Monthly Archives: August 2012

Aug 29 2012

Kyle Young: My Art Reveals My Soul

The career of multi-media artist Kyle Young has been a composite of creativity and commerce. After earning a BFA from the Lamar Dodd School of Art at the University of Georgia, she utilized her artistic training working in design and education in publishing for several years. With the addition of this business experience, she founded her own design boutique firm in 1978, growing it through the years to become one of Atlanta’s top 50 ad agencies, with clients in the U.S. and Canada.

It was not until after the birth of her son in 1996, that she decided to return to the roots of her artistic experience and turn her attention to her personal creativity. Selling her interest in the firm she had founded, she established her marketing consulting, writing and coaching practices so she could also spend time with her studio work once again.

Going Inward

“I’ve been lucky to show my work in a number of places and have people collect pieces of my art, but that’s not really why I do it. My art is very personal. Some pieces feel so self-revealing that I wonder if someone viewing my art might actually see into my soul. There are pieces I’ve chosen not to show for that reason.” ~Kyle Young

Listen to Kyle’s Art as Worship interview on Empower Radio.

Reflective of her life and career, Kyle’s art is not limited to one medium. Frequently using multiple materials and methods in a single piece, she is known for her complex layering of colors and textures in both two and three-dimensional works.

Rooted in Truth

She says, “I can’t put my life in a box much less God in a box — I’m open to all the expressions of God. I’m a lifelong Episcopalian and find the Episcopal Church to be a very open and accepting environment, but in my personal spirituality, I’ve also incorporated some of the teachings of Buddhism, Judaism and others. Just as my art is multimedia, my personal spirituality is a combination of many practices.”

Listening to her intuition plays a key role in Kyle’s life. She says, “If I stop and listen, the direction is out there —  whether it’s in art or life. It’s when I get so busy and think that I have to plan every single thing that I find the going gets tougher.”

Her Wings Had a Strong Spine

 

Kyle’s work has been seen in numerous juried shows and exhibits, and is in several private and corporate collections.

Find out more about Kyle’s art at www.KyleYoungArtist.com. She is also online at www.EffectiveIdeas.com and www.Multi-TaskingWoman.com.

Last Meal

Learn more about show host Vanessa Lowry at www.vanessalowrycreative.com.

Aug 25 2012

Sarah Hunt Engsberg: Discovering a New Passion

Sarah Hunt Engsberg is a jewelry artist, painter and a professional farrier. Sarah has been serving the needs of horses and equestrians in the sports of Three-day Eventing, Combined Training, Dressage, and Endurance for nearly two decades. When her horseshoeing business was curtailed due to back issues, it was a natural progression for her to transfer from blacksmithing to metalsmithing.

“I first started thinking of myself as an artist with my work of shoeing horses. It took a back injury — literally getting thrown on the ground — to take a step back and become open-minded instead of being so focused on just the one thing. So this catastrophic event helped me discover a passion for creating jewelry. I knew I would get well physically enough to horseshoe again, but I knew that it would ultimately have to look different than it did before.” ~Sarah Hunt Engsberg

Listen to Sarah’s Art as Worship interview on Empower Radio.

Sarah’s Art Jewelry is created for independent-minded wearers who wish to express their personalities through jewelry. Her jewelry incorporates traditional metalsmithing, with precious gems and semi-precious stones as well as natural and man-made found objects. Her pieces are one-of-a-kind originals.

She says, “My art comes from within, but it comes from somewhere else too. The art becomes spiritual as it allows me to create and express myself, but also to express whatever it’s coming from.”

Painting is yet another avenue for Sarah to express her joy and creativity.  Bright colors, strong contrasts and a bit of a whimsical attitude are the driving forces behind her desire to paint.  She incorporates textures and colors to express the movement and energy she feels and sees in the world around her.

About the colorful nature of her art Sarah says, “I love beautiful flowers, brightly colored clothes and, of course, big gaudy jewelry. Bright colors are just who I am and I express my spiritually through that sort of brightness. Color is joyous and bright colors seem happy and inviting. I see my life as an expression of joy.”

Find out more about Sarah at www.sarahhuntengsberg.com.

Learn more about show host Vanessa Lowry at www.vanessalowrycreative.com.

Aug 16 2012

Rebecca Ewing: Color Speaks to Us

Rebecca Ewing hallucinates for a living.

She is a designer and colorist who imagines how this color will look there; how that fabric will look on this sofa, and how these roof shingles will look that with that brick.

Rebecca taught color and design at the Art Institute of Atlanta, and taught color workshops from Canada to New Zealand (bungy jumped, too). She forecasts color trends—helping determine what color toothbrush or waste basket you’ll be able to buy in two years.

“Color speaks to us and it speaks for us—our resonance and what we’re attracted to. It affects our perception, our energy level and the way people respond to us.” ~Rebecca Ewing

Listen to Rebecca’s Art as Worship interview on Empower Radio.

Paint manufacturers say that nearly 40% of consumer paint sales are within a week of a first purchase—to repaint a color gone bad. With thirty-five years of experience, Rebecca helps her clients get it right the first time.

Rebecca said her spirituality always finds expression in her art. She says, “I have come to believe that prayer isn’t just the one where we say ‘Dear God’ at the beginning. It is what we’re thinking and what we’re saying all day long.”

In teaching, speaking and writing, Rebecca encourages others to express themselves creatively. She comments, “Anything worth doing well is worth doing badly at first. You’re not going to learn anything if you’re not doing something wrong. Be willing to do it wrong and do it poorly to get to the point where you’re satisfied with your results. Play with it.”

Find out more about Rebecca at www.HandsOnHues.com.

Learn more about show host Vanessa Lowry at www.vanessalowrycreative.com.

Aug 10 2012

Michael Redgrave: The Spiritual Nature of Bonsai

Bonsai artist Michael Redgrave has been the owner of Full Moon Bonsai in Marietta, Georgia for 24 years. In that time, he has become one of the premier next generation, bonsai artists in the South and has become known for high quality traditional Japanese Bonsai. His bonsai art has appeared at corporate events, art galleries and in major motion pictures and commercials.

 “Bonsai has a quiet spiritual nature of its own. In the Shinto religion, bonsai trees are still used in the ceremony. The triangle that the bonsai forms in Japanese spirituality is a connection between Heaven, God and Man — the three corners of the triangle. The art of bonsai puts you in touch with the turn of the seasons and the rhythm of flowering trees. There is a stillness that puts you in touch with Source.” ~Mike Redgrave

Listen to Mike’s Art as Worship interview on Empower Radio.

Regarding his own spiritual journey, Mike says, “I have been a seeker all of my life and explored various religions and various forms of meditation. I have a Catholic upbringing and do Siddha yoga and Zen meditation. Working with bonsai has expanded my awareness. It’s a meditative art form — it brings you closer to yourself. Through interaction with the plant material, you gain a greater understanding of yourself and thereby a greater understanding of God.”

Mike has studied under many Bonsai Masters such as Ben Oki, Guy Guidry, Peter Adams, Rodney Clemens, Boon Manakitivipart and Matsahiko Kimura. In return, Mike has been a strong advocate for the fascinating art of Bonsai through teaching and sharing the sprit of bonsai with tens of thousands of people. He enjoys teaching about bonsai at garden centers, garden clubs and with his own students, as well as writing articles for his website and other publications.

Mike encourages listeners to explore their creativity. He says, “We were intended to be creative. It’s intrinsic and part of our nature. We all have that innate ability to become creative beings and it’s a great way to explore your inner self.”

Mike is a regular on the art festival circuit in the Southeast, as well as the flower show circuit and bonsai events. Through his work with the Atlanta Bonsai Society, Michael has become the main sponsor of the Japan Fest exhibit. It has become one of the most successful Bonsai fundraisers in the Southeast.

Find out more about Mike and the art of bonsai at www.bonsaimoon.com. He is a member of Trees Atlanta, The Nurserymen’s Association, the Atlanta Bonsai Society and the American Bonsai Society.

Learn more about show host Vanessa Lowry at www.vanessalowrycreative.com.

Aug 4 2012

Martin Dawe: Meditation is My Most Powerful Creative Tool

Martin C. Dawe is a sculptor who works primarily as a commissioned artist in a variety of mediums. Martin has become well known for his figurative and representational work, which ranges from loose, impressionist work to traditional sculptures with a late 19th century style. From the World Athletes Monument in Midtown Atlanta to his contemporary site installations, Marty has developed a very personal style of collaboration from his work with private, public and corporate clients. Marty was awarded the Honors Award for Arts by the American Institute of Architects, AIA Georgia, artist of the year in 2001.

 “Meditation for me is very close to my spirituality. When I am quieting all the gibberish, I’m breathing deeply and letting solutions come to me. Using meditation is the most powerful creative tool that I have.” ~Marty Dawe

Listen to Marty’s Art as Worship interview on Empower Radio.

Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Marty moved to the United States when he was a child and grew up in New Jersey. He studied at Boston University School of Fine Arts and received a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Sculpture from Georgia State University. He apprenticed for 8 years under Julian Harris.

Landing Gear

Marty began his own custom sculpture studio in 1987 and incorporated as CherryLion Studios, now the largest custom sculpture studio in Georgia, in 1994. He leads a team of talented apprentices at his 6,000 square foot studio near downtown Atlanta. Here Marty blends state-of-the-art technology with a disciplined, classical approach. He is known for his ability to collaborate, stay within budget and meet deadlines. The studio has executed hundreds of commissions including 25 large-scale public art installations. CherryLion Studios has developed mold-making and casting processes, as well as formed relationships with many area foundries.

Marty comments that he practices stillness meditation to connect with his creative flow, then the act of sculpting becomes a moving mediation. He says, “I would imagine for a lot of artists when they are making art, they are meditating and channeling. As you lose some of the ego and judgments, you’re making pieces that are better than what you could do by yourself.”

Elliott’s Circle

He considers his work problem solving. Marty says, “I like interaction and I like being presented with a situation that needs a solution. I have a collaborative personality and have been very interested in problems that were a lot bigger than me. Working with a group, we can create something bigger than an individual would.”

Selected commissions include:

Elliot’s Circle, The Galloway School, Atlanta GA 2010: An outdoor classroom with Elliott Galloway and a student in bronze sitting in a circle of GFRC logs on the ends of which are engraved all alumni since the founding of the school in 1969. Watch a timelapse video of Marty and his team as they create Elliott’s Circle.

Landing Gear, Terminus, Atlanta, GA, 2009: 12’ tall cast stainless steel abstract figure for courtyard.

Nourish

Nourish, Atlanta Community Food Bank, Atlanta, GA – 2005: Three sets of tables and chairs covered with pigmented translucent reliefs imbedded with donor recognition plates.

Equilibrium, Fulton County Juvenile Court Facility, Atlanta, GA – 2002: 158 colorful reliefs in the lobby of the new Juvenile Court building were commissioned as a part of the Fulton County Arts Council’s Art in Public Places. Martin held a summer workshop with children from the Juvenile Court to develop imagery for the reliefs. On the west wall, the reliefs are arranged in an abstract pattern and on the east wall, the same reliefs come together to form two 22’ dancing figures of children.

Equilibrium

Find out more about Marty and CherryLion Studios at www.cherrylion.com. Marty was featured in an Atlanta Business Chronicle article about the importance of public art. He is quoted in that article saying, “Successful public art can reinforce a sense of place; articulate complex concepts; present the ideals of a community; memorialize significant events and people; heal wounds; entertain; inform; and challenge the way we see our world, our city and ourselves. It makes the city a more desirable and meaningful place to live and provides a positive means of public engagement.”

Learn more about show host Vanessa Lowry at www.vanessalowrycreative.com.