SERENITY Joshua Hughes, Olimpia Ferrari
December 11, 2008 6 - 9 pm From Thursday, December 11 through Sunday, January 18, 2009, Henry Gregg Gallery under the direction of André
Martínez Reed will present Serenity, a search for and a depiction of tranquility as seen through the paintings of Joshua Hughes and the photographs of Olympia Ferrari.
For centuries, people around the world have used art to express their passions as well as their spirituality.
For the viewer, the artwork can appeal to religious feelings or inspire a spiritual quality.
Olympia Ferrari and Joshua Hughes approach the same goal using different mediums.
Ms. Ferrari uses photography to show the connection between architectural spaces and human emotions. The large photographs are printed on transparent paper, which results in a drowning, dreamlike feeling. Upon closer inspection, one sees that the columns and arches in the churches are inscribed with the musical compositions of the great composers that her deceased father cherished. “I want the viewer to see through, jump in, or be dragged into the images of their own memories,” Ms. Ferrari says.
Mr. Hughes was born in La Cruces, New Mexico, grew up in metropolitan Washington DC and returned to New Mexico to study art. Today, he lives and works in Brooklyn. His paintings are loosely inspired by classical literature, such as Arabian Nights and Ovid’s Metamorphosis as well as contemporary writings. Nikos Kazantzakis’s epic poem The Odyssey, A Modern Sequel is a major influence. He uses drawing technique, the mark and the gesture, to sculpt his paintings. “My art is imbued with a mystery to draw the viewers in and to inspire them to look deep within themselves for answers and to reflect on their own life, loves and dreams.
“As we approach the holiday season, the current economic problems, the military conflicts in other parts of the world, I found it re-assuring that two young, talented artists—Olympia from Rome and Joshua from New Mexico-- create work that encourages us to examine our emotions.” André Martínez Reed.
Now in its Fifth season, the Henry Gregg Gallery takes pride in representing the works of today's nationally and internationally celebrated artists and photographers as well as newly emerging ones.
