Tuesday, November 29, 2011

painting mantras

This month my personal work has been dedicated to 2 projects, one of which is a group of paintings for Qi City Park's Yoga studio.  The entry foyer and studio have been the same for 2 years - just a move-in on a closed studio without giving the place a new look.  Alex Cordoba now manages this studio and she, along with some of her students (myself included) see the opportunity to create a setting with more intention around centering and the practice of yoga.  I'm making 3 large paintings for the foyer (the sort that will cover most of 2 wall areas creating a span of color, etc.).  Each one is an important mantra, invocation or dedication - simply the words on a vibrant color gradient.  My hope is for these words to meet each attending student with a call for intention and wakefulness in their yoga practice.  If anything, the paintings may make the place bright and colorful, cheerful and inviting.  Mantra - Gayatri, Dedication - The 4 Dharmas of Gampopa, and Invocation - Anusara invocation.  If applicable, the words in english are preceded by the texts' original language. 

Gayatri Mantra: 

Aum Bhur Bhuva Svah
Tat Savitur Varenyam
Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi
Dhiyo Yo Naha Prachodayat

On the absolute reality and its planes,
On that finest spiritual light,
We meditate, as remover of obstacles
That it may inspire and enlighten us.

The Four Dharmas of Gampopa: 

Grant your blessings so that my mind may be one with the dharma.
Grant your blessings so that dharma may progress along the path.
Grant your blessings so that the path may clarify confusion.
Grant your blessings so that confusion may dawn as wisdom.

Anusara Invocation: 

Om
Namah Shivaya Gurave
Satchidananda Murtaye
Nishprapanchaya Shantaya
Niralambaya Tejase
Om

I offer myself to the Light, who is the True Teacher within and without.
Who assumes the forms of Reality, Consciousness and Bliss,
Who is never absent and is full of peace,
Independent in its existence, It is the vital essence of illumination.


Thursday, November 17, 2011

City Smiles

Today an Open House at City Smiles Dentistry, 100 Spruce Street, Suite 100 Denver, CO 80230.  Everyone is invited from 5:30p - 8:30p.  This is a great chance to see what Chelsea Mayer, DDS has done to build out a beautiful new dentist office that all who care about design and good space can really enjoy!  She smartly requested good art curation for the office and I reached out to local Denver Artists.  The result, the best dressed Dentist office I've ever been to!  I'm honored to work with the artists:
Sara Guindon
Sandra Fettingis
Rob Mack
Shayna Cohn
Debbie Clapper
Alan Kitchen
Paul Langway
Bethany DeMarco
Derek Keenan 
Jared David Paul

Monday, November 14, 2011

Rozie Vajda at GroundSwell - through Jan. 10

I call this a successful art opening.  The highly detailed and exquisitely constructed characters that are Rozie Vajda's marionettes now grace GroundSwell Gallery.  I am so proud to curate with such a talented and hard working artist!

Please visit the gallery before Jan. 10, 2012 to see this incredible show. 

Below, please find Rozie Vajda's artist statement. 

"I work with found objects. Some discarded, some given, others forgotten, all rediscovered and repurposed. I help these treasures discover a new life with new companions in a new story.

My studio has a floor to ceiling collection of these found, gifted, and salvaged treasures and art parts collected over a lifetime. Chosen for the emotion as much as the aesthetic, in this show can be found roots, twigs, and seaweed, accordion parts and the keys to my first car. When these parts make their way into my art, so too do the people, places, and experiences they represent.

In these most recent pieces, my explorations with assemblage art, doll-making, sewing and felting have come together in a whimsical way that surprises and delights me. With the pull of a string these characters come to life with motion and dance."

-Rozie Vajda