera can be difficult because it’s easy to lose or break, so this is kind of my camera – just drawing everything I see,” Downey said.

Downey decided to title this exhibit “Lessons,” and he will have an estimated nine pieces on display.

“I feel like most of the pieces pull out some life lessons learned and some experiences from my travels,” Downey said. “I’ve grown a lot since I started traveling, so I figured that was a good name for it.”

This exhibit won’t be Downey’s first art on display in Creston. He recently completed a mural at the handball court at McKinley Park, and his next project is painting a mural on the underpass by McKinley Park, which the city of Creston is paying him to do. This mural will be complete within about a week. Fry-Schnormeier said it will have a McKinley Park-related theme with cyclists weaved into the design to highlight RAGBRAI riders coming through Creston in July.

Downey has worked on these murals with the help of Creston High School art students’ artistic ideas.

“He’s got this carefree spirit and this great energy, and to see him grow and be a leader with a project and work with my students, it’s coming full circle,” Fry-Schnormeier said of Downey. “It’s really amazing as a teacher to be able to see that happen with one of my students. He’s been excellent in coaching the students through different techniques but also giving them the freedom to really express their own creativity and personalities.”