This show will run September 1-30, 2015. Artists from around the world were called to submit their work. There were 69 accepted entries and they came from 15 different states in the USA and the following countries, Australia, Canada, Germany, Israel, Korea, South Korea, and United Kingdom. A variety of styles and types of paint were entered including, acrylic, gouache, oil, spray paint, and watercolor. The judging criterion was originality, interpretation, quality, demonstration of ability, and usage of medium. Other factors, such as the clarity of the images provided and their ability to be viewed online, also contributed to our decision.“Best of Show”, “First Place”, and “Second Place” winners received a monetary award in addition to special recognition.

We were very happy to present a check to Habitat for Humanity, with 10% of all entry fees from this show. (Click here to see a photo from the check presentation.) It is our hope that this small act of kindness will blossom and grow to help someone else.

Thank you to all the artists who participated! Your talents and skills gave us a diverse body of work to create this attractive show.

Buyers- Please contact the artists directly for sales. Colors of Humanity Art Gallery does not handle any part of the sale or collect any commission, it is solely between the buyer and artist. You may find a link to the artist’s website or email address below their work.

Artist statement:

Art is such a powerfully influential tool, yet modern day people easily dismiss its potency. I strive to promote the appreciation of art in people’s daily lives, bringing those things we take for granted back into focus, where they naturally belong. My artist-statement as a candidate of the IB Diploma is a window to “my perception of the reality around me.” I aim to create art that re-focuses people’s scattered attention back to where it originally belongs- on the important issues currently happening, at a personal and global level; by bringing our perception back to the center, my hope is to create change.

Biography:

Seo Woo Kim is a senior in high school taking the IB Visual Arts in Higher Level. She moved to Manila, Philippines at the age of 9, from Seoul, Korea, and has been living there since. Her interest in art has been within her since when she was born; she never had a period in her life that was separated from the creative arts. When she was in elementary school, her weekends were filled with art activities such as pottery, coloring, painting, baking cookies in different shapes and more. She found all of these media intriguing to her, but she especially loved watercolor, and the fluidity of images it produced. Today she still uses watercolor, but she mixes it with other media, such as pencils, acrylic, 3D materials, and more. Mixing media for her, gets the best of all worlds in conveying a more powerful message, whilst catching the audience’s attention by way of the interesting compositions and ideas the convergence of media enables. Immersed in this kind of artistic language, Seo Woo aspires to send critical messages within her circle of influence to bring about distinct emotions, creating stirrings of feelings that the artwork is trying to evoke to provoke change within the viewer’s mindset that could in turn, positively influence others within the audience’s circle of influence, like widening ripples of artistic responses.

At the core what makes us different from those around us? To address this my work focuses on the idea of self and the human figure. I have adopted painting as my main medium as it has a rich history in portraiture and a classical idea of identity. To me we are the integrated layers of both positive and negative thoughts, actions and feelings. Within the painting those layers, marks and brushstrokes represent the destruction and reconstruction of the multi faceted idea of identity. This dynamic creates a glimpse into what makes us who we are.

Jo Galang first began to cherish the swirls and waves of the paintbrush at a very young age. Back in the Philippines where she was born, she used to volunteer to make classmates’ artworks just so she could explore what else could be made from the playful colors that mesmerized her so. The fourth in a family of seven children, Jo was the designated artist—the go-to sister when someone needed a drawing for class, or a creative installation as a project. Unbeknownst to anyone, this is the seed that blossoms into what is known today as Jo Galang’s artwork.

That seed grows deep and pushes Jo further into exploring her craft as she majors in Art during college. The early exposure to hues, lines and shapes led Jo to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts and soared with flying colors.

While in the Philippines, Jo learned more about her art under the tutelage of former professor and friend, known artist Danilo Dalena, who is famous for his paintings and editorial art during the 70s. Claude Monet, Edouard Manet, Andrew Wyeth, Robert Hagan, Pino (Pino Daeni), and Jeremy Mann are among the many artists who inspire her and her work.

Jo moved to British Columbia Canada during the early 80s and built her family. She found work as a graphic artist; put her passion aside and took on the role of a devoted wife and a loving mother. After years of employment in a highly technical post, Jo decided that she was ready to go on her own—setting up her own graphic design business. Following years of experience and her burning passion for design, Jo Galang’s business flourished. However prosperous, there remained a single pinch of longing inside her—it was that subtle sound of brush-on-canvas and the slow unfolding of a personal masterpiece that reined her back.

Juggling family life and her business, Jo managed to finally find time to paint. She would stay up at night, find solace in her home studio, and lose herself in painting—her first love. She would soak up on imagery during the day—watching people, searching for that warm-lighted landscape—and paint under the cloak of night. While everybody is fast asleep, Jo’s seed is finally breaking ground and rising out into the world.

“The human figure has always been a fascinating subject,” shares Jo. “The beauty of the human form, the contours, the expression on people's faces, the emotions I see through their eyes, the play of light and shadows, the texture of hair are what I find inspiring,” breathes the artist.

Indeed, her artworks exude positivity more than anything else. Love, serenity and joy radiates from the canvas as seagulls play on the shore (“Serenity on Porteau Cove”) and girls collect seashells by the bay (“Afternoon Tide”).

Jo continues, “The play of light on the subject always grabs me. Landscapes have always been one of my favorite subjects. Texture and light in nature excites me! One of the things I easily get attracted to is light and shadow in nature, textures, the shape of things, warm and cool colors juxtaposed together.”

Equipped with the fiery desire to make and share her vision on canvas, Jo has committed to pursue painting fulltime. Her impressionistic and realistic fusion of art, combined with her dedication on making audiences experience warmth and joy finally comes into the spotlight.

"Boston Sun"

(oil on raymar cotton canvas panel)

by Lucia Balinbin

lbalinbin@aol.com

"The Battle"

(acrylic)

by Barton Gernandt

"Remnants of Fall"

(oil)

by Mabe Collins Brown

"Angel Light"

(acrylic)

by Akiko Watanabe