Skot Olsen, 2007, San Pedro Delivers the Key to Heaven, 50″ x 75″, oil on canvas
What: Exhibition Opening and Happenings at Harold Golen Gallery
When: 3 openings during the Art Basel Fair, on Dec. 6th, 7th and 8th, 2007.
7-11 p.m. each day.
SUBJECTIVE REALITY will run through to January 5th.
Where: 2921 NW 6th Ave, Wynwood Art District, Miami FL 33127 (4 blocks west of the Rubell Collection)
Gallery Contact: 305-576-1880, www.haroldgolengallery.com
Press Contact: dbaptiste720@aol.com
Skot Olsen, the featured artist in the show, writes, “Many people believe there is more than one path to the divine. With this series of paintings, I intend to illustrate the fact that, for centuries, people have achieved enlightenment through the consumption of certain plants. These paintings depict Saints and Apostles who represent various hallucinogenic plants and states of consciousness in the tradition of western religious art. Linking these substances with religion is no new feat, but with every new age, comes a need for new spiritual art and the Neo-Psychedelic Art Movement satisfies that need in the 21st century.”
When thinking of psychedelic art, most of us remember the rock posters and comic books of the 1960’s and 70’s. Fueled in part by a surge in the use hallucinogenic drugs, the function of western psychedelic art was largely to support or advertise rock music and the counter culture. However, for thousands of years, many cultures such as those found in South America and Southeast Asia produced very psychedelic art for religious reasons. As the west slowly begins a shift away from conventional religion, its people are still hard-wired for a need to find spiritual enlightenment. This is one reason that more people than ever are experimenting with hallucinogenic mushrooms and cactus. The states produced by consuming these plants very often fill the need for a connection to nature and the eternal.
The Neo-psychedelic art movement is chronicling this search for inner peace and spiritual development as well as providing a visual aid for meditation just as religious art has for eons. This type of art is no longer just for promotion or entertainment, but is also a powerful tool to be used for uplifting the human consciousness. The term “Psychedelic” in this case can refer to a mental state brought on by hallucinogenic drugs, meditation, or extreme spirituality. It can also refer to patterns that mimic those viewed in such states or patterns and images designed to encourage such a state.
*Note: The gallery does not promote illegal drug use, but is showing art that reflects a pleasurable state of mind other than accepted reality conveyed through images, sculpture or light.
Exhibition and Events Info:
SUBJECTIVE REALITY will have three opening receptions: December 6th, 7th and 8th.
Main Exhibition Space: Skot Olsen (www.skotolsen.com) will have 11 large paintings of Saints, where each represents a different natural hallucinogenic drug.
Gallery: Features 25 artists, including: Skot Olsen, Ron English, Lazaro Amaral, Chet Zar, Anthony Ausgang, James Seaboar, Niagara, Carrie Ann Bade, Angie Mason, Brandon Dunlap, Nemo Gould, Michael Hutter, Stephen Somers, Brett Hess, Mark Atomos Pilon, Scott Scheidley, Keith Weesner, Kamiel Proost, Nik Satterfield, Lesley Reppeteaux, Jacob Arden McClure, Rob Reger, Buzz Parker, Oliver Casse, Neil Gibson, Scott Saw, Annie Owens, Mars-1, Travis Louie, Pooch.
Each artist will show one very large piece of their interpretation of a hallucinogenic trip. DJ Elyse will be spinning in the main gallery with music specifically produced for this show.
Each evening will include a Neo-Psychedelic sound and light show by Phoenix of Rainbow Puddle. He will do his interpretation of a Neo-Psychedelic experience with projected color designs, and will have printed images from his light show and a DVD on display and for sale.
Dec. 6, 2007: A selection of the Pop Surrealist artists participating in this show will present their work and take questions from art patrons. This is a great opportunity to meet and discuss your ideas and thoughts with them. Some of the artists participating are Skot Olsen, Niagara and Carrie Ann Bade.
Dec. 9th, 2007: Juraj Kojs will perform with other avant-garde electronic music artists and will showcase the latest trends in experimental electro-acoustic music and video from around the world. The program will feature international artists performing with live electronics and video, ethno instruments from Central Europe, and cyber instruments. Cutting-edge technology and creative imagination will engage your senses in what promises to be an exciting encounter with the interactive audio-visual art.
The gallery will be open during the day and evening from 12:00pm until 11:00pm on the 6th, 7th, 8th and the receptions begin at 7:00pm.
Harold Golen Gallery is located in Miami, in the Wynwood Art District at 2921 North West 6th avenue, Miami, Florida 33127. For more information log on to www.haroldgolengallery.com, or call the gallery at 305-576-1880.
Press inquiries and image requests please call Donnamarie Baptiste 305.904.8393, dbaptiste720@aol.com.
