Member Artist Showcase, Jan 27 - Feb 24, 2024 in Mills Pond Gallery

2/7/2024

Member Artist Showcase, Jan 27 - Feb 24 in Mills Pond Gallery

Today, my husband and I went to see the member artist showcase exhibition hosted by Mills Pond Gallery. I am a Smithtown Art Council member and regularly participate in showcases at Mills Pond Gallery.

This year, as a result of all my efforts, my work, "The Dream Garden", was selected as the winner. When I arrived at the gallery, I was greeted by a curator and director, Ms. Alison. “You will be surprised at your work". And I found out that my work had been selected as a winner. I was unable to attend the last reception due to personal reasons. Aside from my apologies, I would like to thank curator Alison for always showing me kindness and support.

She is the person who has given me constant encouragement and support since I first became a member of this gallery and have been active ever since. I know very well how much she loves art. So I am always proud to be a member of this gallery.

My painting hangs quietly in the corner of a small room leading to a passageway. This painting, created using the balloon smashing technique using acrylic and gold foil medium, gives a dreamlike feeling, as if beautiful morning glory is blooming in a dream.

When you look at the picture closely, you can see a sign called Winner under the label of my picture. Every year, four artists are selected by judges for the Member Showcase. The awarded artists can join a special exhibition next year. I could hang 5-6 paintings in this exhibition. I am well aware that the theme of this exhibition is already in my mind. Perhaps this year will be a year in which I jump even further as an artist. I know this very well myself.

When I first started drawing, painting was an adventure and curiosity that gave me great excitement. I was so excited in front of beautiful nature, like a child building a sand castle in front of big waves at the beach. However, after a long time, I became calmer and became more intense as it became connected to make a living. And I suffered from a slump that no one knew about. It seems like I've been frustrated, despairing, resentful, and disappointed for many years. Then, suddenly, I found myself unable to enjoy the painting itself because I was analyzing and worrying a lot before painting, rather than feeling excited like first love. And more than anything, I was intimidated by the attention and awareness of those around me that painting was not a priority as art but rather a second life. At this time, I began a journey back to the distant past. That was the beginning of our history. This is probably the tip of the fingers of Homo sapiens sapiens, who had to draw while fighting fear and the threat of survival every day in a deep cave where there was no light.

I felt a deep primal, spontaneous, infantile and sensuous energy from them and their paintings. And I discovered that art is not a visible form or a visible situation, but a process of finding the energy that makes it visible. During this journey, I will encounter for the first time the desperation, hope, and agony of humankind's art. And then, as an artist, I will be able to further confirm the value of art and discover my mission.

This work will always be an experimental observation that will allow me to one day fulfill my wish to paint my dreams perfectly.