BENEATH THE SURFACE: Spirituality in Art

Curator: Indira Johnson

Opening Reception: Friday, October 4, 5-8pm

There is something deeper than what we see. Energetic undercurrents of power, violence and love. Undercurrents as unpredictable as they are unexamined in mainstream culture. This ebb and flow can push an individual to feelings of intense passion, inspire the greatest works of art the world has seen, and cause abrupt changes in the course of world history.

Let us put a spotlight on the unspoken energy flow operating beneath the surface of our daily life. Let us examine the invisible threads present in a crowd of people that hold our current culture in a stasis of perpetuation.

This show is a subtle examination of energy and spirituality through art. Through this exhibition, we hope to shine a light on the depth of the human condition to inspire greater spiritual awareness and empathy within this historical time.

Exhibiting Artists: Maria Ansh, Raissa Bailey, Mariona Barkus, Ruby Barnes, Madeline Bass,  Anne Bernard-Pattis,  Ashley Brossart, Stefani Byrd, Robin Carlson, Betty Chernansky, Sun Choi, Bethany Cordero, Cathleen Cramer,  Gil DeMeza, Vicki Engonopoulos, Abigail Engstrand, SP Estes, Darlys Ewoldt, Merav Ezer, Marla Faith, Larissa Fardelos, Alice George, LucyJulia Hale, Sheila Halligan-Waltz, Carol Hammerman, Sharon Harper, Judith Joseph, Isabella Kang, Beth Krensky, Sandra Lema-Stern, Anna Lentz, Angela McElwain, Kiki McGrath, Michael Miller, Darlene Poloniak, Patricia Roberts, Marky Salvati, Charlotte Saylor, Christine M. Schröder, Catherine Schwalbe, Jeanmarie Simpson, Erin Starr, Scotti Taylor, Mindy Tiberi, Steven Tritt, Joanne Vena, Carol Wickersham, Alex Wilson, Alexandra Zeller

About the Curator: Indira Johnson

As an artist, my identity has evolved as part sculptor, cultural worker, peace activist, and educator. I grew up in Mumbai, India, influenced by an artist father - an ardent follower of Gandhi’s teachings - and a social activist mother. This combination of art and activism has been a major thread of influence that is interwoven into my art and life. For me, creating objects in the studio goes hand in hand with site specific installation and interactive, community-engaged projects. Community art projects have dominated my practice for the last three decades. They are rooted in my passion to make art part of everyday life, to involve local voices and communities in the art process, and to cultivate peace as individual action.

Much of my inspiration comes from transitory, ritualistic Indian folk art practices which I've used to address issues of labor, domestic violence, nonviolence, and health education, adapting them to operate within contemporary experiences thus evolving a hybrid version of the original traditions. As a result, my work has always been informed by my experience of life in both the US and India.

The numerous studio artwork and community engaged projects that I have presented over the last three decades reflect these influences as they explore an array of social issues including the cultural dimension of domestic violence, leprosy health education, labor, the environment, gender, peace, nonviolence, and literacy. They follow the “call and response” tradition that is prevalent in many cultures. I put out a call, and the community responds so that the final artwork is a hybrid that depends on and is completed by community interaction.

 
Opening Reception, Friday, Oct 4, 5:00-8:00pm

• Exhibition dates: October 3 - 25, 2024

• Gallery hours: Thurs – Fri 2-6pm, Sat – Sun 12-4 pm

This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.