Magic, Myth, Machine, & Matter was the title of the 6–29 September UMVA exhibition at the Oak Street Lofts Gallery, 72 Oak St., Portland, Maine, featuring UMVA members Eva Rose Goetz, Gregg Harper, William Hessian, and Abbeth Russell. The exhibition themes were inspired by the main “epochs” in the development of human thinking on the nature of the cosmos, presented so beautifully by the late UMass Amherst astrophysicist Edward Harrison in his book Masks of the Universe (2003/2015). The four artists exhibited four artworks each with their own “riff” on each of the four themes of magic, myth, machine, and matter.
Abbeth Russell, Creation of the Cat Queen, acrylic on wood panel, 36 x 36 in.
Eva Goetz, In the land of Magpie, acrylic and gouache on board, 30 x 30 in.
Gregg Harper, Metaphysician’s Machinations.
Artist William Hessian with his artwork (photo: Dave Wade).
Of these themes, magic and myth are typically conflated as otherworldly. Add machine and matter, and debates are initiated that steer us in many directions.
And we humans think, therefore we evolve (we like to think so anyway).
Witness the myriad directions that these themes have conjured up in each of the four artists. They were developed over the past year in wonderful get-togethers that broadened each of our perspectives.
Magic, Myth, Machine, & Matter, reverse gallery view (photo: Gregg Harper).
Magic, Myth, Machine, & Matter, opening reception (photo: Gregg Harper).
Magic, Myth, Machine, & Matter, opening reception (photo: Gregg Harper).
The opening reception during Portland’s First Friday Art Walk on 6 September was attended by over one hundred visitors, including many longtime UMVA members.
Image at top: Magic, Myth, Machine, & Matter, gallery entrance (photo: Gregg Harper).