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Andrea Paustenbaugh '06

andrea

Student Opens Mailroom Gallery

— BFA Student —

At the end of last school year, PNCA freshman Andrea Paustenbaugh studied for finals, just like everyone else. But she was also busy getting a business license and moving into a new home — which happened to contain a gallery space. Mailroom Gallery’s first show opened shortly after finals ended.

Andrea is not one to shy away from a challenge, especially where art is concerned. She began studying art in Salt Lake City at age six, and was accepted to undergraduate programs at Parsons, Chicago, and PNCA. Now, after years of study in drawing and painting, she’s switching gears to pursue graphic design.

andrea art 1“Sara’s legs,” photograph, 2003

“I like the challenge of getting someone else’s idea and forming my own creative aspects with it,” she explains. She plans to eventually work as a graphic artist while continuing her own art.

For now, the ambitious 19-year-old runs the Mailroom Gallery at 512 NW 9th with partner Nathaniel Silverstein. The pair had “no premeditation on the space at all. One day we were skateboarding around and we decided to knock on the door. He let us in to see it, and we got the the space.”

The Mailroom seeks to “completely collide” the worlds of traditional art and its older, expensively-dressed patrons, and that of younger artists and their grittier milieu. This seems appropriate for an artist who jokingly describes her work as “a conservative transparent pant with polka dot panties.”

andrea art 2“Bug in Boobies and Underpants,” pen and paint on hand-made paper, 2003

Andrea is in a good spot to take risks, both with the gallery and as an artist. At PNCA, she feels “the community is small, you know everyone, and everyone’s very kind. You really do feel a part of it all and the class sizes are awesome.” After one year in Portland and at PNCA, her confidence has increased.

“I’m moving faster,” Andrea says with a smile.