Allison B. Cooke

One Place to Another, II

​"My passion for the vestiges of aged surfaces that inspires my painting has been influenced by my travels in Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Mexico, Russia, and Sweden." --...

​"My passion for the vestiges of aged surfaces that inspires my painting has been influenced by my travels in Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Mexico, Russia, and Sweden." --...

Christ Pantocrator after a Russian icon of the 15th Century. Tempera and gold leaf on gesso over a wooden board. Measurements in centimeters: 38 x 29.5 x 3 cm. / In inches: 14.96 x 11.8 x 1.18 " This is how the artist sums up the technique used by him to create the icon: “The aim of these steps is to create a durable painting. The icon is eternal. The first step is to choose a support, traditionally made of wood, from the center of the trunk to avoid warping it. For this purpose, two hardwood bolts were often used on the back to give the picture panel additional stability. Often a frame is milled out. Then the image carrier is sanded smooth and now 12 or 14 thin layers of gesso are applied and sanded smooth as well. Then the preliminary drawing is applied and the drawing board is prepared with a special preparation called bolus. This bolus can be polished to a high gloss. Afterwards, the gold leaf is "shot" with special brushes. It dries up within a few hours and can now be polished with agate. Gold leaf is real 24-carat gold. Now does the actual process of painting begins. Egg tempera is made fresh from egg yolk, water, and a little vinegar. This is used to prepare the color pigments. Tempera painting is done in numerous layers from dark to light. When the icon is finished, it is left to dry for a few months and varnished with a special varnish called Olifa made from boiled linseed oil and other ingredients”. ABOUT THE ARTIST Oliver Samsinger (Vienna, 1968) began to take an interest in icons in 1990. He undertakes several trips to Bulgaria, Greece, and Cyprus to see in situ the original works treasured in these three countries. This experience will be crucial in his life since the studies carried out in Sofia, the Bulgarian capital, and his stay on Mount Athos...

Sacred Abstraction, Royal blue, red and gold leaf on carved wood pane, signed on the back. Krzysztof (Chris) Sokolovski born in 1985 in Eisiskes in Lithuania. Visual artist creating neosacral art: paintings, luminous objects, installations, and monumental painting. He is a creator of the concept of neosacral art. Since 2003 he lives and creates in Poland. He graduated from Gdansk University of Technology (Faculty of Power Engineering) and the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw (Faculty of Painting). Also, the artist took a course in clinical anatomy at the Medical University of Gdansk. Sokolovski has created neosacral chapels in Klebark Wielki (Poland) and in Salesian Sisters Convent in Jerusalem. Concept: Sokolowski wants to create modern sacral art founded on visual tradition and theologies of many cultures. “I think that abstract codification of faith is the prospective and only way to save serious attitude to contemporary human’s spirituality. It is fundamental for responsible usage of developing knowledge about the empirical world and for forming sensibility, which should be adequate to it. In my opinion, the progress of civilization cannot be holistic if it is mostly based on scientific and technological development – metaphysical sensitivity is necessary too. Empirical knowledge is confinement if we use it only for improving conveniences and gaining more knowledge. It is not enough for the evolution of mind, which should advance along with changes in our environment.” Individual Exhibition 2018 – “Neosacral Art”, Saris Museum, Bardejov, Slovakia 2018 – “Neosacral Art”, the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland 2018 – “Neosacral Art”, Gallery “Camaldolese Cellar”, Church in Bielany Forest, Warsaw, Poland 2018 – “Neosacral Art”, Museum of Mińsk Mazowiecki, Mińsk Mazowiecki, Poland 2017 – “Neosacral Art”, Zielona 13 Gallery, Łódź, Poland 2017 – “Neosacral Art”, the University of Warsaw Gallery, Warsaw, Poland 2017 – “Neosacral Art”, Bohema Gallery, Warsaw, Poland 2016 – “Neosacral Art”, Philosophy of Religion Department, University of Warsaw, Poland 2016 – “Neosacral Art”, Gallery of Association “Polish Community”, Warsaw, Poland 2016 – “Neosacral Art”, Exhibition-Conferential Centre, Białystok, Poland Selected group exhibition 2017 – “Deification of Body”, Sheptytsky National Museum in Lviv, Ukraine 2017 – “Sokolovski / Wąsowski / Jędrzejko / Mazuś”, Bohema Gallery, Warsaw, Poland 2016 – “1st Pomeranian Biennial of Young Art”, Sopot, Poland 2016 – “Shape of Spirit”, Gallery of Mathematics and Computer Science Department, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Poland 2016 – “Diverted Reality”, Evelyn E. Jorgenson Gallery, Moberly, Missouri, USA 2016 – “Exhibition of Sacred Art”, Gallery of Saint Sophia...