Banners
James McKenna’s art practice has evolved through a variety of media, including photography, painting, steel-based sculpture, drawing, and now sculpture with paint-stiffened canvas. Through all, the nature of spirit has remained present, though concerns about morality have recently become dominant.
During McKenna’s undergraduate years, he practiced small-scale metalsmithing using brass, copper, and silver. It was in these first years that he established his raw style, then in anachronistic, crude expressions of unseen realities. Direct, hands-on manipulation of materials and a preference for discarded or inexpensive materials have frequently been featured in his work.
Forms and textures created using his entire body characterize McKenna’s current work. Such immediacy focuses viewers’ attention on the body’s presence, with implications of its fragility and the self’s hunger for life.
Concerns about life, death, and the nature of saturating my work. These banners reveal increasing urgency to find a way of being that encompasses both my feelings of mortality and my sorrow at my inevitable farewell to those I love.
Two artists loom large in my thinking: John Coplans and Joan Semmel. They encounter their aging bodies directly; as we assess theirs, we are forced to assess our own. For me, questions arise: What is my body? What is my relationship with it? Why must it fail and I depart? Where will I go? Formally, the work of Anselm Kiefer, Julian Schnabel, and others inform my work with ragged materials and raw, encrusted surfaces that create urgency and intensity. Though I’ve experimented with clear representations of my body, right now I am present but barely visible, just beneath the surface of these scarred, cryptic banners.
Barbie Series Paris Rouge
Karen Safer is a photographic artist, documentarian, published writer, and poet with a musical bent. As a fifth-generation native Angelino, she was given a camera and crayons at 3 and exposed to dominant California motifs: light, palm trees, the ocean, music, and vernacular architecture that helped define and influence her left-handed aesthetic. She was influenced by her dad (educator and calligrapher) who developed black & white photos in their back washroom/turned darkroom and by her mother’s thirst for knowledge and travel.
She was fortunate to begin a life of travel as a pre-teen which shaped her love of the exotic paired with an eye for the formal, accidental, and unusual while subliminally seeking the “beautiful” that jiggles the lens/frame of her eye. From the onset, she documented her surroundings and family and friends’ events. During COVID she photographed from her balcony and was dubbed the “Monet of Playa del Rey.”
She has been in over 12 solo shows and 220+ juried and group exhibitions in London, Rome, Glasgow, Zurich, Budapest, Barcelona, Athens, Prague, Paris, Amsterdam, Belgium, Brazil, Hawaii, Canada, and from California to New York and from Minnesota to Santa Fe, to Florida, winning 200+ Talent, Merit, Honorable Mention and Special Recognition Awards. She has traveled and photographed in over 230 countries (and territories). She is a member of many art organizations.
Initially, she began painting and printmaking alongside art and architectural history before wholly embracing photography with influences from Mesopotamia to Vermeer/Matisse and Atget to Cindy Sherman. She is a self-described “romantic soul” with intellectual cravings.
She received a bachelor’s and master’s degree with honors in art from UCLA and CSULB. Her career includes work in design and architecture firms and principal of ArtFocus International.
A photographer has the whole world – big or small – to capture. kjs
Influences: I am a student of art, architecture, history, literature, film, and music. I have been heavily influenced by so many sources but here I’ve chosen to highlight art and photography influences from Hopper to Cartier-Bresson and from Atget to Cindy Sherman. So many influences on life from cities to nature to music and art. I love color and all its vibrance while I venerate black and white. I embrace all the many influences that have touched my art and my life deeply.
Bath And Beauty
The beauty of nature surrounding Los Angeles was the impetus for her entrance into the field of photography. Joanne began vigorously studying photography and other art arenas to hone her skills as a visual artist. In 2000, she graduated from California State University, Los Angeles with a Master of Fine Art (MFA). She is now a full-time artist.
In addition to color and black and white film, Joanne shoots digitally employs the techniques of infrared imaging, and enjoys creating 3D anaglyphs to be viewed with red/blue lenses. As an extension of photography, she has branched out to do videos and has a YouTube Channel, THE VIDEO ART OF JOANNE CHASE-MATTILLO. Along with nature, Joanne frequently photographs female and male subjects in fun-themed studio shoots.
Joanne has exhibited throughout California, nationally, in Korea, France and England, Switzerland, Scotland, Greece, Spain, Germany, Japan, Belgium, Holland, Brazil and Italy. Her work has also been selected for Lunar Codex, a very special project partnered with SpaceX to deliver the images of art in a time capsule to be permanently affixed to the surface of the moon, selected by Era Contemporary Gallery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as part of “Legends Of The Moon”.
When reminiscing on “The Dolce Vida” or “The Sweet Life” I think of happiness, beauty, and play. This is the summer of “pink” and lightness. Always fascinated by the influence of cinema, the images here reflect Hollywood movies of the 1960’s. Why deal in realism alone, when we can go to bright shiny settings that make us smile?
Bath Time
Jennifer Anne Moses grew up in the Virginia suburbs of Washington DC, where her parents as well as the larger community were oriented toward politics and law and she spent as much time as possible in the lovely, sun-filled Art Room of her school, where she painted with joy and freedom. In high school, all that joy and freedom came to a crashing halt, and she hung up her paintbrushes and pencils. After graduating with a B.A. from Tufts University in 1981, she moved to New York City for a series of jobs in magazines, a short-lived career that she eagerly left at the birth of her first child. That child became the excuse she needed to do what she wanted, which was to stay home and write. Two more children came, as did several moves—from NYC to L.A., from L.A. to DC, and from DC to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She continued to write—eventually publishing several books of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry, along with journalism and essays. In her early forties, when she was embedded in a Black Full-Gospel community in Baton Rouge, she experienced the first of what became an endless series of what she calls “waking visions”—images that come into her mind’s eye, as if from a Source beyond herself. She hasn’t stopped painting since, often “selling” her work in exchange for donations to Food Banks, Homeless Shelters, AIDS organizations, and the like.
Her work has been exhibited in juried, group, small museum, and solo shows in Brooklyn, New York City, Princeton, NJ, Baton Rouge, LA, Richmond, VA, Frenchtown, NJ, Vicksburg, MS, West Hartford, CT, Washington, DC, and many small, church, university and synagogue venues in New Jersey and Louisiana.
She lives with her husband and dogs in Montclair, NJ.
Though in childhood I was an avid painter, by the time I was a teenager, I no longer had access to the freedom I’d once felt to create anything other than good grades. I left art in favor of long walks in the woods that surrounded my childhood home, and books. Where once color, image, and the vibrant movement of light and shadow had entranced me on paper and canvas, now it entranced me in nature, and where once I told “stories” in my paintings, now I began to read copiously, and then to write stories of my own. I left home—
By the time I was in my thirties, I was married with three children, and living in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Baton Rouge was a shock to my system. Before our move there, in 1996, I had never set foot in the Deep South. But I grew to love my new home, feeling again a kind of interior freedom that I hadn’t experienced since I was a girl. During those years I began to “see” images in my mind’s eye and, experiencing a need to pick up a paintbrush, I painted the first painting I’d made in almost three decades. I haven’t stopped painting since.
Images continue to appear in my mind’s eye, sometimes accompanied by text, and I try to “catch” them in a sketch, which becomes the blueprint of my finished pieces. I call this experience “waking visions.” In my work, I fuse Hebrew, Christian, Southern, and Jewish influences and styles.
My primary discipline is painting. I use acrylics, but I often add pencils, pens, pastels, and any other material I feel like using, including glitter, glass, photographs, and nail polish. I paint on paper, canvas, and a variety of cast-offs such as discarded wooden doors or the detached doors of former dishwashers.
I am also a writer. I toggle back and forth between making visual art and making narrative art.
BC
Based on the impressionist technique, the artist puts great emphasis on expressing individual emotions and the inner world. It hasn’t been long since Park drew, and Park is a passionate artist who draws more than 4,000 paintings in a year by self-study, and he has been active in various fields such as his hometown of S.Korea, Los Angeles, and VR exhibitions for a short time.
The artist is expanding his range of expression by creating ambiguous works on the boundary between concept and abstraction and blurring the object. Through this, it captures its own personality and sensibility in the work and provides free interpretability.
And the artist continues to grow distinctions in his work. The delicate combination of colors and sensuous sensibility shown in his work is evidence that he continues to develop his own style.
Be Happy
Katrina is a Professional Artist specializing in Acrylic Paintings with more than 30 years of experience and she Illustrated several children’s books as well. Katrina comes from an artist family of several generations and to become an artist was pretty easy for her as colors, brushes, and canvases followed her all the way around since early childhood.
She’s been participating in exhibitions since sweet sixteen and won several awards, the most important was the opportunity to spend some time in Vienna City, Austria where she discovered F. Hundertwasser’s art which really inspired her. Other inspiring names in art for Katrina are Henri Matisse, Claude Monet, Gustav Klimt, and Pablo Picasso.
For the last twenty years, she’s been living in Leeds City, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom. The beautiful scenery of Yorkshire widens her creativity, here is some kind of mix of different natures, like Italy, France, Spain, and Latvia all in one.
In my paintings, I devote much attention to the play of colors, lines, and plot. I convey my vision of the world with colors and images, but the plot plays a special role. The paintings were created mainly during my travels. I try to perceive the world not only in my native Latvia but also in other countries. Each painting has its own story. It tells about the scenic mountains of Tuscany and the magic cathedrals of Italy. Perhaps, there are stories about Britain’s magical gardens or a cat that brings warmth and peace to home. A woman waiting for the love of her lifetime…
I wish to spread beauty in the world and bring happiness to people through my paintings. I wish everyone looking at my paintings will feel the love I can give. Who knows, any person can share this love with others…
Be Still
As a little girl growing up in Richmond, Virginia, I would watch my mother paint for hours. Her passion and talent sparked my own love for art at a young age, and I quickly began learning by her side. I later earned both my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), where I studied literature, art, and early childhood education. Being immersed in the creative culture at VCU helped me grow as an artist and connected me with Richmond’s vibrant fine arts community.
Before moving abroad in 2005, I was commissioned to paint several murals throughout the Richmond area. That same year, I relocated to Germany with the military, where I had the incredible opportunity to explore some of the world’s most iconic art and cultural landmarks—including the Louvre, the Sistine Chapel, and the Van Gogh Museum. These experiences deeply influenced my artistic journey and expanded my appreciation for global art history.
For over 25 years, I have worked as an elementary school teacher both in the U.S. and overseas, continuing to paint as a passionate hobby and personal outlet. My work draws from a lifetime of travel, education, and rich family heritage. Today, I’m an active member of several local art societies, including Prince William Art Society, and a resident artist at Art Works in Richmond, Virginia. I also showcase my art through my business, Acrylic By Design, LLC, with permanent installations in Manassas, Virginia. I’ve recently become a certified art therapist and offer therapy activities within my art classes.
I enjoy participating in community art events and have been honored with the People’s Choice First Place and Second Place awards between 2024 and 2025. Most recently, I’ve been given the exciting opportunity to present several solo shows, which has been a personal milestone and created the start of my commercial business. I continue to seek challenges in the art world and hold tight to my greatest artistic influence, my late mother, Georgene Cole.
In my work, I explore the transformative power of abstraction; how color, texture, and form can combine to create something far greater than their individual parts. I grew up in Richmond, Virginia, watching my mother paint. She taught me to paint what you know, and how you see and feel it. I add texture that pops off the canvas and tricks the eyes into feeling the bumpy tree trunk. I use my palette knife to paint just as much as my brushes. I had the great opportunity to live in Europe for several years and explore spectacular historical landmarks and museums such as the Louvre, the Van Gogh Museum, the Rijks Museum, the Uffizi Galleries, and many more. I consider myself a modern impressionist, utilizing vibrant colors and mixed media. Each painting begins with a variety of underpainting techniques, including alcohol ink, mixed media paper, texture, and sometimes oil pastels. After the underpainting sets, I finish my story with oils for a rich finishing layer of depth. The layers of texture invite viewers to see beyond the flat surface of a landscape or portrait. The gold woven into my paintings is a reminder of the beauty and magic found in unexpected places. My inspiration is driven by the colors of nature and the emotions of gratitude. I’d like to think each piece I create will give some warmth and brightness to whoever stands in front of it.
Be The Sun In Someone’s Darkness
Lale Gerger’s life and artistry are a testament to resilience and passion for expression. Born in Colorado, and immersed in Turkey’s culture until she was twelve. Her adolescence spanned the U.S., England, Kuwait, and Mexico, culminating in a return to the U.S. and later, Turkey at 24. These experiences broadened her global perspective and shaped her artistic outlook.
During her middle school years in America, Gerger’s struggle with language and cultural assimilation led her to discover her passion for the arts. A theatre class became her sanctuary, highlighting the power of artistic expression in fostering connection and understanding. She pursued a degree in Theatre from UCLA and later earned her Master’s degree from the University of Florida, exploring the nexus of art, health, and business.
Gerger’s professional life took a practical turn as she embarked on a career in HR, driven by her responsibilities as the first single woman to adopt in Turkey, a five-year legal battle that saw two laws change. Simultaneously, she worked as an actress and director. Her mother’s battle with cancer and the economic impact of COVID-19 led her to find solace in art again. After multiple layoffs during the pandemic, she shifted to painting full-time.
Now in Florida, Gerger is a celebrated contemporary abstract painter. Her vibrant works capture universal and oceanic essences. Through her “Shine Your Light” series, she encourages finding your own light and shining it for others, which she describes as her golden thread.
Gerger has earned numerous accolades, including the Award of Excellence from the Gainesville Fine Arts Association in 2022 and 2023. She participates in fine art festivals across Florida and Georgia and regularly exhibits at various galleries. As she continues to evolve as an artist, Lale remains committed to creating meaningful connections and fostering positivity through her art.
As an artist based in Gainesville, Florida, I aim to combine artistry, empathy, and resilience in my creative journey. From my theatre background to navigating personal challenges, art has been my compass. Through mediums like acrylics and pen and ink, I explore life’s complexities, inviting viewers to embrace resilience and share their light.
My journey is a testament to the transformative power of art in navigating life’s challenges and discovering purpose amid adversity. Driven by a deep passion for the arts, I received my theatre degree at UCLA and then went to Turkey, where I reconnected with my cultural roots while working both as an actress for the State Theatre and as a faculty member at a conservatory.
However, a pivotal moment in my personal life reshaped my path. Through a five-year legal battle, I fought for the right to adopt as a single woman in Turkey, ultimately changing laws and welcoming my son into my life.
Returning to the United States, I delved into nonprofit work and later ventured into Human Resources to provide stability for my child. During a personal tragedy with my mother’s cancer diagnosis and the onset of the pandemic, I rediscovered solace in art.
Spanning a diverse range of mediums and techniques, with a focus on acrylics through abstract art, my artwork reflects a unique perspective on life’s complexities. Art has always been my solace and my form of expression, helping me navigate through life’s trials. I am continually inspired by the resilience of the human spirit, the profound beauty of the cosmos, and the strength of inspirational women. My technique combines meticulous attention to detail with spontaneous expression, making my art unique in its genuine reflection of life’s dualities—light and dark, struggle and triumph.
Beach 18 Peaches Cannonball
Tom McIntire is a painter and filmmaker. Originally from the East Coast, he studied art in the desert southwest before relocating to Seattle in the mid-1980s. He lives with his husband Kurt and chihuahuas Crouton and Macaron.
My art journey has taken me from painting to performance to screenwriting and filmmaking and back again. The different disciplines have informed one another, presenting opportunities to grow and change my approach. The pandemic came along as I was already shifting to working in the painting studio as my primary practice. The strange world we are all navigating – claustrophobic, exposed, vulnerable – the emotions and situations forced me to re-examine who we are to one another, and how we can live together in a healthy, compassionate, inclusive way. The things that bring me joy, the garden, the animals, then the natural world, my pets, creep into even my darker work.