A descendant of a Japanese Samurai sword maker, Ms. Ando is a much sought after metal sculptor whose most recent piece was recently unveiled at St. John’s Bread & Life in Bedford Stuyvesant, the largest provider of emergency food services in New York City. Ando’s grid of 144 steel canvas squares work together to compose a visual symbol of hope. The piece, titled Fiat Lux, which translates to “Let There Be Light,” is the focal point in the center’s nondenominational meditation room. It supports Bread & Life’s vision of giving strength and serenity to those who are battling an array of problems, including hunger, poverty, and related stress.

“With this piece, I wanted to create something spiritual but non-denominational so that it would speak to all the guests who visited the soup kitchen,” said Ms. Ando. “The piece provides a meditative environment to encourage introspection.”

Artist Biography

Ms. Ando was raised in two distinct cultures, a Buddhist temple in Japan, where she was cared for by swordsmiths turned Buddhist priests, and a mountainous region of Northern California.  For more than a decade, she has created artwork on steel canvases utilizing traditional metalworking techniques such as grinding, sanding and the application of heat, along with acids, solvents and metal-based pigments to create various textures. Her background and spiritual upbringing infuse her artwork, which create quiet, abstract, meditative environments.

Website

http://www.miyaando.com/

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Here’s some photos from this weekend’s annual Art Under The Bridge Festival in DUMBO. My pick for most unique setting is Gleason’s Gym at 77 Front Street. Gleason’s is an old school boxing gym and they’re featuring mosaics by Grace Baley. In addition, Grace worked with several of the female boxers to create a series of work whose sales will benefit Girls for Gender Equity. Great work and a great cause.

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Exile
This is a “book” of paper, ink, acrylic, and thread. It was created in
1998 and appeared in the December/January, 2002 issue of the British
magazine Art-Review. It is also featured in the book A tale of two
cities (Impact press, 2001.)

Website
http://sorayamarcano.blogspot.com/

http://www.neoimages.net/artistportfolio.aspx?pid=509

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A PATH FOR THE LIGHT, Installation, A.L.I.C.E. Gallery, Brussels, Belgium June 11 – August 22, 2009

BLACK HOLE INFORMATION PARADOX, 144 x 72″, triptych, acrylic on canvas and wood panel. Detail from SEXY GAZEBO at Cinders Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, February 2009

HANDS ACROSS THE UNIVERSE, 84 x 60″, acrylic on canvas
This painting was made in collaboration with Iman’s aura, who’s image was projected by video artists, Coodie & Chike.

Artist Bio (courtesy Cinders Gallery)
Maya Hayuk is a muralist, painter, photographer, printmaker, curator, player of records, writer, performer, collector, Barnstormer, video maker, documentarian and lover of life who’s lives in Brooklyn, New York by way of San Francisco, Baltimore, Boston and Toronto. From her large-scale murals to small works on paper her obsession with symmetry and her collection of images of mandalas, playing cards, hexes, totem poles, Ukrainian Easter eggs, quilts and bandanas play out in works that espouse the traditional as well as the innovative. Embracing both sexuality and spirituality via symbolism evocative of radiantly woven geometries to the beckoning parted orifices of the body, there is something very classic rock, punk folk rainbow peace, freak out about Maya Hayuk that is very hard to put a finger on, but really it’s all about love. Her vividly bold geometric works evoke the process towards continuity and wholeness whose forces seem bent on maintaining the triumph of this love over evil. Along with her solo work, Hayuk frequently collaborates with other artists and musicians.

Website
http://www.mayahayuk.com

Upcoming Exhibit
Circle of Plenty
Sept 11 – Oct 11
Opening Reception Sept 11 from 7-10pm
Cinders Gallery
103 Havemeyer Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211
http://www.cindersgallery.com

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Metronome, Oil on Wood, 50×60 inches

Approaching Noise (in progress), Oil on Wood, 40×34 inches

Lucas at 3 Months, Graphite on Bristol

Head Study, Oil on Wood, 18×14 inches

Artist Statement

As an expression of his own calculated observation and visual consumption of surrounding environment, introspective glimpses of reality imbue the art of David Jon Kassan. By immersing himself into his subject matter, Kassan is able to infuse his painting with life and realism. Kassan’s direction of realism follows the philosophies emplyed by the Ashcan School of American Realists. Kassan’s influences are varied; citing Robert Henri and John Sloan as his primary influences on philosophy and subject matter. As for style and technique he cites Antonio Lopez Garcia, Mark Rothko, Franz Kline and Clyfford Still as influences as well.

Website

http://davidkassan.com/

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