Art & Power
Power is essentially about influence and the control of others.
Money, position and even Art are all manifestations and symbols of power.
From the shamans in tribal communities, to our tech driven culture, it is always power that decides what is important and beautiful. Artists do not always agree, and this is why Art and artists always remain difficult and problematic.
more » “The Artist Cristian Townsend”
Q: A big part of self empowerment is overcoming the circumstances we are born into, and the challenges that life puts on our path. You had more obstacles to navigate than many people. (Can you share a little about your childhood… how and what encouraged you?)
A: When I think back to my childhood, I remember good times, lots of them. I Also remember terrifying times of fear and hopelessness. At the age of ten, my Mother had to share the reason my Father was absent from the home days or months at a time. She had to explain why Christmas gifts would go missing within a week of unwrapping them under the tree or birthdays being left with unfulfilled promises.
Handle With Care show opens Saturday, October 29th from 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm in Gallery 3, alongside a solo show from Brandi Milne, titled Everything I Ever Was, in the Main Gallery.
Nicoletta Ceccoli’s paintings explore how childlike wonder and innocence can curdle into emotional turmoil and darkness. The artist’s paintings invite you into a magical and wonderful world where role reversal and the blurring of lines between good and evil remind us there is not as fine a line as we often suspect between who’s good, who’s bad, and who’s afraid. Known for her richly detailed, dreamlike work, Ceccoli has described her work as attempting to “offer a delectable balance of repulsive and attractive.”
Visual artist Daniella Batsheva is a self-proclaimed “Illustrator with a design habit” whose aesthetic straddles the line between underground and mainstream. Her art boasts the beautiful detail-heavy, intricate linework of the Victorian era mixed with the dark goth imagery inspired by horror films. Softly stylized figures with deep color palettes. Whimsy with a creepy twist.
Q: When did you begin to take an interest in art and for how long have you considered yourself an artist?
A: I can’t remember a time when art wasn’t a part of my life in some capacity. I was always drawn to any utensil that could leave a mark, so I’ve been scrawling on different surfaces all my life, even before I could grasp the concept of art.
I still struggle with calling myself an artist, actually. To me, “artist” is a title that carries tremendous weight, something that, in my mind, would place me on equal footing with old masters. A title has to be bestowed and, while I have had others that I view as artists bestow that upon me, I’m still uncomfortable with presenting myself that way.
more » “Interview below with visual artist Daniella Batsheva”
The surrealistic, imaginative ink artworks of Olivia MacDonald are conversation pieces. They draw on various elements, all combined into one image that carry a positive message for the viewer.
Olivia has been creating a drawing everyday on Instagram for over three years now, pairing them with thought-provoking captions that add another layer to each piece. She is inspired by her frequent walks in nature, her Swiss-American identity, her background as a creative writer, and her everyday experiences.
She began her journey when her cousin in Switzerland was going through depression and she couldn’t be there to support him. But her art traveled.
Each piece to her is a sort of raw metaphor for life and overcoming. It gave him hope and inspiration and continues to give him and Olivia’s followers of 23K and counting the same each day.
You can find her at Instagram @inkbyolivia, Tik Tok @inkbyolivia, and shop her art prints and stickers at inkbyolivia.com
