The Ohio Art League show, "Mindful: The Art of Observation," is currently on view in Palmer Hall at Broad Street Presbyterian Church, 760 E. Broad St. The theme of the exhibition is to “showcase diverse interpretations of what it means to observe,” encouraging viewers, “to slow down, look closer, and experience the world with greater awareness,” as stated on the Ohio Art League website.
Among the many fine works on view is Jan Kustron’s painting "Village Lights Nocturne." The painting caught my eye because it depicts the heart of German Village with what appears to be fireworks going off in the distance, adding to the luminous glow over 3rd Street. I wanted to know more.
In an interview with The Dispatch, Kustron said she began painting in elementary
school, where her art teacher taught her how to paint a realistic apple in watercolors. She went on to say that she came from a family of visual and theater artists of different generations, which influenced her from a very early age.
Kustron said she took both studio and art history classes at Seminole State College, where she met her mentor, Grady Kimsey, who is a prominent Floridian artist. She then went on to major in art education at Florida State University.
This painting is endearing to Kustron because she worked from a photo reference taken by her husband, Jack, a photojournalist.
"This photo is not recent, but one that I have always loved as it brings back warm memories of a certain Red, White & BOOM! show that we stayed near home to watch that year," she said.
"One of the key things that excited me about doing this painting is that I had my heart set on using a masking fluid marker for indicating the fireworks, so I was tickled when it worked out well. My oils tend to be more sensitive because of my early experience as a watercolorist. I usually work en plein air or use direct observation for my work, and I love to draw this way as well.”
The area was instantly recognizable.
Kustron became involved with the Ohio Art League when an artist friend of hers introduced her to Laura Savage, the executive director, “and the next thing you know, we were having coffee together, as Laura is an especially warm and welcoming person," she said.
Columbus has many talented artists. For Kustron, studying with Columbus-based artists Mary Jane Wardand Fred Fochtman has helped her to hone her skills in recent years.
Community support has been essential as receiving grants from the Ohio Arts Council and the Greater Columbus Arts Council have also helped Kustron grow as an artist. Note cards of her work are available at the Ohio Craft Museum.
What else is on display in the exhibit?
Other works include "Payday," by Randy Bennett. This slice of Americana transports the viewer back to mid-20th century farm life and common cons and advertisements of the period with the humor of candy wrappers and Warner Bros. cartoons. The title, "Payday," appears to play with dual meanings of candy and the harvest.
"Elephants of Abundance-Mangal," by Poulomi Goswami gives us culturally inspired painting of two elephants partaking of the same banana tree. According to the website hinduculturehub.com, elephants symbolize strength, wisdom, royalty and prosperity.
Although elephants have historically been seen walking in parades and royal battles, this pair is at leisure. The banana tree, too, has symbolic meaning. According to brainwisemind.com, “in Hinduism, [bananas] represent prosperity and fertility.” Combining the elephants and the banana tree gives us the visual representation of wealth and unity.
The painting "Hear My Afro Evergreen," by Said Oladejo-Lawal is a vividly colorful work of high energy. The subject is a female musician who has become one with her music. A gallery of his highly energetic portraiture can be viewed on his website lawalsaid.com.
The meaning of observation, in the range of these works, has both an external and an internal context. Some are vivid depictions and people and places fondly remembered; other works are creations of the mind, taking form on canvas, to be shared with an audience.
Some works show us a reflection of the artist. Although the majority of works were created with oil or acrylic on canvas, artificial intelligence (AI) assisted some artists in manipulating an already devised work of art to create a new piece. All of the works in the show are for sale. If you are interested in purchasing a painting, you may inquire with the Columbus Art League.
The exhibition is free to attend and is on view through Nov. 17.
Are you an artist? Do you have an exhibition coming up? Please send me the details. Amy Drake, M.A., M.S. MCM, is a Telly Award-winning filmmaker, playwright and actor. She can be reached at draketheatrical@gmail.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio Art League show exhibit explores what it means to truly observe
