Curlee Raven Holton, Memory of Two Moons, Ink on paper, 22 in. x 30 in.
Curated by Cheryl Edwards
Jase Clark, Tim DeVenney, Nestor Gil, Mary Higgins, Curlee Raven Holton, Lisa Rosenstein, and Michelle Talibah
Featuring Limited Edition Prints by Faith Ringgold*
The concept of ‘breath’ requires exploring how it brings all things to life. Breath is an unmeasured paradigm and is not as simple as it may seem. “… (N)ot only must one breathe in before they can breathe out, but they must also breathe out before they can breathe in again. Superimposed on the breathing cycle, is humanity's take on the second law of thermodynamics: Life must be lived forward but can only be understood backwards.” (“The Art of Breathing | European Respiratory Society”). The exhibit addresses the deep emotionality of breath as it resonates through our shared humanity.
Historic Greek philosophers explain this clearly in the story of Anaximenes. “Anaximenes was a student of Anaximander. He believed that everything in the world was a level of different densities of air.” When they spoke of air, in Greek “aer”, it was with the understanding that air acted with the soul (psyche) and breath (pneuma). In Pre-Socratic Greek, the Greeks understood that aer {air} and pneuma{breath} are interchangeable and synonymous with one another.
The work presented in this exhibit explores the value of breath as a metaphor to examine human existence and personal views of multidimensional manifestation. The work delves into themes of philosophy, emotion, physicality, mourning and celebration. The exhibit asks the viewer to consider breath to be understood as fundamentally and comprehensively intertwined with human life and experience.
Remarkably diverse, the work includes printmaking, drawing, sculpture, new media, installation, painting, and performance art. The viewer is presented with a range of visuals to ponder, consider and contemplate. The exhibit is wide-ranging in topics of poetry, theater, environmental issues, health, and media studies.
For example, in Faith Ringgold’s work there are acts of the importance of breathing in the creative process, which interrelates with social environments. One of her works illustrates how pheuma is interactive with the psyche as it relates to imagination, dreams, and creativity. Curlee Raven Holton’s work examines the psyche of emotionality as he seeks to understand life experiences of surrender, acceptance, and release. Mary Higgins’ artwork revisits the memories and messages of her life journey. Michelle Talibah’s art speaks to the experience of mourning and honoring a life that has transitioned. Tim DeVenney takes a different approach to structural examination of gratefulness and intrigue through utilization of objects from the past, while repurposing into the present. Jase Clark presents us with an understanding of the complexity of the psyche found both in the abstract and existential organic forms. Nestor Gil’s work assesses the density of belonging and self-identification. Lisa Rosenstein is experimenting with the manifestation of ethereal portals. Each artist individually applies breath as an inspiration and in some instances as a meta-metaphor in their work, thus the exhibit “Breathe - embracing the uncertainties of the human condition.”
*Faith Ringgold prints are provided by Raven Fine Art Editions of Easton, PA. Produced in collaboration with the renowned master printer Curlee Raven Holton. Ringgold and Holton began working together in 1997 producing over 30 separate editions. Many are included in the permanent collections of museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art, National Gallery of Art, and the David C. Driskell Center
Video produced by Gregory Stanley
