The Tradewinds Bring Spencer Gordon to Sobobo...

"To me, Art is evolution. I have learned to embrace the concept that art creates the artist creating the art. By that I mean the more a person works; the more they hone their craft and focus on their true voice (so to speak) the more their work evolves and grows. The skills become more refined with each new idea and, in turn each new project grows and becomes more polished, intricate and interesting both to the one who created it and (hopefully) to whomever enjoys looking at it. This process, this growth is a beautiful evolution of both the artist and their craft, and one that I have enjoyed very much over the years that I have been following this passion of creativity. "

--Spencer Gordon

Spencer Gordon is a multi-faceted artisan. His experience during his visits to the islands has allowed the evolution of his work. The openness and expansiveness of the ocean's waters was a conduit for this connection he so eloquently accepted which brings to us his creations.  He is a wire sculptor and a jeweler - a metal smithy. This combination over laps that his creations are unique and quite sublime. How apropos for Sobobo!

"Eleven - 11 Wrap"

silver/copper

by Spencer Gordon

While wearing his jewelry creations, hand tooled silver and copper bracelets, you can feel the energies emit from each piece.

"St. Maartin"

copper on silver

by Spencer Gordon

A poetic rhythm as he explains:

"Life is meant for exploring, experiences and adventure. For me that adventure came with many trips to the islands scattered about the beautiful teal blue waters of the Caribbean. From Bermuda all the way down to St. Lucia I have been influenced, inspired and completely swept up by the beauty of these flecks of paradise and the people that call those soft, sandy beach trimmed dots of real estate their home. My jewelry is a direct result of the influence from my time spent down there. Every time I start a new design my mind drifts back to drinks with rum, moonlight dancing on the tips of the waves and a hammock perched perfectly between two coconut palms gently swaying in the tradewinds…."

"Captain Casey"

copper wrap/silver (men's only)

by Spencer Gordon

One can actually feel the swaying back and forth of the hammock in the tradewinds...an evolving experience that continues has it washes over and blends with his wire sculptures, flowing, moving, forming human figures being born whether pulling himself out from a table, being sprayed from a fire extinguisher, pouring out of an oil can, oozing from a maple syrup spicket...and even the 180 degree opposite of birth...a figure "falling into" a cherry pitter head first!

Each sculpture is wire intertwining, weaving in and out to form a solid and yet hollow figure..."Incomplete" shows the angst, yet as he looks to the light one can see his struggle and determination to become complete even though he shows weakness as his heart bleeds. But in the end it is truly his strength as it holds him, supporting him, as he evolves into a whole. SUPERB! EVER EVOLVING! BEAUTIFUL!

"Incomplete"

aluminum/copper wire

by Spencer Gordon

"Pour Lost Soul" is in a sticky, oily situation at best as he tries to become who he is oozing out of a an oil can...You can see angelic wings formed on the wall as he fights to live or be taken elsewhere..But it doesn't matter...he is born.

And we can't forget "Extinguished Species" because one wonders if he is being extinguished or is he becoming distinguished by being sprayed into form? ...his face sculpted into a shape of perfection with that distinguished jaw like Kirk Douglas and Jay Leno! It's for you to decide!! 

"Pour Lost Soul"

copper/wire

by Spencer Gordon

Spencer Gordon's works will be on exhibit for the month of September, however, BE SURE to visit on August 30th for his Opening Reception. YES! You will meet two beautiful people who have two distinct different approaches to art! Rona Harris, painter will also be available as August 30th is her Exhibit Reception...

"Extinguished Species"

steel/wire

by Spencer Gordon

All of this is part of the Walnut Beach Art Stroll!! Come walk the talk of the town as we celebrate our 4th year of Art Strolls!! Start at Firehouse Gallery 81 Naugatuck Avenue for the Opening Reception beginning at 6:00 pm the new exhibit "Light and Dark".  Mingle, discuss and choose a your favorite piece! Then meander down the avenue Let the tradewinds ever so gently nudge you along to Alfa's for pizza, Sobobo for more intriguing works, Seaside wines and spirits will be on hand for a wine tasting, and around the corner visit Lazy Lobster, Painted You and TBM Photography, Wild Expressions and Collected Stories and Taste & See and Walnut Beach Creamery!

A wonderful evening to enjoy before the kids are starting the school year on a full schedule!

2 Days Left to Register for Figure Study Workshop!!

2 DAYS LEFT TO REGISTER FOR FIGURE STUDY WORKSHOP!

CONTACT IVAN TIRADO AT

workshop@ivantirado.com OR 203-283-5819

YOU MUST HURRY - DEADLINE IS AUGUST 18th!!!

click on Masters of the Arts to find out more

August's Artist, Rona Harris Takes Us On a Journey

"My introduction into art was when I was 13 and fell into the position of arts and crafts counselor while attending summer camp, teaching the campers art. It was the beginning even though I always wanted to work in the medical world. Being gifted in art, I attended L'Ecole de Beaux Art in Montreal on scholarship. I studied with Dr. Arthur Lismer, a member of the "Group of Seven", at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and became an art teacher. Being a Kindergarten teacher I taught art to the students of the school in the afternoons. I did have the opportunity to work in the medical field and volunteered during the 1967 6-day war in Israel where I worked as a nurse.  After the war the Jewish people regained sovereignty over their holiest site, the Western Wall of the Temple mount, for the first time in 1900 years since the destruction of the temple by the Romans in the year 70 AD. This war and being in Israel inspired me to resume my painting. In 1993 we lost our son, Mitchell, and over the past years I have been appreciating and celebrating his life, keeping his memory alive through my art.

I am able to see the spiritual connection that transpires while I paint and I reminisce. I sit, cut out shapes, birds are formed I think "what can I do, what should I paint?" Each bird representing the dove of peace is special to me as my hope for peace in the Middle East and the world deepens. The dove and the olive branch has much meaning to me. As I apply brush to paint to canvas it just happens; the flow of the paint on the canvas takes form on its own creating a piece that is not seen until the final stroke. And I am at times just as surprised as the first person who looks at it. I know then I have finished."

--Rona Harris

Rona Harris has a sensibility about her techniques and also very multi-faceted. She is strict in her design, her painting and yet it flows so easily as she applies each brush stroke. Her earlier works show an impressionist style leaning to expressionism and yet Picasso. She is able to control, mix the paint layering it, applying it creating works as if she used oil paint. SURPRISE! It isn't! Working in watercolors and acrylics she has this uncanny ability to make the paint look as though she used oils. FASCINATING!

The inspiration she received while caring for the wounded during the 6-day War in 1967 - caring for both Jews and Arabs alike, is quite remarkable. The most poignant piece, the Western Wall - known as the Wailing Wall - is done so brilliantly...capturing spirit that everyone from all walks of life experience as they put their thoughts and prayers in the wall knowing the sanctity of this most holiest site...the purity of something that has been revered for close to 2,000 years. What reverberates is the starkness of the Jewish soldier on guard, bearing arms protecting ALL who approach, willing to give up his life for each one of us so that we may practice a belief that is thousands of years old. Remarkable! Amazing! Although this piece done in 1967, it still represents what is taking place today 45 years after the 6-Day War of 1967.





"Wesetern Wall - 1967"
acrylic
Rona Harris


Her works of The Market Place are contradictory showing in her stone cut black and white print of The Market Place that it is this and that not that it could be something else, but yet she shows there is more to it, that it isn't as cut and dry as it seems through her "Old Man in Market Place" which is full of color, life, and activity that is captured so beautifully.

"Old Man in Market Place"

acrylic

by Rona Harris

But the testament to it all is the soldier bearing arms to protect the market goers puts his shawl on, takes out his prayer book to take a moment to pray.  He trying to find normalcy, in a place full of noise and hectic activity of the day and at the same time it is during a time of such mayhem and chaos one must understand it is just as important as well to find solace an ask for peace...

Her paintings of her son are full of life, of memory, of celebration...she then began a series of replicating the masters, trying her hand once again...the structure is stringent but the flow of color, of deliberate brush strokes had created a master piece of her own! Her stringency has relaxed ..presently her modern, not abstract but it could be, style shows something that has been hidden deep within her own soul...it has been released. The white dove, a sign of peace, is monumental in its meaning and each piece overwhelms you, you can feel it resonate in your own soul.

"Doves Flying Over Jerusalem"

mixed media

by Rona Harris

Perhaps we are at peace, or we seek peace if not for the world maybe a little closer to home that whatever is going on will hopefully resolve itself because there is no more that can be done. Whatever it is, no matter what is being sought or for whom the depth of which it is felt can only be experienced by you.

You can see Rona Harris' mulit-faceted works during the month of August and September - Sobobo Gallery is located at 42 Naugatuck Avenue in Milford; gallery hours are Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from Noon to 6:00 pm....

You should join us on Thursday, August 30th for Rona's exhibit reception. It begins at 7:00 pm and is part of the Art Stroll that begins at Firehouse Gallery at 6:00 pm that evening. We do look forward to seeing you!