CURRENT ARTISTS
Marie Erb
Ephemeral Trees, The Light Within
Acrylic/Mixed Media on Canvas
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Erb has created a series of paintings using trees and pathways to represent transcendence from the path through this material life into the spiritual and astral worlds, which are represented by the sky and mountains. Many cultures and religions around the world hold trees sacred, from the ancient Druids and their oaks, to Christians and Buddhists. It is the elemental essence and power of these revered trees that Erb addresses in these paintings.
Erb begins with a textured surface and slowly builds to as many as 20 layers of paint and other materials to create the sculptural effects in her paintings. Each painting is a ritual, a prayer, and a joyful song of thanksgiving and recognition. They are created as acts of humility in reverence to the power, joy, and peace radiating from the arboreal presence, and from all things in the universe.
Erb grew up in Annapolis, Maryland, where her childhood sculptures were taken from the mud of the creek banks in her backyard. She is a classically trained portrait artist and studies traditional painting techniques as a copyist at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.
Spiral Dance
Acrylic/Mixed Media on Canvas
42” h x 30” w
$1200
Spiral Dance II
Acrylic/Mixed Media on Canvas
42” h x 30” w
$1200
Spiral Dance III
Acrylic/Mixed Media on Canvas
42” h x 30” w
$1200
The Spirit Within
Acrylic/Mixed Media on canvas
48” h x 36” w
$1850
Astral Forest
Acrylic/Mixed Media on canvas
36” h x 48” w
$1850
Touching In
Acrylic/Mixed Media on canvas
48” h x 36” w
$1850
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Dancing on the Path II
Acrylic/Mixed Media on canvas
48” h x 36” w
$1850
Dancing on the Path III
Acrylic/Mixed Media on canvas
48” h x 36” w
$1850
Niki Hildebrand
Contemplating Transcendance
Flame-worked Glass and Hot-cast Glass
Installation as a whole: $8500
Individual angel wings: $38
In this installation, Hildebrand contemplates transcending the physical world and joining whatever souls have gone before. Hildebrand cast-heated glass to make the reclining figure and flame-worked the 200 angel wings that you see suspended from the ceiling. The colors of the wings rise from a dark tone near the earth to a clear tone as they ascend. The image in the background adds to contemplative environment.
The sculpture incorporates two speakers constructed by Curtis Martin—one of each side. Each speaker produces four notes. The listener's brain acts as a tuning fork, combining the two notes into a single note. The four notes that can be heard are, G4, B, D, and G5. They are intended to guide the listener into a state of elevated consciousness.
Hildebrand was born in London and lived in Belfast, Northern Ireland before moving to Wilmington in 2006. She graduated from the London Institute, Chelsea College of Art and Design and then from the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence. Hildebrand has exhibited nationally and internationally and is the recipient of numerous awards. She has taught art at UNCW and the Cameron Art Museum.
Tree Seasons [Previous Exhibit]
Stained Glass (60” or 66.5” h x 27.5” or 34.5” w) $2400
Framed Pastel on Archival Paper (2) $1500 each
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Spring 46”h x 36” w
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Fall 45.5” h x 35.5” w
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The Tree of Life symbolizes the cycles of life in many cultures and religions. Using the female figure to represent the tree of life, Hildebrand gives her own interpretation of the seasons.
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In her stained glass “Tree of Life,” Hildebrand adds the symbolism of the peacock. The peacock represents renewal, resurrection, and immortality.
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“Spring, Goddess of Rebirth” (left) expresses a renewal of opportunities as the trees blossom. It is life again after what seemed like death.
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“Fall, Goddess of Change”(right) advises letting go as the leaves fall away.
Janette Hopper
If Nature Could Speak…
Natural Found Objects
Hopper’s masks are made from nature’s remnants that typically disintegrate without comment or notice. The pieces do not have a mouth, emphasizing Hopper’s advocacy for nature and the need to speak out on nature’s behalf.
For death has no mouth.
No voice can be heard. Speak out
For air, water, earth.
Hopper received an MFA from the University of Oregon and two Fulbright Scholarships, one from Denmark and one from the United States. She is a retired professor who taught in Denmark, Germany, and the United States. Her work has been shown and collected in venues including those in Germany, France, the Netherlands, Canada, Bulgaria, Italy, and Denmark.
Unicorn
Anole
Antlers
Snake Goddess
Peace
Oakwood Nymph
Natural Found Objects Masks
$195 each
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Elizabeth Darrow [Previous exhibit]
Battling Death
Oil and Collage on Canvas
The three pieces submitted by Darrow poignantly spotlight the inevitability of death. The skulls that are incorporated were found on a small farm in Castle Hayne, NC.
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“Preen, the Irony” focuses on our vanity; however much we try to look beautiful, life ends with death. A sheep skull is featured.
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“I Surrender” targets our power; however much we fight death, we will never win. A goat skull is featured.
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“Great Harvest” reflects on bounty. In this field of plenty, the Grim Reaper is still at work making his own harvest. A deer skull is featured.
Darrow has made Wilmington her home since 1977. Born in Hartford, CT, Darrow is a 1967 graduate of Oberlin College, where she majored in painting. She has been working in oil and collage throughout her career, usually in the manner of Abstract Expressionism. Darrow’s work can be found in the permanent collections of the Cameron Art Museum and Duke University Medical Center, among others. Her work additionally is held in many private collections locally and abroad.
Preen, the Irony
Oil and Collage on Canvas
24" h x 24" w
$1800
SOLD
I Surrender
Oil and Collage on Canvas
24" h x 24" w
$1500
SOLD
Great Harvest
Oil and Collage on Canvas
36" h x 24" w
$3000
Joan McLoughlin
Spectrum of Spirits
Acrylic on Canvas, Four Vertical Diptychs
Small (48" h x 48" w): $2200
Large (60" h x 48" w): $2800
This piece, eight panels in pairs of two, explores an interpretation of the physical and astral worlds. It contemplates four scenarios:
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Obsession I and II depict spirits in the astral world (upper panel) influencing persons who obsess in the physical world (lower panel) who may be open to obsession.
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Rebirth I and II depict spirits in the astral world (upper panel) reincarnating into the physical world (lower panel).
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Ascension I and II depict spirits who are moving away from the physical world (lower panel) into the astral world and even beyond that into realms of light as yet unknown to us (upper panel).
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Inspiration I and II depict spirits who inspire from the astral world (upper panel) and the people in the physical world (lower panel) who feel comforted or inspired.
McLoughlin is a contemporary painter currently working in acrylics. She employs vibrant, lush colors in her expressive yet abstract pieces. McLoughlin was born and raised in New York and earned a BFA degree at Notre Dame of Maryland University in 2000. She now lives and paints in Wilmington, NC.
Carole Osman [Previous exhibit]
Photographs (4)
11” h x 13” w
O Jizo San
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Pastel on Paper
31” h x 36” w
$ NFS
The exhibit you see here is a tribute by Carole Osman to the numerous displays of reverence that she observed in Japan to Jizo, the bodhisattva of the earth. In the Japanese tradition, Jizo Bosatsu is the guardian of children. Japanese Buddhist temples frequently display small stone statues clothed with children's bonnets and bibs. At first glance, it is a cheerful scene because the statutes resemble children. However, the statues have a sad role; the garments are usually offered by grieving parents as part of the prayers for lost children. Osman has traveled widely in Japan and took the accompanying photographs of typical Jizo gardens before painting this tribute herself.
Born in New York City, Osman earned a BS in Art Education at State University College, Buffalo, NY and a MS Degree in Arts Administration from Parsons School of Design and Bank Street Graduate College of Education (a joint program). Osman has lived, taught, traveled, and exhibited her work around the world including in South Korea, Japan, Turkey, and Germany. She retired in 2014 to Wilmington, NC, where she has owned a home since 1992.
Chad Starling
Transfiguration
Print on Vinyl
9’ h x 21’ w
$NFS
Transfiguration describes the spiritual and psychological process of becoming more conscious of your highest identity. Starting at the center of the mural and working outward, the phrases used are:
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IAM. This phrase faces inward and represents our first identity and worldview. The words are relayed in a square because we tend to box up our identity.
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OPENUP. This phrase indicates the beginning of transformation. It forms a diamond around IAM to symbolize dropping the preconceived identity.
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SEEKFURTHER. This third phrase expresses exploration of personal interests and beliefs to enhance identity.
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NEWBEGINNINGS. The fourth phrase represents freedom from any identity. It portrays stability for self and others, hard work, success, and inner-wisdom.
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EMBRACETHECHANGE. The fifth phrase is reached as the ego is left behind. Notice the text is now facing outward to what is next.
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RECOGNIZETHELIGHT. The sixth phrase represents unconditional self love. There is no longer a judgement of identity.
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ITSEASY. The seventh phrase is overcoming obstacles and realizing success. This is the realization of one’s life mission; the purpose in what is happening now.
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IAM. The final phase takes the shape of a circle, creating a total loss of identity and freedom from rigid boundaries. At this moment the IAM no longer looks within at the smaller IAM but faces outward revealing the all-encompassing IAM.
This mural is a colored, digitized copy of Starling’s IAM micrographic piece. In order to enlarge and color the IAM piece, Starling created a high-resolution scan, and then meticulously colored the scan, making the first letter of each word yellow. After two weeks of colorizing and proofing his work only one letter was missed. See if you can find it.
Starling combines the written word with visual form in order to evoke feelings and emotions. Struggling with dyslexia, which he now considers a gift, he expresses ideas from a unique perspective which has helped him overcome his once perceived handicap. Above and beyond his art, Starling wants the viewer to see language, or rather life, as constantly evolving.
IAM
Handwritten Ink on Archival Paper
23.5” h x 18” w
$32000
2014
JAIGURUDEV
Handwritten Ink on Archival Paper
23.5” h x 18” w
$32000
2014
ANYTHINGISPOSSIBLE
Handwritten Ink on Archival Paper
23.5” h x 18” w
$32000
2014
Handwritten Ink on Archival Paper
12” h x 9” w
$500 each
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DUALITY
I SWALLOWED THE MOUNTAIN
UPLIFT
CURIOSITY-CLARITY
EFFORTLESS
ITS THE BEST DECISION
Leslie Milanese
Milanese is a local artist, born in NC. Milanese is currently working in a new technique, "casual" art which is one step beyond "fluid" art. Using only the movement of the canvas, Milanese allows her medium to dictate the story. The image that is revealed is as new for Milanese as for the viewer. In this piece Milanese saw what she identified as a soul in the River Lethe (right side, center).
Lethe
Acrylic in Resin on Tile
$225
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The River Lethe (Greek for "forgetfulness") is an element in the story of ER, originally told by Socrates and retold by Plato in Book 10 of his Republic, published in 381 BC. The story is an account of a near death experience. In the story, Er dies in battle and, while in the afterlife, he observes souls reaping the rewards or punishments of their actions while alive on earth and then observes their choices for rebirth. Before taking on their next life, souls were required to drink from the River Lethe to forget their past life and afterlife experiences. Er did not drink from the river and upon awakening in his earlier physical body he was able to recall his journey. This allegory, supporting the thesis of a just outcome for one's actions, had a major impact on religious, philosophical, and scientific thought for many centuries.
Aqua Crematio
Acrylic in Resin on Canvas
12" h x 12" w
$325
Crematio
Acrylic in Resin on Canvas
18" h x 24" w
$475
Souls Ascending
Acrylic on Canvas
24" h x 18" w
$480
SOLD
Darren Mulvenna [Previous exhibit]
The Metal Marks of Mimicry
Acrylic on Canvas
73.5" h x 27" w
$2000
Nathan Verwey [Previous exhibit]
Verwey limits himself from extensive thought when creating to allow his artwork to flow through him and with it, capture chaos. In doing so he has contributed to the overall energy spectrum—art and life are about energy.
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"Immortality" is the story of a soul hiding from Death by taking on its face. By becoming Death, she has escaped it.
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"Hope" is the story of a soul lost and alone in space. Death is at her back, yet she has the strength and courage to look to the light.
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"Lost in Space" is the story of a man, who in his final breaths reflects on his life and the road that led him to this moment.
Immortality
Mixed Media on Paper
24" h x 18" w
$480
Lost in Space
Print on Paper
17" h x 21" w
$240
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Hope
Acrylic on Canvas
42" h x 30" w
$480
Collector:
Charles Jones
AFRICAN FUNERARY ART
Sub-Saharan Funerary Collection
No single description encompasses all African traditional beliefs. Over 800 language groups exist
in Sub-Saharan Africa alone; mythologies and rituals vary widely. A commonality, however, is that
traditional African funerary practices treat death as a transition rather than as a departure and
frequently involve celebration. The spirits of ancestors are assumed to live on and to continue to have
influence over the living. For this reason, they are variously honored and appeased. Many types of
African art are made for these purposes, including the examples in this exhibition.
Jones, a Wilmington native, is a graduate from UNC Chapel Hill and was the director of the first alternative school in North Carolina. After traveling through Africa for the first time in 1974, Jones became an avid collector and curator of Sub-Saharan art. Over the years, Jones has supplied exhibits and pieces to major galleries and museums throughout the country. Locally, he has curated three exhibitions at the Cameron Art Museum and one at the Ackland Art Museum in Chapel Hill. Jones maintains an extensive gallery and reference library at: 311 Judges Road, Unit 6E, Wilmington, NC.
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WHAT IS ANIMISM?
Most traditional African beliefs are built on an underlying animist belief. Animism (from the Latin anima, "breath, spirit, life") is the belief that objects, places, and creatures all possess a distinct spiritual essence and are believed to be animated and alive. Animism is the oldest known belief system in the world, predating even paganism.
Jen Johnson [Previous exhibit]
Ghost Trees
Archival Photograph
18 in x 23.75 in: $350
22 in x 29.75 in: $550
33.5 in x 43.75 in: $850
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This project began as an exploration of the dying bald cypress tress in the lower Cape Fear River basin due to environmental degradation. Over the years the health of the river has become threatened due to industrial chemicals, agricultural waste, and coal ash. As the project progressed, it became an exploration of the ways in which Johnson's physical vision became both limited and expanded due to a midlife visual impairment.
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These blurred images are a contrast to earlier work that highlighted sharp focus and deep depth of field. The images are reflections of her emotional landscape as she contemplated the beauty and degradation of the Cape Fear River as well as the limitations of her changing vision and the ways in which it allowed her to see more deeply from her heart. The images are a meditative bow to letting go of what was and accepting what remains. It is Johnson's hope that viewers sense both the loss of beauty of these dying trees and becomes inspired to preserve nature in their local community.
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