The Wall at College Park

Front Page Article in The Florida Times-Union

Mural artists: Seated, bottom row from left, Nicole “Nico” Holderbaum, Anthony Rooney, Elena Ohlander and Ansley Randall. Standing, top row, from left: Christopher Clark, Martin “Tilin” Torres, Tatiana Kitchen and Steven Teller.

Photo credit: Bob Self | The Florida Times-Union

Photo Credit: Chris Jolly

Photo credit: Chris Jolly

First Coast News Article link for video above: LINK

Video credit: Chris Jolly is a phenomenal videographer/photographer/cinematographer based in Jacksonville, Florida.

Photo credit: Chris Jolly

Contradictions x College of Central Florida x Ocala

ABOUT THE WEBBER GALLERY

Webber Gallery - College of Central Florida - Ocala, Florida

DETAILS ABOUT THE CONTRADICTIONS EXHIBITION

The College of Central Florida presents the “Contradictions” exhibition featuring the work of the Florida Artists Group beginning on Jan. 8, 2020 at the Webber Gallery, 3001 S.W. College Road. The public is invited to the opening reception on Thursday, Jan. 23, from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. The exhibit and reception are free to attend.

The show is a visual response to a culture that is becoming increasingly fractious. The artworks, which are presented in pairs, set up internal dialogues between the two halves. But more significantly, visual discussions are created between artists across gallery walls comparing what are their deemed priorities. The goal is to present to the public a template for visual thinking, a way of moving forward. To embrace contradiction in a constructive manner through visual thinking can often slip the bounds of verbal constraints, grammatical restrictions, and lead to new interesting combinations and ultimately new ideas.

The Florida Artists Group (FLAG), a statewide artists organization, was founded in 1949 in the absence of solid cultural institutions. It continues its activities, holding multiple exhibitions across the state yearly. FLAG artists form the core of the show along with prominent Duval County artists who were individually invited. The goal was to create a group of artists with different backgrounds, ages and experiences.

The exhibit will continue through Thursday, March 12. Gallery hours are from 10 am. to 4 pm. Monday through Thursday. The gallery is closed Friday through Sunday and college-observed holidays. For additional information, call 352-873-5809.

To learn more about CF, visit CF.edu

The Japanese definition of the Hannya 般若 is the dreadful face of a woman driven mad by jealous; alternately a buddhist term for wisdom required to attain enlightenment. These intertwined female figures are presented with a fusion of Asian and Western influences; illustrating an imaginary version of Kijo (demonic women). The juxtaposition of old Japanese clothing patterns with the modernized attire these figures adorn, are contradictory in such a way that is subliminal yet speaks volumes to feminine expression, opposed to societal expectation.

Professor of Painting at Jacksonville University (JU) and visual Artist, Ronald Gibbons, provides an artist talk for attendees at the opening reception of “Contradictions".

Hannya 1 and Hannya 2, on display at the Webber Gallery

PILOT PEN x SIXTYSIX MAGAZINE

Collaboration with Pilot Pen featuring their Enso Creative Tools with an interview in SixtySix Magazine.

It was a great pleasure to speak with Chicago-based magazine SixtySix about process and my personal journey through art. My hope is to inspire others and connect us with nuances of the human condition. Read the full interview on their website.

鯉の滝登り二 - Koi no Takinobori (Koi Climbing up the Waterfall). My work is Mixed Media Illustration but the main inspiration behind this piece was Iroshizuku Sumi (ink) in Asa-gao (Morning Glory) and Kon-Peki (Deep Cerulean Blue). These colors being so loose really reinforced the concept of Enso and free-flowing like water.

物の哀れ - Mono no Aware (Bitter-sweetness of Fading Beauty). Each piece is definitely inspired by colors in the Iroshizuku Sumi (ink) selection, particularly Chiku-Rin (Bamboo Forrest), Fuyu-Syogun (Old Man Winter), and Take-Sumi (Bamboo Charcoal). They are individual inks but together I imagined a majestic scenery of traditional sumi painting depicting landscape/nature with a female whose beauty, much like our natural world is fading in such short time, making it bitter sweet.

猫かぶり - Nekokaburi - Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing. This girl was inspired by those blue hue’s in the Iroshizuku Sumi (ink) selection but further informed by the silky smoothness of the Enso Creoroll Oil Pastel’s. Again visiting this mystical element that traditional Japanese ink paintings give with effortless brushstrokes, I depict this shroud of foreboding in the clouds just behind the figure. Nekokaburi literally translates to one wearing a cat on one’s head. Cat’s can be deceiving where one minute you look at there is a bottle on the edge of a table, the next it is on the ground. The cat is the culprit but would never flinch or let on that she is responsible. The subtle nuances in translating idiom’s can prove misunderstood so the best Western example is “a wolf in sheep’s clothing”.

Working in the studio. Photocredit: Toni Smailagic of Cre8Jax.

花吹雪 - Hanafubuki - Cherry Blossom Blizzard. The Enso Watercolor Brush Pens provide so much control when I think about traditional calligraphy elements. This lent itself well to the stems of the Cherry Blossom tree coupled with those smooth colors from the Creoroll Oil Pastels. A girl facing new beginnings with the cherry blossom petals flurrying about, signifying Spring is upon us.

Pilot Pen Enso Watercolor Brush Pens - Photocredit: Toni Smailagic of Cre8Jax.

顔は心の鏡也 - Kao wa Kokoro no Kagami Nari (The Face Becomes a Mirror to the Soul). This piece was totally inspired by the Enso Iroshizuku Sumi (ink) color Momiji (Autumn Leaves). Our lives can be cyclical, typified by the seasons in which we experience. I believe that sometimes, what we feel is often reflected in our expressions.

Studio views. Photocredit: Toni Smailagic of Cre8Jax.

疑心暗鬼 - Gishin Anki (A Doubtful Mind Creates Devil’s in the Dark). She was inspired by the Enso Iroshizuku Sumi (ink) color Yu-Yake 夕焼け which is generally considered the color of sunset, but more specifically, evening glow. With the setting sun behind her and the impending nightfall, her heart is filled with suspicion and creates these devil’s in the dark. The hair and outline of each of these girls was created by the Enso black liner pens. The precision I am able to get in creating texture in the hair is so fulfilling. Behind her, I collaged 1970’s womens’ magazine advertisements. I wanted to make a statement about women’s expectations in society at large. We see advertisements for cooking, cleaning, raising children, creams for anti-aging and aches and pains. In comparison to today’s female targeted ad’s in magazines, not much has changed, if at all. I think the line is becoming more blurred as gender identity and fluidity become more and more apparent.

Photocredit: Toni Smailagic of Cre8Jax.