PSAG Contemporary Art Exhibition. New York, 2019

In Search of An Illusion: A Retrospective of Change

New York, 2019

The Pushkin Society Artists Guild Contemporary Art Group Exhibition

Te n r i C u l t u r a l I n s t i t u t e N e w Yo r k

Published in 2019 with the support of Artios Gallery.

Copyright@ 2019 The Pushkin Society Artists Guild.

All right reserved.

"Some painters transform the sun into a yellow spot. Others transform a yellow spot into the sun.

Everything you imagine is real" — Pablo Picasso.

Index Table of contents

1

Olga Malamud-Pavlovich

17

Introduction

2

Stella Shalumova

19

Alexander Rees

3

Elena Iosilevich

21

Rudik Petrosyan

5

Khurshid Nazirov

23

Mikhail Zvyagin

7

Elena Dobrovolskaya

25

Binyamin Shalumov

9

Elena Zelenina

27

Nadia Klionsky

11

Natalia Koren-Kropf

29

Sherri Wolfgang

13

Natalia Koren-Kropf/sculpture

31

Danny Glass

15

Darejan Adamashvili/sculpture

33

Founder and Art Director Elena Iosilevich

President of The Pushkin Society in America Dr.Victoria Kurchenko

Contact us: Tel: 1.917.525.3040 E-mail: info@PSartistsgild.com

Editor-in-Chief Ellen Opman

www.PSartistsGuild.com www.ArtiosGallery.com 1

Front cover Alexander Rees Snow Day in Riverdale 20x18 inches, acrylic on canvas.

Introduction “Art worlds consist of all the people whose activities are necessary to the production of the characteristic works which that world, and perhaps others as well, define as art. … By observing how an art world makes those distinctions rather than trying to make them ourselves we can understand much of what goes on in that world... The basic unit of analysis, then, is an art world.”

- Howard Becker

Organized by the Pushkin Society Artists Guild (PSAG), our third annual art exhibition features 15 artists selected and curated by its Art Director and participant, Elena Iosilevich. The artists exhibiting work are Alexander Rees, Rudik Petrosyan, Nadia Klionsky, Mikhail Zvyagin, Danny Glass, Sherri Wolfgang, Khurshid Nazirov, Elena Dobrovolskaya, Stella Shalumova, Binyamin Shalumov, Elena Zelenina, Olga Malamud-Pavlovich, Natalia Koren-Kropf, Elena Iosilevich, and Darejan Adamashvili.

“In Search of An Illusion: A Retrospective of Change” displays the remarkable diversity of artistic ideas, the means artists use to express themselves, and the complexity of an artist’s creative process. From realism to abstract works, from wide brushstrokes to filigree, from rich bright pallets to subdued tones, this year’s exhibition aims to showcase a multiplicity of the original expression of its participants by using an array of techniques and materials. The goal of the Artists Guild is to form a collection that can trace the development of art in various directions. To do this, we selected works by artists from Russia, Georgia, Ukraine, and America. At the moment, all of them live and work in the United States. It is very interesting to see how artists with different backgrounds form their artistic thinking. We hope you will enjoy this exhibition.

Many thanks to Tenri Cultural Institute for providing space and opportunity to display artists’ vision and creativity to the public.

Elena Iosilevich The PSAG Art Director

Ellen Opman The PSAG Editor

2

Alex a n d e r Rees

Riverside Drive. Manhattan.

Oil on canvad, 8 x 10 inches

3

The famous American art critic and collector, Robert Harris Rothschild, wrote: ”Alexander’s works are popular because they celebrate the beauty of the city in all seasons of the year. His vibrant brushwork, his spatially open and airy compositions, and his beautiful blending and mixing of the colors that compose his forms all are essential elements that build his pictures. His paintings create wonderful scenic, atmospheric moods, and feeling”.

Alexander Rees was born in Moscow, Russia. He received his doctorate degree at the Gnesin Institute, now the Russian Academy of Music. Dr. Rees performed as a soloist, conductor, and chamber musician.

Alexander played with prestigious chamber groups such as the Borodin String Quartet, Svyatoslav Richter chamber ensemble, Madrigal Baroque Ensemble, and many others. Alexander Rees found his passion for creating art during his teenage years. Since that time, he has been producing sketches and paintings. For many years, Alexander kept his art hidden from the public. It could only be viewed in private collections. After the publication of Alexander’s first art book, Moscow-New York-Moscow in 2003, Dr. Rees received several offerings from galleries to exhibit his art. After that, Alexander has participated in many solo and group exhibitions at reputable institutions such as The Museum of Russian Art in Jersey City, Pleiades Gallery of Contemporary Art and Salomon Art Gallery in New York, and others. His artworks can be found in private collections in Austria, England, Holland, USA, Russia, and Israel. Alexander is a member of the Professional Artist Union of Russia and Pleiades Gallery of Contemporary Art in New York.

www.AlexanderRees.com

4

Rudi k P e t rosyan

Melody Oli on canvas, 32 x 40 inches

5

"Art is born out of great love and sacrifice. It is never enough for me to be completely satisfied with what I have created. Once I finish a painting, I have this great urge to create another one that is greater than the previous one. When I paint I feel God’s presence around. For the time being, I am working on deepening and perfecting my skills".

Rudik Petrosyan is an Armenian-born artist. He graduated from Terlemezyan College of Fine Art in 1969 and Yerevan Fine Arts Institute in 1978. The works of Rudik Petrosyan have been acquired by the Armenian Museum of Art, Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, Kiev Museum of Russia and State Art Galleries of Yerevan. His paintings are in private collections in USA, Japan, Germany, France, and Argentina among other countries. Rudik received many prestigious art awards including Award of the International Prize Marco Polo, International Award for Human Rights, Peter Paul Rubens Award, and has been awarded the “Leonardo Da Vinci” Medal. Rudik Petrosyan resides in New Jersey. www.RudikPetrosyan.com

6

Mikh a i l Z v yagin

On the Way to Work Oil on canvas, 30 x 40 inches

7

Mikhail Zvyagin is a well-known Russian artist whose works are displayed in the museums and at the other cultural sites throughout the world. Born in Leningrad (St. Petersburg) Mikhail was just 10 years old when Hitler invaded USSR and blockaded his native city for 872 days. The siege left an unforgettable impression on the artist, which will be reflected in his oeuvre. For more than half a century of intensive creative activity, Zvyagin worked in almost all the genres of painting, from still life to portrait, from landscape to animal images. He widely experimented with the color and style, from gloomy realism of industrial landscape to the picturesque language of metaphorical and abstract art.

His paintings depicting the images of violence and bacchanalia of triumphant and intoxicated monsters especially striking. One of the most important works in the artist’s own view was Babiy Yar 1981-1985, commemorating the infamous atrocity committed by the Nazis in Kiev, Ukraine in 1941, killing over 33 thousand Jews.

At the beginning of the 21st century, Zvyagin turned to sculpture and repeated a number of his pictorial scenes in bronze, including the “Blockade Madonna”, the work commemorating the 65th anniversary of lifting the Leningrad blockade, which was presented to the city of St. Petersburg in 2001. His monument to the Russian poet Alexander Pushkin is at the Russian Consulate in New York, and his sculpture “Grief”, dedicated to the victims of the Leningrad blockade was donated to the German town of Gorish by Dmitriy Shostakovich’s widow, Irina.

The works of Mikhail Zviagin were exhibited at the numerous museums, including Russian Museum and Hermitage in St. Petersburg, Russia, The Wall Museum in Berlin, Germany, museums in Omsk, Tula, Voronezh, Smolensk, and other Russian cities. His paintings are in the permanent collection at Zimmerli Art Museum, New Jersey, USA. The most recent solo exhibition was held by the Erarta Museum, St. Petersburg from December 2018 through February 2019.

8

Biny a m i n Shalumov

Twilight on The Main Street Oil on canvas, 17 x 24 inches.

9

Binyamin Z. Shalumov, Ph.D. holds the honorable title of People’s Artist of the Republic of Dagestan.

He is also an Honorary Member of the Russian Academy of Arts and a member of the International Academy of Art in Russia. Dr. Shalumov has a doctorate in Technical Sciences, was a professor, and suddenly rediscovered himself as a fine artist following a successful career in Chemistry and Fiber Optics. After an unexpected decision to dedicate his life to the artistic calling and realization of his creative potential, he studied with the well-known American painter George Palmer, whose portraiture and other courses Shalumov completed in 2002.

Within a short time, Dr. Shalumov won several awards and artist competitions. He is a member of the Artists Union of Russia, International Art Fund, and the Western New York Artist’s Group. His other accomplishments include the Golden Medal from Artists Union of Russia, International Federation of Artists award for contribution to the National Culture, and the Medal for Achievements, which is a highly esteemed prize established in 1757 with the Russian Academy of the Arts. Binyamin Shalumov is the author of several publications. His first printed collection of paintings and graphics “The World on Canvas” was published in 2005, followed by a collection of paintings and photographs created during his tour of Dagestan, titled “From Dagestan around the world. Return to Paradise”. The collection was dedicated to his Motherland Dagestan and the Dagestani people.

In 2006 Dr. Shalumov was knighted by the International Order of Alexander the Great for serving humanitarian ideals. In 2007 he received a Medal from the Russian Order of Peter the Great, FirstClass. Dr. Shalumov is a participant in 45 exhibitions, including 25 solo exhibitions spanning over several countries and continents. His works are in private collections in Russia, U.S., Canada, England, Sweden, Israel, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and the Dominican Republic. His paintings have been acquired by the Museum of European Art (USA), Museum of Cultural Foundation (Germany), the Historical Archive and Art Museum in Derbent (Dagestan), Geological Museum of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Moscow, Russia), Moscow City Hall Art Collection, Consulate General of USA in Moscow, as well as various cultural and business institutions in Moscow (Russia). www.Shalumov.com

10

Nadi a K l i o nsky

Winter in Vermont Oil on canvas, 30 x 40 inches 11

Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, Nadia Klionsky began her traditional art training at the Intermediate Art School, an affiliate of the world-renowned St. Petersburg Academy of Fine Arts. This training instilled in her an appreciation for traditional landscape painting. After immigrating to the United States at the age of thirteen, she continued to pursue this genre while studying at The Cooper Union in New York, the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, and the Philadelphia College of Art. Ms. Klionsky’s exhibition record includes gallery and museum venues in the United States and abroad.

One of her first exhibitions in New York was at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where she was featured in a group exhibition of “Outstanding Young Artists of NYC”. She was selected by a panel of distinguished international art critics, curators, scholars, and historians as one of a few artists representing the United States among 35 other countries for the 1999 Biennale Internationale Del’Arte Contemporanea in Florence, Italy. Ms. Klionsky’s work has appeared in publications, such as Architectural Digest Magazine, and New American Paintings, where her work was featured on the cover. In 2008, Ms. Klionsky participated in the Biennial Exhibition of Contemporary American Realism at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art in Indiana.

Ms. Klionsky was represented by Hammer Galleries in New York for many years and later by Elizabeth Moss Galleries in Falmouth, Maine. A retrospective of her work took place in 2014 at Elizabeth Moss Galleries. Ms. Klionsky has received numerous honors and awards, including the Katlan Seascape Award (2016); the Alden Bryan Memorial Medal for Traditional Landscape (2012, 2018) presented by the Allied Artists of America; and the Giovanni Martino Family Award for Realistic Landscape (2018) awarded by the Audubon Artists Society. She is also a recipient of the Florence & Irwin Zlowe Memorial Award for the Best Work on Canvas presented by the National Association of Women Artists at the National Arts Club in New York City in 2010.

In 2014, Ms. Klionsky became a member of the Connecticut Academy of Fine Arts. She was also elected to the National Association of Women Artists, the Salmagundi Club, the Audubon Artists Society, and the Allied Artists of America, where she currently serves on the board.

www.NadiaKlionsky.com

12

Sher r i Wolfgang

The Fortunate Son Oil on canvas, 48 x 60 inches 13

Sherri Wolfgang is known for her figurative works, which draw on Renaissance painting traditions in combination with Old Master painting techniques. Born in New York City, she received a BFA from Carnegie Mellon University, followed by graduate studies at New York University. Wolfgang has received critical acclaim for her series of statement paintings; “Crazy Making”, on mental illness, “Twisted”, on women and cosmetic surgery, and her most recent work, “Nick.e.lo.de.on”, her figurative work. She frequently portrayed her nude figures as examinations of the various female arch types found in visual culture, with a caricatured sexuality and studied emotions. The artist has passionately pursued different subject matter and genres: Anatomy and Figure, Expressionism, Portraiture, Self Portrait, and the Nude. An interplay of light, color, and texture broadly represented across her art. All of her recent work has been done with a wide variety of medium, including charcoal, conte, graphite, oil, resins on canvas, paper, wood. Her more recent works include several portraits of a male dancer with 16th Century Mannerist aesthetics. Not long ago she has begun working on a new series combining Renaissance style with contemporary cultural figures.

As a young artist, Wolfgang founded an enormously successful illustration studio in New York City in 1983, The Dynamic Duo Studio, Inc. Through the years The Dynamic Duo Studio won numerous industry awards for its covers for the New York Times magazine, Worth, Barrons, Time, Forbes, Business Week, Der Spiegel plus other recognition for work that appeared in national and international newspapers. In addition, illustrations from The Dynamic Duo have been the centerpiece for some of the most famous advertising campaigns in the U.S. (Coca-Cola, IBM, Burger King, Reebok, NBC, Nike, MTV, and Nick.e.lo.de.on). Although Wolfgang’s early commercial career revolved around illustration, she has always maintained her fine art roots in traditional painting. Wolfgang’s work was exhibited at The Housatonic Museum of Art, June 2017. She has also exhibited at The William Ris Gallery, Hamptons, NY, The Silvermine Gallery and The City Lights Gallery, Connecticut. Wolfgang's studio is in Westport, Connecticut. www.SherriWolfgang.com

14

Dann y G l ass

ArtBo Oil on canvas, 32 x 40 inches 15

"I create figurative paintings whose subjects are based on real people I have observed in my life. I believe that the most vivid and meaningful interactions of figures, space and light occur out in the world and I seek those moments by going where I go and gathering images. In addition to sketching live at the scene, the current state and accessibility of photograph technology allow me to gather a vast collection of reference material to aid my memory of any given space. I utilize classical and digital techniques to arrive at a final composition which serves as my guide in creating a painting. Through my figurative paintings, I hope to communicate the specific and unique emotions of those people I observe.

My guiding criterion for choosing which scenes to paint is how well it expresses the thought I wanted to express through the painting. Many times the thought is a reflection on the emotions I read in the people around me in specific spaces. Another criterion is how well the scene allows me to explore space and light to create a complex scene full of lively figures. Ultimately, only the painting shows the moment that grabbed my attention. My painting process involves repetitious and preparative draftsmanship juxtaposed with spontaneous and succinct decisions and expression. My painting choices are informed by a variety of painting movements. This way of working speaks to my understanding of memory. It can be both through repetitive exposure and a spontaneous epiphany that memories come to us and in all cases that memory is its own new altered creature that is removed from any reality that exists beyond consciousness. Without the act of painting and engaging visually with the people I see in my life, I may have forgotten the experiences entirely. In giving these experiences visual form, I’ve endowed the moments and people with a type of significance. In an age where countless images are available at a single touch, committing any particular image to memory more daunting but ultimately more exciting than ever".

Born in 1991, Danny Glass was raised in Hollywood, Florida. Danny graduated from the Brown/RISD Dual Degree Program where he studied Art History and Painting respectively. Danny recently received a Masters in Art Business from the Sotheby’s Institute of Art in NY. Danny currently lives in Brooklyn, NY where he has his studio and teaches art classes. www.DannyGlass.com

16

O l g a Mala m u d - P a v l o v i c h

Place of Light Oil on canvas, 12 x 12 inches

17

Olga Malamud-Pavlovich is originally from Russia and now lives in Brooklyn, New York. She has begun studying art since childhood. Olga continued her journey through the art world after she came to the USA. She never stopped learning as much as she could about the arts. Olga has studied several years with Frederick Wong at the Art Students League and has taken a number of workshops with other esteemed artists in New York. Olga's paintings have been included in numerous group exhibitions in local galleries and business offices in Brooklyn and Manhattan, at the Art Students League of New York and are also held in private collections in Russia, Belgium, and the USA. Olga Malamud works with watercolor and acrylic, mixed media on paper and canvas. Constantly challenging herself to grow as an artist, Olga actively seeks to improve her skills and techniques. “I hope my friends will enjoy my art. I try to depict a sense of inspiration and create positivity in life�, says the artist. www.Olga-Malamud-Pavlovich.fineartamerica.com

18

Stel l a S h a lumova

Infinity Oil on canvas, 30 x 30 inches

19

“In my art, I strive to transmit my immense gratitude for the ability to feel happiness and love, given to me from above. A fundamental human wish is to be happy. Perhaps, my art can be catalysis in that search for someone, but once this experience is received, it is a personal choice what to do with it. …

Give yourself a chance for happiness. “ Stella Shalumova’s work is the colorful music of her emotions. Looking at her paintings is similar to reading through a score: sounds, rhythms, harmony speaking directly to the soul of the viewer, leaving words and literal images far behind. The melody of the color pallet is full of power and light. It seems as though the paintings engulf the viewer, transporting far away from daily routine, submerging into the state of deep calm and positive observation, allowing one to let go of one’s emotions and feel the presence at the moment, hence helping the viewer authentically experience life.

The unique sculpture-like depth of Stella’s paintings is a staple of the artist. Her unusual technique is an innovative method of giving the work a topographical quality. Her paintings transcend into the unseen plane, slip into another dimension, come alive every time in a different way, changing with the time of day, lighting, or position of the viewer, transforming shadows and color pallets, allowing the viewer to travel through the universe that opens in front of their eyes.

Stella’s works have been displayed at numerous personal and group exhibitions around the world. Her paintings are held at many galleries and museums, including Museum of European Art (USA) and Museum of Americas (USA), as well as in private collections in USA, Russia, Israel, Sweden, Switzerland, Great Britain, France, and other countries.

www.StellasArt.com

20

Elen a I o silevich

The Russian Doll Oil on canvas, 48 x 48 inches

21

"Creativity is the way to tell a story and evoke my feelings. I take my inspiration from the great Impressionists, Suprematist artists as well as old masters of the Renaissance period, such as Leonardo da Vinci, Titian, and Caravaggio. I capture the mood of the surrounding world through colors and lines.

I am also drawn towards the simple and unpretentious. I use traditional materials such as oil, watercolor, ink, and pencil. Trained as a classical painter, I decided to expand my artistic view on abstract forms that consist of a blend of lines and color. This reflects my interpretation of the abstract way of thinking. The sensibility is reflected in my graphics series “Love in Three Colors” and “Adam & Eve. Rebirth”. Each work depicts an emotional connection between people, an expression of love, passion, and movement as a continuation of life".

Elena Iosilevich is a New-York based artist who was born in Kaliningrad, Russia. Elena studied fashion design at LEX University in Tallinn. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Elena returned to Kaliningrad, where she earned her diploma from the Art and Industry College in Decorative Art major.

It was here that she got her first experience as an art teacher in the local elementary school and as a stage designer for the school of performing arts. In 1996, Elena moved to New York. She participated in the intensive two-year program for figurative drawing at The National Academy and School of Fine Art in 2010. During her study at NASFA, Elena met great artists such as Sharon Sprung, Nicholas M. Dollar- Raynolds, Eric March and took multiple private art lessons with Brandon Soloff at Chelsea Classical Studio. Elena's interest in classical drawing and painting allowed her to build a strong understanding of the core rules in fine art. For the past years, Elena has been focusing on developing new techniques and expanding her view in abstract art.

In 2015, she started Clarus Art Studio for kids and began to volunteer as an art director at the Pushkin Society in America. In 2016, Elena founded The Pushkin Society Artists Guild for established and emerging artists. Elena is a member of the Southampton Artist Association, National Association of Women Artists, an International Art Alliance, and Brooklyn Arts Council. "I believe that observation and creativity, as well as hard work and learning, are the keys to my development as an artist", says Elena.

She currently lives and works in New York, NY. www.ElenaIosilevich.com 22

Khur s h i r d Nazirov

Perception of The World Acrylic on canvas, 24 x 24 inches

23

Khurshid Nazirov was born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, in 1958. He graduated from the Benkov Art School in 1982 and joined the art studio of Chingiz Akhmarov primarily working in miniature art. Two years later he went to Palekh, Russia, to further study miniature with the famous Russian Palekh artist Nikolai Golikov. Intricate and picturesque scenes from Uzbek Falk tales come to life in vivid colors of the artist’s works. Throughout the years Nazirov concentrated on this art style and has taken part in various international exhibitions. His works were shown in many countries around the world, including his native Uzbekistan, Russia, and a number of European and Asian countries.

Since 1985, Nazirov has experimented with transferring this miniature style onto walls. His first mural was at the Festivities Hall in the city of Urgench in Uzbekistan. Later, together with his colleagues Boltaboev and Kamolov, he formed a collaborative group called “Sanoi Nafisa ”, which means “Fine Arts” in Uzbek. Over the years this group has created more than 20 monumental murals. Among their most famous works are the interior wall paintings at the State Historical Temurids Museum, Oliy Majlis, President’s Reception, Sheraton Hotel, Tashkent Khokimiyat, the Palace of Culture of the Angren, and Museum M.Ulugbek in Samarkand (Uzbekistan). Additionally, murals were created in the interiors of the embassy of Uzbekistan and museums in France, Germany, USA, and Pakistan.

24

Elen a D o brovolskaya

DJ James Oil on canvas, 30 x 24 inches

25

Russian-born Elena Dobrovolskaya was drawn to art from her early years but the path to becoming an artist was not a straight one. Despite studying drawing in her school years she decided to follow in her mother’s footsteps and graduated with a degree in chemical engineering. Her career soon turned to business – she founded her own travel company. 15 years in the travel business gave Elena a unique opportunity to visit the best art museums in the world and to study art history from the original works of the great masters.

Elena radically changed her life in 2010. She closed her business and returned to her passion for art.

She took private lessons in oil painting with the renowned artist Oleg Leonov - an academician, a member of the Russian Academy of Fine Arts, famous for his realistic portraits and landscapes. From her teacher, she captured a Russian school technique of Old Masters and added her own vision of classical portraiture with a bright, tasteful color palette. After only a year at Leonov’s art studio, Elena Dobrovolskaya was accepted as a member of the Creative Union of Russia’s Artists. In 2011-2012 she worked as a curator of a large-scale photo exhibition in New York, Moscow, Paris, and Strasbourg, getting an extensive press-coverage and appreciation of visitors.

In 2012, Elena moved to the US. She became a member of Pushkin Society Artists Guild in New York.

Elena exhibited her artworks in Greenwich, CT, Philadelphia, PA, and at the Tenri gallery in Manhattan, NY. In May 2018 series of her graphic portraits were presented at the Grand Central Library in New York. Elena is a finalist of a few Artavita contests. In March 2021 the artist will have her first solo exhibition at the Artifact gallery in Manhattan, NY. It seems she already found her own style – her oil portraits are vibrant, colorful and very feminine, delicate, romantic and sexy, modern and classical at the same time, with a monochromatic but dynamic background. Each of her heroines has a great personality, a strong character which you can recognize looking at the pictures. Her choice of media in the graphic works underlines the most interesting features of the model. A combination of sanguine for the face and body and colorful pastel for the clothes and accessories creates magic and unforgettable look and could be called her “artistic style”.

www.ElenaDobrovolskaya.com

26

Elen a Z e lenina

Enriching Sisterhood Mixed media on paper, 11 x 9 inches 27

“I often start with a meditation to connect with my untamed spirit. I do it by listening to the line moving across the paper to understand what it wants to express and then to surrender to its desire. Listening to the line is much more important than guiding it because art is a direct way of communicating with the human spirit. My whole life I’ve been using art as a tool to help others, to open them up, to heal, to start them on a new adventure. In reality, I was helping myself to have courage, to trust life, and to be ready to meet the unknown”.

Elena’s childhood in Russia was defined by neutral color fantasies, fairy tale dreams of Prince Charming, and winter wonderlands. As a child, she was surrounded by greatness. Elena grew up in the studios of two artists M.BIryukov (1926-1995), her stepfather and Godfather, and N.Gladkih (19271995), her uncle. Spending summers by the sea watching her uncle painting with all shades of blue and green, or being in the studio alongside her stepfather to a great extent shaped Elena’s artistic vision.

However, they differ significantly since both, her uncle and her stepfather magnified the beauty of the real world, whereas Elena often paints the inexplicit reality. For years Elena wondered who she was as an artist. She met her creative destiny while traveling through India, surrounded by vibrant ineffable colors of this vast country.

In 2008 she trekked the Himalayan Mountains where she stood above the clouds in complete awe of the place and the creation. A shock wave went through her body that allowed her to feel and realize her potential as an artist. Exploring India became her new journey. The music, the food, the spirit were almost addictive. As she went deeper into herself, Elena felt the craving to come back again and again.

During her travels, Elena discovered the navigation map of the Creative Spirit, Vedic Art. In 2013, she became a certified Vedic Art Instructor, which revealed her true purpose. Elena’s identity as an artist is to help others experience the state of Oneness and realize their highest potential, the concepts she explores at length in her book “Art Completes You. Transformation through Art and The Science of Completion.”

www.ElenaZeleninaArtist.com

28

Nata l i a Koren-Kropf

Ocean Dream Monoprint. Chine cole, rice paper, watercolor 20 x 16 inches 29

“I refer to life as to a process. I prefer printmaking media for its technical complexity and visual simplicity - a print on a clean paper, where less implies more, where simple becomes capacious. To me prints are like poems - they are hand printed notes on current thoughts, potent fragments of feelings and sketches of my surroundings. The layering of prints brings forth multi-layered thoughts and memories. I combine prints into one composition to convey the challenges and joys in the life of a contemporary artist. I believe that the silent power of formal elements, such as color, lines, and movement, is capable of transforming the viewer into the realm of physical harmony, emotional balance, and transcendental attunement. My classical education provides a sound foundation for my work with reference and reverence to masters that are influential in forming my own aesthetic. Such artists include Henri Matisse, Joan Mitchell, Henri Moore, Helen Frankenthaller, Hokusai, and, naturally, the Russian Constructivists. The series of prints on this exhibit are based on the parallel between the human life and tree’s year rings, referring to a person’s inner core as tree stem, a cross section with all the layers of experience, education and accumulated wisdom".

Natalia Koren Kropf is a New York-based artist, working in drawing, printmaking, collage, water-based painting, ceramic sculpture, and photography. Born and raised in St. Petersburg, Russia, Natalia is a classically trained artist who is inspired by multi-faceted art life of New York City. Finding her own lyrical voice in its cultural polyphony remains a reoccurring theme in her art, that she refers to as visual poems The artists’ works were exhibited at various venues, including New York University East Galleries, Parsons School of Design Gallery, International Print Center of New York, Center for Contemporary Printmaking, CT; Silvermine Artists Guild, CT; Monotype of New England; Lynn Art Museum, MA; Arts Club of Washington DC; New York Public Library, Art Students League of New York. Natalia Koren Kropf’s works are in private collections in Germany, Austria, Italy, Finland, Russia, CzechRepublic, Cyprus, Japan, Lesotho and throughout the United States. Natalia enjoys teaching fine art to children in her private studio. She also conducts community art workshops for adults in New York Public Libraries. Natalia Koren Kropf is a member of Monotype Guild of New England, Pushkin Society Artists Guild and National Association of Women Artists where she serves as an Exhibition Committee Chair.

www.KorenKropf.com 30

Sculpture Natalia Koren-Kropf

31

Connection to Japanese culture.

"From an early age, I was fascinated by the capacious aesthetic of Japanese prints, ceramics, and design of everyday objects. There is no random line, no angle that is out of order, the palette is deliberately limited. The color combinations are superb - delicate or bold - they are always in harmony with its function, with a mindful connection between the makers and the users. Here, in New York, I have the honor to study with the ceramic master Yasumitsu Morito at the Art Students League, where I am learning the process of ceramic sculpture making along with the exquisite aesthetic and meticulous craftsmanship.

In my sculptures I am exploring movement, therefore, the theme of dance in the Dance with the Scarf.

I also explore the roles of women in modern Japanese society, such as breaking rules of co-dependency and looking for an individual voice. We see a lot of similar themes in the contemporary animated movies

by Ghibli Studios and other independent filmmakers. The sculpture Kimono Lined with Red is my contribution to the topic.

FireBird 火 の 鳥 , Houou,( whowawe’) - mythical Firebird Goddess, a muse of Science and Poetry in Japan. In Western cultures influenced by the Greek mythology, FireBird, also called Phoenix, is a magical bird that burns away to be born again from its ashes - a symbol of rebirth, rejuvenation, reinvention, and cycle of life. In Russian folklore, Zhar Ptitsa is a mystical birdlike creature with flaming feathers and supernatural powers that can be both helpful and dangerous. Together is a lyrical tribute to a spirit that always envelops one with care and protection, so that individual is never alone, whether one is aware of it or not. Musical Wimsy is a group of joyful musicians playing and singing. I am celebrating the merry-go-round concept of wabi-sabi, a Japanese term that means “a way of living that focuses on finding beauty within the imperfections of life and accepting peacefully the natural cycle of growth and decay.” www.KorenKropf.com

32

Scul p t u r e Dare j a n Adamashvili

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Darejan Adamashvili was born in Tbilisi, the capital of the former Soviet republic of Georgia. In the 1990’s she worked at Ceramic Hand Craft Company and dedicated a lot of her free time to sharing her knowledge and skills with many young artists at studios and art centers throughout Tbilisi. Darejan also taught at Bolnisi Cultural Center during the early 2000s. She received many awards in her native Georgia. In 1999 she received Honorary Title of National Master of Ceramic of Republic of Georgia.

She participated in many art group exhibitions receiving awards and honorary mentions, diploma at Georgian Art festival (2002) and a special award in sculpture(2005, 2006) among them. The artist’s solo exhibition took place in Tbilisi in 2007. Darejan’s works have been presented at many museums and galleries as well as acquired for private collections in Georgia, Ukraine, Germany, Turkey, Israel, and the USA.

www.Darejan-Art.narod.ru

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Please contact the gallery directly if you are interested in purchasing any artwork Artios Gallery info@ArtiosGallery.com Tel: 1.917.525.3040 35