In Her Own Words...Niagara
THE WORLD IS GOING CRAZY.
And "crazy" is second nature to the women in Niagara's
paintings. They have been known to be violent... they drink, smoke, sometimes indulge in opium or absinthe...
and sometimes "lunacy" for good or ill. They're well-rounded girls, obviously.
From Niagara
UNDERSTANDING LUNACY
a. Insanity interrupted by lucid intervals
b. Insanity amounting to lack of responsibility
in the eyes of the law
c. extravagant folly

FACES OF LUNACY
The women's faces in the paintings are up-front and personal. Their countenances are under-layered
with a coloured damask pattern. The antique pattern is intricate in controlled confusion...and symbolizes
the Past. The history/Past of a person influences the psychology of on-set Lunacy.
Multi-coloured dots, ovals or orbs curve & dance from their eyes or mind, in geometric patterns.
This "dot" pattern and the large wide-open eyes symbolize, poetically, the touch of madness dancing
about. They are also reminiscent of the Moon which is thought to effect one's mental moods,
especially the Full Moon. Studies
show more crazy activity around a Full Moon than any other.
The colours of the Lunacy-patterns are chosen to
"pop" & float against the background making the Idea of Lunacy obvious & visible.
The paintings are an extravagant face-scape painting with
the highest regard for colour & form.
This is the first anyone has seen of Niagara's Lunacy series. She has a To make these pieces "in your face" she decided to have the canvas which is painted as a continuation of the painting Now mounting the image on the frame to show the entire piece including the sides which are a continuation of the face of the canvas. The pieces look as though they are jumping out at the viewer.

Lunacy #1

Niagara's Lunacy series will continue to show at the River's Edge Gallery in Wyandotte until the end of November.
Store Hours: Mon- Thurs 10-7 Fri 10-8 Sat 10-5

In her own words...IZZO

Sometimes the best person to explain their artwork is the artist themselves so we decided to give you the opportunity to hear from the artists about their work.

Here is our first installment: Patricia Izzo whose show 20/20 can now be viewed at River’s Edge Gallery in Wyandotte and Ariana Gallery in Royal Oak through November 31st. The featured works and more are available at these locations.

“My inspiration for the 20/20 exhibit was to give the viewer a very private voyeuristic glimpse into the very private lives of fellow human beings. You are allowed to look. At times it feels like you are looking at an accident and you stare, not able to turn away. Other images may make you blush as you feel the sensual pull of an undressed human body. Other images may give you pause as danger, anxiety, nightmares, or secrets flood your memory. Still, some images are small windows that you are allowed to peek through that give you peace and contentment such as a mothers bed where solace and safety are found. Collectively this exhibit was born to invite interpretation and introspection. To allow the viewer their own private moments and to be able to FEEL!

Who Are You to be Brilliant?

My images of the girls with mouths sewn shut are inspired by Nelson Mandela’s 1994 Inaugural address. They are not statements of subjugation of women but rather the subjugation of free speech and the freedom to create. Mandela urges us to let our light shine and not be diminished by the fear that we just might shine too brightly and actually be noticed! His words are echoed in my mind giving me the courage to take the necessary risks of being an artist.

We ask ourselves ‘who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’ You are a child of God and as we let our own light shine we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. It is our light not our darkness that frightens us.

Nelson Mandela



Ransom

The image Ransom is bitter sweet. A young turk shackles himself with paper chains. As he wrestles with his demons in the dark dance of love and hate, he embraces his victim status. He knows all along he can easily break his shackles but he continues to hold himself hostage.

We all participate in this fear based existence at times; holding on to our addictions until we have the courage to dismiss them and open the next door.
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