Loretta Mack, December's Artist Intertwines Surreal Worlds

"I think the quote by Wassily Kandinsky …

"The true work of art is born from the 'artist':
a mysterious, enigmatic, and mystical creation.
It detaches itself from her, it acquires an autonomous life,
becomes a personality, an independent subject,
animated with a spiritual breath, the living subject of a real existence of being”

...reflects my inner emotional landscape when I am creating my abstract and fantasy pictures.
My belief system is based on the Chinese philosophy of Chi; the vital energy force of Yin and Yang (male/female, positive/negative,) which flows through everything in creation. When we are in harmony with the natural energies around us, we become aware of and feel the oneness of everything.

I use the colors of the Chakras, as well as, form and movement to express this life energy and duality.

"Chi" - oils - by Loretta Mack

Red: Is related to security and survival.
Orange: Home of creativity and sexuality.
Yellow: Is the seat of our emotions.
Green: Represents the heart.
Blue: Communication.
Indigo: Connected to the higher self and psychic abilities
Purple: Home to higher spiritual realms.

These pure colors sizzle with energy and movement and they lift my spirit and revitalize me with new enthusiasm.

Inspiration for my fantasy pictures happens when a shape, color or image catches my attention and …just like in a Rorschach inkblot test, I “see” a story waiting to be painted. To quote another of my favorite people; the Queen in “Through the Looking Glass;” "Sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." "

--Loretta Mack

Loretta Mack, surrealist, delves into the energy's field pulling out a scenario that she puts onto canvas. The energy envelopes her, her mind begins to envision a scene, and as just as mystical as Chinese philosophy is, a creation is formed. The connection continues as one views her work. You can see and feel the energy enveloping you. You don't get 'sucked' into the painting, the energy just surrounds you and you for that moment it is as if you meld with the energy seeing why Loretta created what she had.

During this surreal time in our lives, a surreality, global warming and the economic issues affecting us; having a grave effect on some, you feel as if you need to get lost in another surreal place to counter it, to balance hoping to find an answer to our woes. Loretta has that ability to balance us in the twixt and tween of things. Some might move with the energy while others question the work, but it does give one a harmonious balance so the surreal world we are living in is perhaps more comfortable and seems clearer so we can find the path to leave it bringing more sensibility and direction to find whatever wealth it is we need.

"Gargoyle" -oils - by Loretta Mack

Energy is almost misty, wavy, invisible but can be felt and yet Loretta seems to have been able to capture it defining it. The vibrancy of each color, the defined "outline" that encompasses it - capturing it in a cage so to speak. It shows we can harness it, we can control it, we just need to know how to. That is what Loretta is teaching with each work. By harnessing this "surreal" form we can do anything.

"Gypsy" - oils -by Loretta Mack

Loretta's pastel paintings take the mystical energy, the mystical legends and puts them into human form from Pan to Atlas and Adam & Eve. Stunning portrayals of beliefs from different philosophy traditions - mythical, biblical, transcendental, spiritual and scientific.

"Ladies in Prayer" - oils - Loretta Mack

Loretta will be exhibiting her work at SoBoBo from December 1st to December 31st. SoBoBo Gallery is located at 42 Naugatuck Avenue, Milford, CT. SoBoBo Gallery hours are Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from Noon until 6:00 pm. A must see!

Holiday Festival at Walnut Beach will be taking place on Saturday December 10th beginning at 2:00 pm. Carolers will be strolling up and down the Avenue, Glitter Henna Tattoos by Painted You, Taste and See, a gourmet cupcake shop will be on hand to take holiday orders and a tasting of their sumptuous confections, Walnut Beach Creamery will also be giving out samples of Holiday Flavors, Alfa's Jolly Jug will be hosting a liqueur tasting with holiday flavors, a tarot card reader will be Wild Expressions, ornament making will be at Firehouse Gallery - hang it on the tree for the Christmas Tree Lighting that will be taking place at 6:00 pm. A lot of fun and good times!

So, join us Saturday, December 10th as we celebrate Loretta with an Opening Reception starting at 6:00 pm. This event ends an exciting day of activities starting at 2:00 pm.... Then meander down the Avenue to SoBoBo and meet Loretta. See you then!

February's Artist, Marian Doherty, Floats Us Through Space & Time

"Every one of the pieces starts with a flat base that grows from the center outward. The form leaves the base plane and whirls through space and time.

metal sculpture

by Marian Doherty

Some of the pieces are built with cubes: one cube influencing the next in a domino effect, as a stage of growth stems from the one previous. All involve dynamic tension and change.

While welded metal is considered a manly, industrial medium, these pieces are decidedly delicate. The play of lines is intricate. Each angle is unique (and sometimes quirky), yet at the same time, essential to the whole."

-- Marian Doherty, 2010--

metal sculpture by Marian Doherty

No need to try to understand space vs. time, and/or string theory or quantum anything for Marian's work puts a 3-D view, a tangible side to something that seems to be invisible to the naked eye. The fluidness of each piece is structured so one can see how the development of, for example, a cyclone looks from all eight (8) angles. This view can also explain Indigenous Americans' belief in Nature and Great Spirit - the eight directions of Wind N, S, E, W (positive influence) and NE, NW, SE, SW (negative influence) and its power, its strength as the eight directions come together creating a cyclone, or a tornado and simultaneously explains it scientifically.

The interaction between space and time is experienced on a daily basis as our lives intertwine with everything...that's right everything. It is said we are at a lower vibrational level so we can be in physical form, tangible - but it makes one wonder about what can't be seen, the higher vibrational levels such as time flowing through space, past-present-future. Some say all three are simulataneously happening but yet what you read a few seconds ago is already in the past. Sounds confusing? Well, it truly isn't. Just look at Marian's sculptures and find the answer.

Marian Doherty, sculptor/painter, will be exhibiting her work at SoBoBo for the month of February. Her work can be seen as surreal, but is it really? Only you can decide. A must see.

SoBoBo is open Thursdays and Fridays from 11 am to 4 pm and Saturday and Sundays Noon to 5 pm.

Marian's Exhibit Reception will be coinciding with the First Art Stroll of the year on Thursday, February 3rd, 2011. We celebrate in conjunction with the Opening Reception of the Firehouse Gallery's exhibit "Interiors" which starts at 6:00 pm and ends at 8:00 pm. SoBoBo NOW IS ONLY A FEW STEPS AWAY from Firehouse ON NAUGATUCK AVE. so JOIN US on February 3rd - Thursday night...

What an absolutely wonderful way to celebrate Winter by getting out from being housebound due to all of the storms...Come mingle and enjoy chattering about what is and perhaps what isn't...

October's Artist

"Body Armor"

(in homage to the Navajo)

sculpture

by Michael Brotschul

"As an artist we all want approval in what we do especially from our inner self. I feel that I have surpassed those limitations, opening in myself another way of seeing the world. I have many influences in my life (from nature and experiences to personal journeys) which reflects in what I have accomplished. From what my dad has taught me growing up and his death, finally being able to gather the strength to carry on.

Being an artist is an important aspect of my life it is what makes me, me. If I can get people to talk, maybe shock them a little I feel that I have accomplished what I have set out to do.
Not everyone is going to like what I do, and that is alright with me. I am not here to please the whole world just myself. That is part of being an artist, to make people think maybe reflect on their own fragility, to do something with their own life in the process. It is not about making the money but being able to go beyond what I am capable. I feel I have accomplished that and much more. I will be forever grateful for what everyone has taught me along the way and hope to pass that on as I continue on my journey."

-- Michael Brotschul, 2010

"I Call Him Spike for Short" or "Just Call Him Spike" - bone, copper sculpture - by Michael Brotschul

Michael Brotschul does exactly that. One might not realize it but he stirs the cauldron so to speak making your soul come to life, or perhaps is it ego because we all know how ego controls us most of the time with fear, with want, with greed - that sinister feeling creeps in intertwining with your thoughts, leaving you settled? or unsettled? Only you can experience it! After all it is Halloween...and anything can happen...the magic is in the air...

"Skulls" - print - by Michael Brotschul

Visit SoBoBo on Thursdays and Fridays from 11 am until 4 pm; Saturday - Noon until 7 pm and Sunday - Noon until 6 pm. See this world of the unusual, Michael will be exhibiting from October 1st through and including HALLOWEEN, October 31st!

An Exhibit Reception will be held on Friday, October 29th, 2010 from 7 pm to 9 pm at SoBoBo, 17 Broadway, Milford, CT.

A must visit on HALLOWEEN as we are participating in the arrival of Walnut Beach Witch!

Booooooooooo!