"To The Marrow," a deep look inside

This collage by Kathy Carvellas started out as "Spinal Tap", but work progresses and changes along the way and the final piece, along with it's new title are now complete. In the artist's words, "I just finished the first of the three pieces I've been working on. "To the Marrow" is all about the deep connection between the mind and the body. Between our deepest memories and the tiniest cells in our bodies. No matter how aware or unaware we may be of those connections, they effect us each and everyday. For better or worse. Thank God we have the capacity to tap into these connections and receive healing and release in the places we need them!!" Many artist's are able to achieve healing through their work, and we are the benefactors of their labor.

Symbolist collage using 19th century prints......

As a child I loved to see the arty backdrops displayed in high fashion windows at Bonwit Teller in New York City. As an adult I got to meet the extraordinary man who created these collages utilizing images from 18th and 19th century engravings. Many decades later, Anthony Guyther is still creating wonderful works, as well as tongue in cheek constructions, and each one is as clever and witty as ever. The older works are published in a book called "Symbolist Collage", and I have been very fortunate over the years to have collected many of those original works for the gallery and for my personal collection. The construction above is called "Macanudo Lady", the collage is "Egg-guardian", and below that is "Fighting Nix". Yesterday I received copies of his new works and luckily I'll be able to see them in person in a few weeks. I'll keep you posted.......

Maine artist soothes in life as well as in art.....

As a therapist in Southern Maine, Charles Farrell works with individuals and families who are dealing with many forms of mental health issues, including bipolar disorder, anxiety, addictions, depression, and more. With art, both for his clients, as a form of art therapy, and for himself, he has found a voice and an order. Farrell's own work draws from historic as well as contemporary imagery and his combination of collage, photomontage and paint, as well as pencil and ink, produces a mysterious mix of fantasy and recognizable reality striking a chord within the viewer. Click on the title of this piece, and you will be brought to his blog, which is filled with many more intriguing works.

Owls, Jacks, Pixies and Fairies

Karl Mckoy is a wondrous artist as well as a master gardener! His owl begs for a child's wall, but would be savored for a lifetime. The next image reminds me of jack in the pulpit puppets in a storybook scene. He is a magician with both earth and paint and no one knows what will sprout next in the garden of this fertile mind. A favorite of the gallery. Please contact Beverlyskaye@aol with any inquiries about available works.

A Life of Visionary Collage, Ann Irwin

Ann Irwin, by all accounts, was a woman who chose to live, love, and create art, under the most challenging circumstances. She battled chronic lung disease and other health issues, but worked on her art constantly. Even towards the end of her battle, she managed, with a 54 foot long cord to her oxygen supply, to still work in her beloved garden, and create eloquent colleges and quilts in her basement studio. According to her husband, Roy, she utilized old books, fabric, and found objects. "Ann created a large body of art (over 400 pieces) rich in a deep personal mythology of whimsical images of birds, houses, trees, and flowers." She often incorporated the printed word in her works, "not to be read, rather for tonality". "She asked her paper, foil, and twigs to function as a silent prayer, to anchor the dreamy images, to keep them real and material." Ann's work was shown in both museum settings and regional shows. I present here, three wonderful examples of her work. The piece I call "Starry Night with Matzoh" is one of my favorites. I thank Roy Zipris, Ann's husband, for bringing her extraordinary work to my attention. I recently visited the Museum of Modern Art to see collages and constructions. Ann Irwin's work would have been a perfect fit. Click on the title of this blog and you will come to a flickr page of more images. Enjoy!

Pedro Martin DeClet, homage to heros

The collage "Portrait de Genocide", a powerful statement by Pedro Martin DeClet, is typical of his works which often examine his personal struggles and those of society. He first started exploring art while incarcerated, and a liberal prison system encouraged his efforts and allowed him to leave the premisses to attend his first show, beyond prison walls. This monumental work honors fallen heros, Latino as well as American Indian. The red pictograph of the human spirit bleeds for them and their sacrifices. Much of Pedro's work is in diary form, and he excels at painting, collage, sculpture, as well as assemblages.
His prison years and his involvement with the Latin Kings are far behind him, only occasionally resurfacing as fodder for his art. Pedro is exquisitely aware of the art world, and the poetry and prose of the most renowned authors and wordsmiths; however, his work is not at all derivative. It is purely his own vision, his own pain. Although completely self-taught, his frequent use of both Latin and Spanish text within his work gives it a unique sophistication. His self-portraits reveal him as he is, sweet, moody, confrontational, scarred, and hopeful. Pedro has had several museum shows and his work is held in many private collections.

Collage artist, Jocelyn Prosser

Jocelyn Prosser, originally from Toronto, Ontario, lives and creates her brilliant work in Neath, South Wales. She is a self-taught painter, using watercolor as her medium and Paul Klee, Frida Kahlo and primitive Haitian images as influences. Jocelyn is an eclectic collector of all types of 1940's dolls, Shona carvings, and objects trouves salvaged from home sales and flea markets. Sometimes these treasures get a second life as this artist also creates striking assemblages and jewelry. In the Spring of 2008 her assemblages were first shown in recycled wooden boxes and drawers at the Washington Gallery in South Wales.
She has a presence on the Saatchi site filled with many excellent examples of her watercolors and is an artist worth noting. Her work has a musicality to it and a painterly esthetic. The work on the top is entitled "Silver Lined Cloud" and the collage on the bottom is called "Lighthouse".

Collage by Kathy Carvellas.....self-taught artist

Look what I found! Kathy Carvellas is a self-taught artist from Pasadena California, who started experimenting with clip art in 2004. She evolved into creating original works utilizing both collage and assemblage, and has shown her works to great acclaim. Recently, two of her pieces were part of a silent auction to benefit Doctor's Without Borders. Kathy previously studied Marine Biology, and she has performed successfully as an actress. This is definitely someone to watch!