AN EXHIBITION OF NEW ARTWORK AT TSKW
opening March 3rd
In 2014 I facilitated a yoga art and art retreat to Nicaragua titled “Sacred circles “ . This retreat was the beginning of my investigation into the relationship between sacred geometry, spirituality and personal growth.
since that seven day retreat I have discovered a school of thought calledTHE GREAT ROUND , A schema based on the patterns and rhythms in nature which are mirrored in the human condition and experiences.
beginning with the work of Swiss psychoanalysis C.G.Jung , Who pointed out that. “Circular designs are significant in the process of becoming an authentic individual.”
Jung surmised that circles or mandalas are a manifestation of the self regulating systems of the psyche which maintains our orderly functioning and when necessary restores stability. Through his own creative process and that of his patience Jung uncovered an innate desire to create circular patterns, which he believed, expressed a conscious or subconscious state of mind. He goes on to state that there is”no linear Evolution, rather all phenomenon is cyclical” from the cycles of the seasons, the moon, the activities of agriculture to one’s own breath cycle. All things rest, awaken, expand, decline and dissolve only to repeat the cycle again.Jung discovered a variety of symbols and mandalas associated with these phases
C.G.Jung’s research is the groundwork for Dr. Joanne Kellogg. Inspired by Jung’s discoveries Kellogg collected and codified mandala designs into a system she called the archetypal stages of the great round. Kellogg proposes that the individual passes through all 12 of these stages in the arc of our existence. She further suggest that we repeat and forward back and forward into the stages in micro cycles throughout our life.
These stages are :
1.Resting in the darkness
2.Floating into light
3.Turning Towards the journey
4.Embracing the new
5.Claiming Selfhood
6.Igniting the fire
7.Squaring the circle
8.Functioning in the world
9.Reaping the rewards
10.letting go
11.Falling apart
12.Opening to Grace
It is from this research, philosophy and tradition that my series of artwork is inspired .
The journey into the great round begins with resting in the darkness …This stage is aligned with the month of January. It is the time when living things are dormant and seeds are buried beneath the ground. It is a place of stillness and quiet on our journey.
stage one is a time of deep rest, an interval of quietly knitting together new structures as yet unseen, and a moment of joining with the primordial waters of creation.
on a personal level I experience this stage each time a project comes to completion. It is the pause in between creation. My energy is low and often times I cannot imagine producing another piece of art. There is a sense of being in the darkness.
The first painting of my exhibition JOURNEY INTO THE GREAT ROUND is the painting REST .
This piece was created by layering cold wax and oil paint over several months creating a translucent effect . I then scraped and scrubbed into the surface achieving a subtle texture. Through this process a sense of vibration is achieved in the painting. It is the vibration of OM (AUM) the first sound, all sound and last sound according to the VEDANTA philosophy of India And the Hindu tradition.
Stage two of THE GREAT ROUND is Floating into the light and is represented by my painting BLISS a 36”x36” acrylic abstract .
FLOATING INTO THE LIGHT is a place which corresponds to the month of February and the predawn sky. In relationship to personal growth in the space one experiences a sense of rising energy, of inspiration and possibilities.
Although where you are going maybe yet unclear one is woke and perhaps even blissfully unaware of the difficulties that lie ahead.
My piece BLISS Was an opportunity for me to experiment and grow as an artist. This painting was created by layering abstract shapes with fluid acrylics. This technique is completely new to me and as I learned a great deal of openness and experimentation was necessary to achieve the desired effect.
Not only does the fluid nature of the painting reflect the watery element of stage two, but even more so the headspace and process in which it was made. A complete acceptance of chance and literally going with the flow was necessary. I worked intuitively on this painting and allowed it to tell me what was next .
In the painting BLISS we see the emergence of the colors and shapes of the chakra system.