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More to Worcester (Part 2)
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Mary DeBerry
February 3rd 2008 |
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Although I was only at the Park Hill Gallery for one day, I was flooded with appreciation for the color and diversity of inspiration that I felt there. The variety of artwork was amazing.
 The other artist I met that day is Sumiyo, David's wife. When I came upon the part of the gallery that displayed Sumiyo's paintings, I felt transported to another place. This series of paintings reflects Sumiyo's impressions of places in Japan where she grew up. Many Buddhist and Shinto images are depicted in her large, spiritually freeing conceptual abstracts that are painted with joyous, child-like brushstrokes.
Nature is a central theme with gushing waterfalls (created by a storm in the mountains) and over-grown greenery as if life itself is pushing up through the dirt. Sumiyo and David Wackell's daughter Yula can be seen playing somewhere within each location - lush gardens, sacred temples, even gated graveyards. Each canvas is huge and painted with abandon as if no boundary exists.
It is not unusual for an artist to include someone inspirational in his or her lives within their paintings. One of my personal, favorite artists of all time is Salvador Dali - who always included his wife prominently in his paintings. The image of five-year-old Yula lends an additional persistence of life feeling to Sumiyo's paintings.
 The child's image enhances Sumiyo's technique - which is to "see things through the eyes of a child". These particular images of their family trips to Kyoto are important to Sumiyo as a reminder too of how the culture has endured to inspire another generation. Use of many primary colors carries through the theme of the child-like vision.
I find it fascinating that two people, who are married and share many things in ideology and spirituality, express their artistic visions very differently. Both Sumiyo and David's styles express a sense of the joy of living. But David's paintings appear to me as complex, intellectual and ethereal. Sumiyo's paintings capture a free-spirited connection to the earth's bounty and the importance of the continuation of life - evoking a more visceral reaction.
Of course, one could argue that the Buddhist and Shinto gardens are relatively simple so that one can have a peaceful place to contemplate the complexities of the universe. That's my own observation, but it gave me something more to think about. Sumiyo also has a group of dance-inspired paintings on display at Jumpin' Joe's.
I encourage any art lover to visit The Park Hill Gallery, and any of the other galleries in Worcester, to form their own impressions. It is well worth the trip.
For more information on the Park Hill Gallery please visit: http://www.socialweb.net/Places/5415.lasso or contact the Worcester Chamber of Commerce.
For directions to Jumpin' Joe's: www.jumpinjoesnightclub.com |
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