Thursday, July 20, 2006
A Neshannock artist explores the hero archetype.
By L. CROW
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- The Hoyt Institute of Fine Arts has opened two exhibits from artists -- Ray Whalen of Colton, N.Y., and Robert Karstadt of Neshannock -- who integrate mysticism into their works, albeit in different ways.
Whalen works in watercolors, which he says has been his primary medium for 10 years because he likes the softer hues, and finds the paper easier to store than canvas.
He has been exploring the form and spirituality of buffalo, sheep and bears since 1995.
It all began when Sandy Maine asked Whalen to illustrate a children's book, "Big Mama Buffalo and the Gift of the Great Mystery," based on the birth of the white buffalo calf, Miracle, in 1994, believed by many American Indian nations to be a sacred sign that harmony among all peoples would return to the planet.
As Whalen did research to illustrate the book, he became more interested in the symbolism of the buffalo. "I got inspired with the mystique of the West, and relationships of buffalo with indigenous peoples," he said. "After I finished the book, I continued to explore buffalo, sometimes giving them human characteristics, other times just using them as part of a Western theme, abstracting them into the landscape that wasn't literal, but suggestive. What I liked about painting the buffalo was that it was a large mass of animal."
Other animal subjects
Whalen said he found sheep to be similar, and in 1998, while preparing for the birth of his daughter, he wrote a book that he illustrated. Called "Those Crazy Sheep," it was geared toward infants and toddlers. "The sheep is similar to the buffalo, but more delicate," he said.
Now, Whalen has been focusing on the bear, also a massive animal with a strong personality like the buffalo. "The buffalo defines the plains as the grizzly and black bear defines the woods," he said. "People look to these animals for strength. I wanted to capture the bear's characteristics -- it can be playful, ferocious, and a spirit guide."
Thirty-three of Whalen's watercolors will be on display at the Hoyt. Whalen is an art teacher in Parishville, N.Y.
Heroes in culture
Karstadt began his current, ongoing series exploring the hero archetype in 1995. He defines archetype as "common human experience," and has painted everything from modern heroes such as Superman, John F. Kennedy and Elvis, to historical and biblical heroes.
He believes that even our modern pop heroes, including cartoon characters, have similarities to figures in other cultures. "Bugs Bunny can be seen as the trickster, who taunts and misdirects the antagonist," he said. "The shamans [indigenous medicine people] had characters with these traits, too. Many modern Western hero figures go way back to the primordial human experience. My interest is to break down barriers between cultures."
Karstadt said he began this series in a process he calls automatic drawing. "This means I am not referring to anything outside myself, like a model, but sifting through my consciousness and painting what comes to mind," he said. "I draw simple lines, very direct, with no background. The colors I use might trigger another memory, and as I paint that, its form might trigger yet another idea."
In all, Karstadt says he has created about 450 drawings so far, and 30 will be on display at the Hoyt.
In addition, he began creating little figures, sculptures carved out of fruit crates based on the drawings. Many of these will also be in the exhibit.
"They range in size from very tiny (one-half inch) to 10 inches," he said. "I use wire to bind them together, and they sit on little pedestals made of spiral wire. Spirals suggest the path to the subconscious."