… In Wonderland
John Calabrese received his BA in Art from Catholic University, Washington, D.C., his MFA in Painting from Pratt Institute, and his Ph. D. in Comparative Arts from Ohio University. He is Professor Emeritus of Art at Texas Woman’s University where he taught art history, drawing, aesthetics, history of film noir, the art of Alfred Hitchcock, and was in charge of the studies abroad art history program which he initiated in 1994. He has published articles on the paintings of Paul Klee, J. R. R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings”, and Alfred Hitchcock’s “Vertigo” and “The Trouble with Harry”.
For a complete list of exhibitions of his drawings see the website under “About the Artist”.
A delicate nuance of value and texture becomes tools in conveying powerful dramatic statements about earthly beings who are not afraid to wonder, think, dream, and take that one step beyond.
The inhabitants of the cosmic atmosphere appear at odds with their surroundings (many of which are actual, specifically named astronomical objects). This is the result when the merely earthly confronts its unavoidable connection to the awe, mystery, and majesty of the heavens.
However, when fragile earthly beauty confronts sublime heavenly beauty, the earthly is reverently and silently humbled.
‘Til Death Do Us Part
I took up photography as an undergraduate at the University of Iowa, exhibited locally, and won a couple of awards. Graduate school, full-time teaching, and 10 years as an academic department head pushed photography out of the picture. Hurricane Katrina inspired me to pick up a camera again. I produced “WATERLINE: an interactive photo installation,” a critically acclaimed work that was exhibited fifteen times throughout Louisiana and in Florida and Philadelphia. It’s now available as the book, “WATERLINE: landscape with voices.” Now retired, I teach part-time and do communications consulting. I’m a founding member of an artists’ co-op where I offer workshops: Blogging 101, Camera Camp for kids, Everybody Can Take Better Pictures for grown-ups, and Michelangelo’s Sisters: (Re)Discovering Great Women Artists. To see my work, search online for #HardHatArt, #PerformanceArt, #EarthAbstracts, #ArchitecturalAbstracts, #StreetEncounter, and #CreatureEncounter. My blog: https://edge-essence.com/blog/.
I encounter the world through photography, striving to see and know the forms and spirit of things. I explore the glory & pathos, the heroism & hubris of humanity, and our struggle to find and create meaning. One influence is Georgia O’Keeffe, who could draw a banana plant or paint a landscape pregnant with the human condition. Another is Margaret Bourke-White, who saw beauty in the industry. Themes include #PerformanceArt, #HardHatArt, #EarthAbstracts, #CreatureEncounter, #IntimateLandscape, #ArchitecturalAbstracts. Framing is a foundational aesthetic and tool of the photographer. Imposing frames on reality profoundly disrupts reality, isolating, freezing, and representing a fragment of time and space, which humans by and large experience continuously. Whatever my subject—nature, industry, architecture—I use abstraction, framing, and techniques like selective focus, color, and monochrome to transform telling details and fleeting insights into an invitation to viewers to see and know as well.
★ Angelic ★
Growing up in the colorful city of San Francisco and studying art in historic Florence, Italy gave me a wide range of artistic abilities. Experience as a graphic, portrait, and mural artist has helped me find true expression in the contemporary art world.
I start every painting with a handmade alder wood frame stretched with organic cotton canvas. After the gesso, I apply a water-based layer, giving the painting texture. Layers of gold, silver, and copper leaf are then followed by French-milled, museum-quality oil paint and resin. This unique layering technique gives my paintings a luminous quality ranging from peaceful and ethereal to vibrant and lively.
Currently based in Edwards, my creativity mirrors an internal landscape of emotion inspired by Colorado’s dramatic, wide-open spaces. I paint with the skill and aesthetic sensitivity acquired from experience and fearless exploration of endless possibilities.
Internally ignited, shapes and forms have a dynamic presence and colors reflect a hypersensitive spectrum. Incandescence, luminosity, and radiance inspire me. From this internal perspective of meditative contemplation, light creates a path to follow, regardless of recognizable content. A new paradigm is offered by a shift in perspective. The unknown becomes beautiful and alive with potential.
★ As I Attach Myself To The Memory Of Her ★
Kai Thaís (Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, 2003) is a multidisciplinary artist. She considers herself a nomad of the arts, immersing herself in every medium she encounters along her journey. Her initial passion for drawing and painting led her to venture into writing, tattooing, photography, street art, and acting, and, more recently, has delved into the world of film and audiovisual creation, utilizing her artistic perspective as a visual artist. She now explores the relationship those mediums have and the narratives she can put forth in their transgressions.
Since 17, Kai Thaís has been immersed in the world of tattooing, turning it into her passion and vocation. She practices her profession as an independent tattoo artist in the town of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, where she has established her reputation as a professional. She is pursuing her studies in Fine Arts at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus. Through this formal education, she complements and enriches her artistic approach, allowing her to expand her creative horizons and gain new perspectives in her work.
Throughout her career, Kai Thaís has participated in various solo and group exhibitions, standing out in events like En el Tendedero (On the Clothesline), held at Taller Libertá, Mayagüez. Additionally, she has been part of collective exhibitions such as; ¿Y Para qué el arte en tiempos de penuria?, held at La Lineal Gallery in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, Acuarela de Mayo; at Galería Betances, Mayagüez, and the Annual Student Exhibition at UPRM Art Gallery. Her talent and dedication have been recognized with awards and distinctions, including the Lydia Abreu Student Scholarship granted by Ciudad Museo, Añasco, Puerto Rico, in 2022.
There is a certain uneasiness in admitting to being lost… For as long as I’ve known to, I’ve used my practice to retreat into myself, to explore inward, and deny any limitations my chronically ill form or state of identity rendered me with. But a paintbrush is an idle tool to get control; It seems that everything around me is changing and it is up to me to make something of it. I aim to turn my practice into a purposeful exploration of what scares me, and the spaces, relationships, and emotions I occupy. Through my work, I’ve found a space to relate to my chronically ill body, to my feminine body, to my disconnection to it. From being a girl who fell out of place and decided to take control by only relating to herself through the bodies she could paint or mark. I analyzed myself so much I ceased to exist as a girl, and became an idea to exploit. Simultaneously subject, creator, and spectator; all but a girl who has to deal with being lost. And when I realized what I had done, I was no longer a girl. Now, I take on the task of reconciling with my body and girlhood lost by playing with those mediums I’m used to, and those I’m yet to acquaint myself with.
I yearn to return myself to the body I’ve mutilated ritualistically, permit myself to feel all the fragile chaos needed, and go beyond introspection, to explore my relationship with what surrounds me. This stage is one of discovering, of unsure action. For now, I seek to bridge the things that have made me so far and discover. Take space, and expand my practice beyond the comfortable canvas.
★ Beneath The Surface ★
“Mahshid, a self-taught contemporary painter from Iran, discovered her true passion for art at a young age. Despite her love for painting, she pursued a career in architecture, a fusion of art and engineering. In her homeland, she faced challenges as a female artist. Now a full-time architectural designer in San Francisco, she seizes every opportunity to paint, driven by her desire for freedom, women’s empowerment, and genuine self-expression.
Her journey began with watercolors and blank paper, revealing her innate ability to channel emotions into vibrant artworks. With no formal training, her creative process is free from preconceived notions. Each piece is a direct reflection of her inner world, translating feelings, thoughts, and experiences into visual stories. Mahshid’s work explores a wide spectrum of emotions, sexuality, and spirituality through a feminine perspective. As she continues to evolve, she embodies the belief that anyone, regardless of their background, can contribute a unique voice to contemporary art.”
My artistic endeavors are a profound exploration of the interplay between sexuality and spirituality, through a feminine lens. I aim to bridge these two aspects of humanity, recognizing that they are not separate entities but rather intertwined forces that shape the essence of the human being.
Growing up as a woman within a culture that often suppresses and stigmatizes female sexuality, I feel a deep calling to use my art as a platform to challenge and reshape these prevailing societal norms. My work is a vibrant celebration of the empowerment that comes from embracing one’s own body and desires, elevating them to the status of something sacred and profound. In my art, women are not objects of desire but the embodiment of it.
My art is a joyful tribute to the intricate, multifaceted nature of womanhood. It’s a celebration of the entire spectrum of human emotions, desires, and the essence of self, unburdened by the constraints imposed by society. Every stroke of my brush is a visual translation of an emotional odyssey, a passionate celebration of what it means to be a woman, a human being, and a living entity. Through my art, I endeavor to capture and share the essence of the unfiltered human experience, inviting viewers to join me on this vibrant journey of self-discovery and empowerment.
★ Bloom Of Fortune ★
Daria Divashchenko is a Ukrainian artist, holding a bachelor’s degree in Cultural Events Directing from Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts. Furthering her passion for art, she pursued Contemporary Art at the Kyiv Academy of Media Arts. Since 2013, art has been her full-time dedication.
Daria is celebrated for her mastery of painting techniques, skillfully portraying the delicate harmony between terrestrial flora and the enigmatic depths of aquatic fauna. Her work goes beyond the surface, exploring the subconscious and the intertwined connection between humanity and nature. Through her unique artistic process, she bridges the conscious and subconscious, grounding her vision in the concept that humans are inseparable from the living world around them.
Deeply personal, Daria’s art is a reflection of her own life experiences. Every situation she encounters leaves an imprint on her creative journey, shaping the narratives and emotions embedded in her work. This personal influence adds layers of depth, making each piece a unique exploration of her evolving identity.
Her style is rooted in realism, yet she transcends tradition by incorporating metal leaves into her work, which symbolize the fluidity and constant change inherent in life. These metallic elements reflect light and surroundings, allowing her pieces to evolve in different environments, mirroring the ever-changing world.
Daria’s artworks have garnered international recognition, finding homes in private collections across Ukraine, England, the USA, Australia, Singapore, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Spain, Thailand, Germany, and Greece. Her exhibitions span the globe, from prestigious galleries and art fairs to museum showcases. Notably, her works are also part of the collection at The Office of the President of Ukraine.
The Ukrainian artist works in the painting technique. She reveals the essence of natural themes in her artworks, addressing flora and fauna on land and underwater. She also works with images and associations of the deep subconscious and identity, getting to know her inner world and its interaction with the external one in the process. The human is an inseparable part of all life on Earth. These deep subconscious connections become ideas for the artist’s artworks. Daria works mostly in realism, perfectly conveying colors and shapes.
Her artistic practice is mostly characterized by the use of metal leaves, a symbol of variability and impermanence. Studies the ability of surfaces to reflect reality and reproduces this in her artworks.
Paintings are in private collections in many countries: Ukraine, Australia, Singapore, England, USA, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Spain, Germany and Greece. Exhibits in different galleries and museums participate in Art Fairs. Artworks decorate The Office of the President of Ukraine.
★ Denied ★
Born in San Francisco and spending his adolescence in Seattle, Gard earned undergraduate degrees in art, art history, and sculpture in the Pacific Northwest. His sculpture reflected the sublime grey upon grey, majestic landscape through the lens of minimalism.
Gard earned an M.F.A. at Cranbrook Academy of Art, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Moving to Washington, D.C. Gard worked with the International Sculpture Center and the Maryland Institute College of Art. Since 2014 Gard’s artwork has become personal, solemn, and introspective.
He has exhibited his work in galleries and museums in Washington State, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC. Gard has taught courses in studio art and art history for colleges and Universities in the Pacific Northwest, and the Mid-Atlantic. Currently living in Baltimore, Maryland, Gard is a faculty member at York College of Pennsylvania and lectures on Visual Culture, Art Theory, and Street Art.
Working with the physicality of various media in a relationship to the viewer and the space taps into intellectual and primitive relationships to self and objects. As I work out ideas on paper in advance of actualizing my sculptures the process becomes three dimensional. Some may call them collages, or mixed media assemblages, however to my mind they are drawings that sometimes become wall sculptures. For the past ten years, I have been on an introspective journey in search of the common truths of human existence, mythology, and philosophy.
★ Elvis In Jerusalem ★
I have been expressing my joy in art with paint, shapes, and colors since I was very young. I started as a painter, evolved into a photographer, and eventually began hand-painting on my Cibachrome prints over 35 years ago. Before Photoshop I found a way to express a new magical reality with the vivid, saturated, and unrealistic colors I painted into each individual photographic print.
For the past 30 years, I have been scanning my one-of-a-kind hand-painted prints and my library of 35mm Kodachrome color transparencies taken over the last 50 years. I paint, combine, and enhance them with Photoshop, creating my own idyllic world!
My art has been shown worldwide in many solo exhibitions including:
Butler Institute of American Art, Ohio; Colarinda Gallery, Lisbon, Portugal; MAD Gallery, Milan, Italy; Demenga Gallery, Paris, France & Basel, Switzerland; Carnegie Art Museum, Oxnard, CA; Laguna Art Museum, CA; Petersen Automotive Museum, LA, CA; LA County Natural History Museum, CA; Monterey Museum of Art, CA; Nancy Hoffman Gallery, NYC, NY; L’Image Gallery, Rome, Italy; Louis Stern Gallery, West Hollywood, CA; Wall Space Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA.
I have been included in countless group exhibits and Art Fairs around the world. It has been in many magazines, book covers, two museum exhibition catalogs, and two books have been published of my art, Garden Tales and Car Tales. Over the last 15 years, I have had the honor of being asked to install my art in many wonderful public spaces, mainly at UCLA and UCSB, all on exhibit indefinitely!! I installed more than 70 large artworks at the UCLA Law Library and UCLA Anderson School of Management, including a 5’x10′ commission.
I installed an exhibit of my “Joy Rides” series printed on aluminum at the Car Museum in Oxnard, CA. I installed 20 new very large artworks printed on aluminum at the UCSB Graduate School of Education. In 2015 I created the First Vertical Art Gallery at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health. I installed 15 more very large artworks at the UCLA Charles Young Graduate Library, in a huge first-floor study hall! I installed another 15 artworks in the UCSB English Dept building.
I had the inaugural solo exhibit at a new wonderful gallery at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden entitled “Jane Gottlieb Fantasy Gardens” in 2017. In 2018 I had a 4-month exhibition entitled “Jane Gottlieb Photographs France” at the UCSB Art, Design & Architecture Museum!
I just finished a 15’x15’ commission for the main entrance of the UCSB Library titled “Check It Out”! The UCSB Library has 20 large artworks of mine all over the library.
Vivid colors, altered perspectives, strong compositions, beautiful and unique images: this is my art. I welcome all to a contemporary Wonderland with strong theatrical effects, and classic compositions, enhanced with my trademark saturated colors!! As an artist all my life, I have been creating artworks with my lifetime collection of photographs taken traveling all over the world, and the magic of Photoshop. My art has been exhibited in galleries & museums across the US, Asia, and Europe, featured in numerous magazines, and books, and displayed in all the main international art expos. My art is collected in many public, and private collections, and museum collections.
★ Guests Gaze ★
Arlet Gomez, a contemporary painter from Cuba, knew from a very young age that art was her path, so with the support of her family she focused on studying art at all levels that her country offered. She first graduated from a painting academy, and then received a Degree in Fine Arts, [2009] from ISA, University of Arts in Cuba. Now a professional artist in Palm Beach, Florida, she is compelled by the need to express her desires for coexistence, freedom, longing for roots, and enlightenment of the human essence. With eight solo exhibitions and several group shows around the world, her artistic career began with large canvases of vibrant colors that mostly included the Braille system in their compositions. She seeks to transport painting as a technique to another dimension and turn it into an inclusive experience. Each piece is a direct reflection of her childhood memories, personal stories from her homeland, and her migration to Europe and America, thus translating feelings and longings into visual experiences. Gomez’s work explores the connection between human beings and nature and their spiritual threads, linking destiny with origins, apprehension with enlightenment. As she continues to evolve, she hopes that each stage of her art will be a contemplative invitation visualized in light of the freedom of contemporary art.
My artistic work is a search that attempts to investigate the diverse connections that interact in the human being, both physically and spiritually. My objective is to create a visible parallel of these connections recognizing that we are a reflection of the invisible, emotions, feelings, and what we have learned. It is precisely the sum of all this that is our essence as human beings. Throughout my life, the scenes I experienced in my childhood are recurrent in my unconscious, and sometimes I have wanted to go back and resume conversations, looks, and behaviors. This is why in my artwork, childhood is a platform to reveal these ideas of continuous exploration that involve our essence and our link with nature. My work is an ode to those moments of connection with beings and snapshots of time. In my work, the meaning of inclusion is celebrated, and each of my figurations strives to reflect this desire. My art aims to bring light and reflection to those who observe it, to function as a mirror of past experiences and lived emotions; and art that transcends from a contemplative to a reflective experience. Through each of my strokes, I aim to visually translate ideas of identity, freedom, and belonging without social and cultural veils, inviting viewers to delve into the intimacy of universal emotions and feelings that illuminate our being from the deepest depths.