Art Story: Fate is Closer Than it Appears

The drawing "Fate is Closer Than it Appears" has serval interesting overtones. The image begins with a road stretching out in front. The road heads down a mountain with its twists and turns moving towards the distant ocean (Route 23 heading toward the PCH). The motor cycle’s rear view mirror in the drawing reflects a road heading in the other direction, back in space. This is a deliberate contrast of past, present and future.
In the reflection, we see on the road a pair of car skid marks. They make the iconic black “S” marks on the surface before going off the road’s edge and disappearing.
On the mirror where it normally reads “objects may be closer than they appear,” is the title of the drawing, "Fate Is Closer Than It Appears," which is my way of expressing - in the turn of an instant, life can change, suddenly and forever. A defining and definitive moment.
My sister, five years ago, at 47 was too drunk to drive. The amount of alcohol in her system was so high enough, she should have died from alcohol poisoning. She was trying to leave a bad marriage and about a mile from her house, she failed to navigate a sharp turn. She went off a curved embankment at a very high rate of speed. The impact severed several trees before the car landed up side down, crushing the inside.
We found some of her personal belongings hundreds of feet from the crash site.
It was a beautiful blue December morning. I was on my way to teach a class but fate had changed everything.
My drawing is an expression of that day.
Joe Kabriel

Meet Joe Kabriel and Betty Sheinbaum this coming Saturday at an Artists' Talk at TAG, 3pm.

Coming Exhibition: Joe Kabriel, Betty Sheinbaum

Tues. Jan 26 - Sat. Feb. 20

Reception: Saturday, Jan. 30, 5-8pm

Artist Talk: Saturday, Feb. 13, 3pm

Joe Kabriel

Inspiration Road

Joe Kabriel, Walking Pink Cloud, Oil & mixed media, 40 x 40"

Joe Kabriel’s recent works draw inspiration from the shorelines and canyon roads of Southern California. Varying rock formations play a seminal role in many of Kabriel’s images. As he notes, “Some cultures believe that rocks contain spiritual energy, which when released provides enlightenment. People hold energy as well and, like rocks, are shaped by life events.”  Kabriel uses this juxtaposition of rocks and energy in his work as a metaphor for exploring the relationship between life’s forces, inspiration, and enlightenment.

Many of the pieces in Kabriel’s exhibition, Inspiration Road, begin as an exploration of ideas and images in a sketchbook. From the sketchbook the work is assessed to determine which images will be reworked into larger traditional drawings using subtle chiaroscuro techniques, or which become more dream like images using encaustic wax. Other examples of his work use a combination of different sized canvas panels to create the structure for his oversized paintings.

Betty Sheinbaum

Between the Lines

In her latest body of work, Between the Lines, artist Betty Sheinbaum continues to explore the mysteries and challenges of painting.  Feeling there is no right way to create an image, Sheinbaum says the final outcome of her work is always left up to fate.  With an undetermined end goal, she is constantly looking, learning, and imagining new ways to feel fulfilled.  For Sheinbaum, a painting is continually open ended. Always in search of new ideas to put on canvas, Sheinbaum finds inspiration in learning.  "As a constant student eager to see things from a new perspective, my work is never a mission accomplished.”

Caught Red Handed! -- New Group Exhibition

Tues. Jan 26 - Sat. Feb. 20

Reception: Saturday, Jan. 30, 5-8pm

With a central focus around the color red, this month’s themed show at TAG Gallery, Caught Red Handed!, will highlight many different interpretations of the seductive shade.  Known to represent a variety of emotions, red is the color of passion, igniting feelings of love, lust, revenge, and even rage.  Although the color is warm, red is revitalizing and dangerous, exuding a strong and powerful energy. It excites the emotions and motivates us to take action.  Red signifies a courageous spirit, driving ambition, confidence, and determination.  From celebration to ceremony, blood to wine, the associations are as vast as the color’s spectrum. 

Through this exhibition, Caught Red Handed will explore those feelings, portraying the impact the color has played along our artists’ journeys.  From the feminine to the masculine, the positive to the negative, this group show will dive deep into the psychology behind the color red. 

TAG invites you to share your red-themed art, here in this Spectrum Share linkup.

Not sure how? Click on "How to add a Saturday Spectrum linkup" above in the menu tabs.