Review by Kristen Scholfield-Sweet
Deep Breath, the exhibition of work by Andrea Padovani currently being shown at the Old Schoolhouse Art Gallery, is a lesson in inspiration. The word is from the Latin—inspirare—meaning to breathe in or blow into. In art, inspiration is a power that cannot be commanded, but when present, moves the intellect and emotions with a sudden sense of awe. In considering how to look at Andrea’s work, I discovered that the titles of his paintings were a guided tour into the indicators of inspiration.
Solitude is privacy, the state of being alone. For the artist, there must be space for inspiration to enter. By creating an absence of distraction, energy is invited in. When there is a strike of inspiration, one must take advantage of the energy of this rarefied moment.
Look closely at the detail in Reflections of Solitude. The marks that define the trees are energized, bold, direct. There is no residue of indecision or caution to mar the force of the painted gesture.
A tide rises and drops, pushed and pulled by forces beyond our sight or control. The tides of inspiration cannot be demanded to flow in, nor be labored over to capture or hold their presence.
A quality of inspiration is time, its speed of sudden unfolding. The surface of Tide Drops is a
conversation between the artist, the materials, and time. Andrea’s effort has harmony and balance, so that the surface of the painting feels to the viewer like a dance.
The painting title Rugged Elegance juxtaposes two concepts that seem, at first take, not to fit together. Rugged means rough and strong, while elegance is refined and graceful. A mountain and a feather. Yet to take full advantage of a feather-light moment of inspiration the artist must be in a state of strong attention. Work until dawn, decline events and obligations, risk the displeasure of others.
The stone cobbles in Rugged Elegance are a metaphor for moments of inspiration. Gestures of vitality that are fragments, and also fully whole. Beauty that we take for granted, until Andrea shows us the epiphany hidden within the ordinary.
Visit the gallery and see for yourself these lessons of inspiration: focused energy, moments in time that must be given devoted action more than casual treatment, strong confidence that showing up will feed the initial spark of wonder into a creative force.
Join Andrea for an artist’s talk on Friday August 23 rd at 7 pm at the Gallery. Deep Breath continues Saturday and Sunday from 2 – 6 pm.
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