Through the third eye: Artists delve "In the Realm of the Mystic" to share insight into their singular visions!
SUSAN GRACE
"My paintings focus on a female figure existing in an extraordinary world outside
mundane reality. To explore themes of growth, renewal, and transformation, I blend realism with abstraction to create organic forms that shift and evolve, blurring the boundaries between the human spirit and the natural world. The paintings serve as a visual meditation on resilience, the possibility for adaptation and open-ended narratives, and one’s own personal journey of becoming and evolving."
Susan Grace
ELIF SEZEN
"Verum Ultimum's theme, ‘In the Realm of the Mystic’ has great potential to open up into various streams of meaning about existence, deep philosophical wonderings, the unknown/unseen, and a sense of place beyond the perceived time and space.
My work in this exhibition reflects on perception, memory, place, subconscious and the cosmos, exploring how light can be observed assymbolic, mystical gateways. Colour becomes a subtle energetic force, guiding viewers through states of awareness, contemplation and healing."
Elif Sezen
ROBIN BECIC
"Spiritus Mundi is a latin phrase that translates to “Spirit of the World” it has roots in philosophical and alchemical contexts. In the W.B. Yeat’s poem, “The Second Coming”, it refers to a collective soul, or reservoir of human cultural memories, symbolizing a shared unconsciousness that influences human thoughts and actions. Other associations relate it to the concept of a universal spirit, or energy that permeates all things.
In alchemy, Spiritus Mundi may facilitate spiritual growth, and is open to interpretation, transformations and self-discovery."
Robin Becic
Bob Conge
The making of the work is a spiritual ritual that requires a dialog with the subject, materials and myself, often conducted by the grace of some unwritten poetry. It sometimes seems like the channeling of all the history of art that came before me to the work at hand.
When all goes well it feels like I am simply the vehicle through which the magic flows. The path to a completed work is never the same. Sometimes it's a tango, other times it's a waltz.
This drawing is from a series inspired by the fantasy of my meeting various famous artists, whose work I admire. The location of these meetings is always a swimming pool of a motel somewhere that offers uncommon ground and the state of being nearly unclothed in public which would encourage a honest exchange."
Bob Conge
SUSANNE TIERNEY
"In the beginning a canvas is pulled & stretched for the initial fixing of the surface...
a liquid surface like a reflective pool, not dark but rather of milky water. Mesmerized, spellbound, entranced, captivated..., a sacred force, physical & tactile surfacing thoughts from union with the past. Ethereal qualities linked through layers of repeated circles are plural, distinct, multiples, marks as evidence of meditation in motion & of a hand moving repeatedly. As I create, the act feels beyond ordinary and as a seer of abstract imagery, bringing art into existence always seems "In the Realm of the Mystic."
Susanne Tierney
Susan Makov
"My visual work often links family interests in mysticsm to the Rosicrucians of the early 1900’s. Seeing the unexplainable in my life lead me to co-author a book, Trading Post Guidebook, where my partner and I scoured the southwest looking for trading posts and Native American artists.
Mystical situations such as skin walkers and me seeing ghosts (especially my long-passed dog) lead me to my present activity in a dream group, where with like-minded friends, we discuss our dreams."
Susan Makov
James Hockenhull
“My imaginary life made me one long continuous joy — filled everything with a strange wonder and beauty. Living in that childish wonder is a most beautiful feeling. There was always something more — behind and beyond everything — to me the golden spectacles were very very very big."
Kate Greenaway
(quote shared by James Hockenhull)
Betty Winkler
"Phenomenon of light refracting onto tree trunks from what source? Water? Fire? Is it beautiful? Dangerous? Both simultaneously? The wonder impels me."
Betty Winkler
Lucy Simoneit
"To be an artist is to be a mystic. It is living in absorption with the miracle of life, the soul of the natural world around us and within us. Being in nature
and feeling into the energy of the earth is an essential force within my artistic and spiritual practice.
My paintings combine observation and intuition, expressing landscapes both outer and inner. Through making artwork, I manifest my relationship with the great mystery."
Lucy Simoneit
Barbara Bose
"This illustration is based on the actual planetary degrees of my birth chart.
The choice of scenery represents each sign and in turn informs the landscape. The placement of the figures symbolizes each heavenly body and how they played out on my journey through life.
Now that I’m an elder, I can look back and better understand my own inner and outer landscape."
Barbara Bose
Denise Clemen
"The unseen world is with us at all times. We think often of those who have left this world. If we're lucky, they visit us in our dreams or even in our waking moments when something reminds of them. Luck is a huge part of life, I think. But we can contribute to our luck--good or bad. My art-making stems from what moves me. Usually a big event, or a big emotion, or an image that moves me or attracts me in a deep way. When I look at my work as a whole, there's a lot of repeated imagery. Fish. Birds. Various renditions of portals--doors, windows, archways. And a lot of flowers. For years I've had my alarm set to play Maria Callas singing "O mio babbino caro." I love her voice and that song makes me relish the moment of awakening and to view the day as something precious and new. I also love the photographs I've seen of her. In her face I see all the emotion she poured into her performances. I've made 3 collages with the same image of her, each composition unique and using different colors."
Denise Clemen
BARRY JORDAN
"Throughout time and cultures, particular forms (archetypal images) continue to emerge that serve as inspiration, as encouragement, intrigue, and fodder for mystics and seers—those who reach beyond the pale of ordinary, perfunctory existence to search for humanity’s connection to the greater Mystery at large, both within and beyond. These souls seek to find common denominators that unite rather than divide—a mark of divinity, an element of goodness, mercy, and Loving Kindness—within all they encounter. Doing so, they shake the tambourine for the next generation of seers that follow."
Barry Jordan
RHONDA URDANG
"Angel number 202 symbolizes balance, cooperation, faith, and the steady building of strong foundations. Angel number 202 is associated with new beginnings and finding our right path---meaning the strength of a relationship is measured by what it can hold in silence, not by what fills it. The number two appearing twice represents relationships (twin sister), partnership, and the connection to the divine realm."
Rhonda Urdang
BRITT BLOCK
PORTABLE LUMINOSITY
"These images are portable beacons of luminosity intended to connect each viewer with the radiance of things, with the depth of our lives, and with the truth of bees. Bees live both as wild animals and as an inner metaphor: we are just like bees. We neglect this about ourselves, which causes rifts between our conscious self and our deepest truth.
These paintings are pictures of the bees deep inside, hard at work...quietly at work, generating light and color and harmony. May the freedom of the bees be echoed by the freedom within each of our hearts. May our lives be full of color and joy as we go on about the business of creating goodwill, honey, and light. May each beacon of luminosity ignite, including the one shining from your heart."
Britt Block
Artur Argiewicz
"Do I believe in magic?
I believe in maintaining one's consciousness in the magical state of childhood, insomuch as conditions allow. And, also, in timing. 'Not Yet Alighted' reflects upon the instant before arrival: he is mid-descent; she remains enchanted by the way, their gap not yet closed. Advanced seers see - or do they co-manifest? - what's coming. We lesser mortals illuminate the half second before it lands, when it could still go either way."
Artur Argiewicz
Gerrit van Ommering
"As a space technologist, I have always been fascinated by the cosmos. We will never know enough to understand it - every answer brings more questions which for me puts the universe into the mystic realm. It seems that much of my photo-based creative imagery gravitates to mysterious objects and phenomena against a dark background. If we can’t know what is truly out there, I will happily make something up!"
Gerrit van Ommering
ELAINE DUNHAM
"When I paint, I rarely begin with much of a plan. On a well gessoed panel, usually birch, I start making bold dark marks with a big brush. Then I use a lighter color, often white, to wipe out some of the darkness. I may switch to a much smaller brush. I continue adding and subtracting, responding to what I have already put down. Sometimes I’ll paste in a bit of lively paper. Rather mysteriously, this process of adding and subtracting yields some fabulous results. This is not an efficient way of painting, but it can be sublime. Loosely adding and subtracting, until a satisfying painting fully emerges, for me, is creating in the realm of the mystic."
Elaine Dunham
