Sag Harbor- Hamptons Art – Trinity – Christopher Engel Opening July 25th
“Trinity” – Recent Work Christopher Engel
Reception: Saturday, July 25, 5-6:30 PM
TRINITY runs from July 23 to August 13,2015
Christopher Engel’s newest work is inspired by a personal connection to the teachings and writings of CG Jung. At the age of fifteen, an apartment fire took away most of Engel’s possessions, forcing him to live in his parents New York City theater where he discovered the book “Man and His Symbols” by Jung. This experience set him on his path as an artist and as an art therapist.
Jung’s philosophy of the collective unconscious resonates throughout Engel’s work – a connection to the archetypal symbols of humanity, from our ancestors to our predecessors.
The title of his newest show at Romany Kramoris Gallery, comes from his painting “Trinity.” A memory of being in Washington Square Park as a child, observing three whimsical figures who seemed to have transcended time and were reminiscent of Medieval entertainers – jesters, magicians, musicians – is depicted in the foreground. The symbolism of the “trinity” has strong mystical and spiritual connotations in cultures throughout history and the world, including Buddhism, Hinduism, and Christian theology. These figures as well as those depicting other trios in Engel’s newest series – three kings, carnival performers, musicians – call to mind these cultural and spiritual icons.
Also included in this show is “City Shaman,” which calls to mind the Assyrian wall reliefs. We see the depiction of one figure embodying three beings, once again emphasizing the significance of the “trinity.”
Engel states, “My work attempts to capture images of the archetypal origins of myth and to draw the viewer into a connection and communication with ancient spirits, the metaphysical, the sacred, the holy, and the transcendent. These images portray the archetypal heroes and heroines that exist in the past, present and future all at the same moment. These images have appeared throughout history – in the first marks of our ancestors, on cave walls, on trees, in the sand – messages that though we are only passing through this life momentarily, we each are a part of something that never ends. I venture to record these images as a map for exploration – to show patterns, to chart the sub-conscious, to leave a record of this journey.”
A prominent Long Island-raised gallery owner is returning to her roots in the Hamlet of Bridgehampton, New York, under the name Chase Edwards Fine Art Galleries. Bonnie Elizabeth Edwards has returned to the area after a successful west coast career including galleries in Laguna Beach, CA, Palm Desert, CA, Maui HI, Nantucket MA., Sante Fe, NM., and Oyster Bay, NY. Bonnie’s clients include luminaries in the art, entertainment and business world. From paintings to sculptures to functional pieces, and photography, the gallery will present works of established and emerging new talents in the world of contemporary art. According to Bonnie, Bridgehampton is ideal for galleries. “The historic charm surrounded by the immense natural beauty of the ocean and the bay, easily accessible to a large advanced art community base, is an attractive environment for galleries.” The store hours will be 11am-7pm daily. Evening hours for strollers and events are in the works for the busy season.