Gallery Hours
Tuesday 3-6pm, Wednesday 12-2pm Thursday 10-1pm
September in the Azarian McCullough Art Gallery
Samuel Abelow: The Orphic Dance and Persephone's Eyes of Water
September 4 - September 27th, 2019
Reception and Artist Talk
Wednesday, Sept 11th from 4 to 6 pm
The Azarian McCullough Gallery at St Thomas Aquinas College is pleased to present a solo exhibition by Samuel Abelow titled The Orphic Dance and Persephone's Eyes of Water. This body of work examines the complex psychological, romantic and spiritual relationship of Orpheus and Persephone. Through oil painting and various media, Abelow uncovers universal archetypal truths revealed through the creative process...
The paintings are colorful and play with lyrical shapes, classical and exotic patterns that dance within malleable borders of the picture plane and imagery of mythic characters. In the course of exploring ancient myths and their variations across the timelines of historical culture, Abelow has developed central themes or characters which have colors, patterns, sounds, and so forth. Each meditation on "Orpheus," or "Persephone" (as well as the others in his purview) are not just a personal intrigue, but become the catalyst for vibrant multicultural conversation in a public forum.
Abelow’s work is rooted as much in painting as it is in a deep inner probing of religion, philosophy, psychology, politics, and history. Particularly, his work is of specific concern to psychology. There is a breadth of literature and material from across the arts that focuses on Orpheus and Persephone. It is with these through-lines that he explores the connections between political liberalism and postmodern philosophy, science and technology, psychoanalysis and world religions, as well as art and art history.
This evocative work opens us to many questions about the human condition with various conclusions. One such conclusion might be: we all live mythic images. The work reveals that understanding life mythically and imaginatively provides for rich meaning and purpose.
Samuel Abelow lives and works in Easton, Connecticut. This is his first solo exhibition.
