bgarthart.com

I have been musing about what style is it I exactly have–at first I thought it should be called  “Ancient/Modern/Surreal Art.” But now realize  “Goddess/Surreal Art” is better. “Goddess” is inclusive of both the ancient past and issues of ecology as well as how we feel and relate. In addition, often the women depicted in my art are powerful in subtle ways (though its not just the women!), thus incorporating both ancient and contemporary feminist values. And Surreal given how much I tend to add extra joints plus combine personal or mythic  symbols and  unusual environments and color.

Yes it is true, I  obsessively focus on feelings expressed in body language.  To tell the truth, part of my obsession no doubt is influenced by the fact my mother  simply could not read body language at all.  I have thus had to learn what body language means on my own. It has not been a given like it is for most people. My art thus helps me  figure out what this or that movement or expression means. In so doing I believe it is also helps the viewer since many of us may miss these nuances of expression otherwise.

Both of my parents worked as archaelogists when I was very young. Thus I have been influenced by ancient art from an early age–and certainly its influence shows up in my artwork. I was  exposed to Native American art here along the Columbia River in the Pacific Northwest as well as ancient and indigenous art from around the world as a child.  In addition I was very much influenced by my great Aunt Lottie’s amazing artwork and rugs she brought back from the Philippines.

Further I’m  very much interested in  imagery inspired by Carl Jung‘s notion of the Collective Unconscious as well as the New Age Arts such as Astrology and the Tarot.

I see the changes beginning everywhere: spontaneous expressions of Love rather than Hate, Renewables rather than robbing the Earth of its finite resources, values of Nurturing the Earth rather than killing off its plants, animals and oceans etc. The thing is that we are all connected.

I believe the Alienated isolated individualist is becoming an Icon of the Past. Of course, the old Paradigm is not going out without making a huge struggle to stay Top Dog. So this is not an easy time. But I believe we are winning on the side of making progressive change simply because we have to in order to survive.

It is my hope my art can make some small difference in helping create this paradigm change by expressing some of these new values while reconnecting with the ancient Goddess  in a new and contemporary way, by having the Goddess and the patriarchal God finally begin to work together rather than be at odds.

It is my opinion we simply cannot forget what we have gained through science, technology etc. However we have to temper those gains with the realization we live in a finite world and must learn to take care of it and each other as stewards rather than continue to destroy our world out of greed.

Now finally back in the Northwest, I am   focusing on being the  full time artist I was meant to be, and was, many moons ago. Though now hopefully, both healthier and wiser.

To keep at it, I will need your support, whether  just as a friendly “like ” or note, or a purchase of some of my sinuously expressive Goddess/Surreal art.

If you get a chance, please check out the blog pages as well as the art pages too of course! And feel free to contact me at bgarthart@gmail.com in case you would like to purchase (or show) some of my artwork.

Blessings,

Bea Garth

bgarthart@gmail.com