Petals & Portraits celebrate the human spirit this month at Gage Gallery in Oak Bay.
Victoria artist Arden Rose opens her first solo show with a collection of impressionistic portraits and large florals created to build and inspire joy and strength in your life by acknowledging the beauty of your true self.
“I almost didn’t know where they were coming from. I was doing a lot of work on life lessons If you really ting about your moments of joy in your life and your moments of pain,” she said, adding her focus was the lessons from those moments.
“With this series it’s a celebration of the human spirit. I do think most of us believe in an inner consciousness that can go by a number of names … based on your religion or ideology that the spirit or what you call it leaves your body, it may ascend to heaven, be reborn or disappear depending on what you believe in,” she said. “It’s really the strongest way to have a connection with somebody else.”
She spent about 18 months creating this collection, with the goal of helping the viewer find that one true voice and compel them to speak their real truth.
“What I try to do with these paintings is when somebody stops to look at my art I want it to remind them of the authentic piece of themselves. and remind them to speak from that place and listen from that place,” she says. “I just want people to remember who they truly are. It’s remember your joy, that’s what we’re here for. It’s not about making sure dinner’s on the table on time … we all do that, but it’s important to stop and think about what brings you joy in life, what’s important.”
Petals & Portraits is at Gage Gallery, 2031 Oak Bay Ave. from March 13 to 24 with an artist reception March 15 from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
cvanreeuwyk@oakbaynews.com
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