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visual arts by Vivian Mcintosh O N FIRE in Deep Cove "Fire is a very mysterious Scientifically it does not we can really explain element it, but feel f o r the ancient times that s o inspired h e r in Paris. In t h e quiet c o m f o r t of h e r s t u d i o , Mathias needs t o c o n c e n t r a t e fully o n h e r w o r k -- i t has b e c o m e h e r meditation. A l t h o u g h it was s c u l p t u r e that p i q u e d M a t h i a s ' interest, she envied the c o l o r that painters had t o select f r o m : thus the i n t r o d u c t i o n of the tile mosaics and glass in v i b r a n t hues. H e r m o s a i c tile paintings, and s c u l p t u r e s o f i m p a s s i o n e d individuals fit into any that typi- cal mass experience category humans basis. In try- on a daily ing to capture have used fire's essence, / artistic symbolism, and power has been modes: and of several stylistic, realism. abstract, The speed uncontrollable challenging." flames -- M i c h e l l e Mathias are m a d e w i t h tile, and fused shards of glass set in m o r t a r . T h o u g h I o r n in K e r r o b e r t , S a s k a t c h e w a n , ichelle M a t h i a s still misses t h e huge skies, t h e tall grasses and vastness of t h e p r a i r i e . Leaving t h e m U ^ \-- * " b e h i n d , t o d o a stint o f several years living and w o r k i n g in E u r o p e changed h e r life a n d a r t i s t i c d i r e c t i o n forever. W h i l e living in Paris, she often w e n t t h r o u g h T h e L o u v r e , passing by t h e w o n d r o u s G r e e k sculptures from l o n g ago. It was at the L o u v r e G a l l e r y t h a t M a t h i a s r e a l i z e d h e r i n t e r e s t in s c u l p t u r e . T h e lasting quality o f t h e G r e e k s c u l p t u r e s m a d e h e r aware that she t o o w a n t e d t o leave b e h i n d a legacy. W h a t b e t t e r m e d i u m than sculpting? Mathias is a v e r y m o t i v a t e d , d e d i c a t e d , and inspired artist. H e r w o r k d o e s n o t fit i n t o any of t h e ' t y p i c a l ' c a t e g o r i e s . A visionary, she w o r k s w i t h h e r hands t o c r e a t e w o r k s t h a t are v e r y m u c h h e r o w n , but w i t h a M a t h i a s ' w o r k is exhilarating f o r t h e artist, it is i m p o r t a n t t o k n o w the t i m e it takes t o c r e a t e such e x c e p t i o n a l , l a b o r intensive w o r k . F r o m c o n c e p t t o reality h e r bust o f a w o m a n n a m e d Maya on Fire, has taken t w o full days t o d o t h e t w o f o r e a r m s , an equal t i m e f r a m e f o r the hands, and the same f o r t h e f a c e . T h e b o d y has taken o v e r t w o w e e k s t o complete. S o m e of the o t h e r pieces that hang o n h e r s t u d i o w a l l are of a m o s a i c blazing f o r e s t and a s e l f - p o r t r a i t w i t h relief w o r k of h e r face and s h o u l d e r s . S o m e may find the w o r k t o be a little m a c a b r e , as she often refers in a s y m b o l i c way t o ' d e a t h ' s o m e w h e r e in h e r pieces. A t h r e e d i m e n s i o n a l s c u l p t u r e o f a skull w i t h daisies s k e w e d a b o u t , helps t o r e m i n d us of t h e s h o r t distance b e t w e e n b i r t h and d e a t h , making r e f e r e n c e t o t h e h u m o r o u s o l d saying of " p u s h i n g up d a i s i e s " . Mathias explains. " T h i n k i n g a b o u t death is t w o sides of t h e same c o i n , p e o p l e d o n o t w a n t t o think a b o u t d e a t h , yet, h o w can o n e k n o w w h a t they w a n t t o d o w i t h t h e i r l i v e s . . . thinking a b o u t death is v e r y life affirming." T h e artist has a s e r i o u s side t o her, and w a n t s the v i e w e r t o k n o w that the w o r k is a d e p i c t i o n , fantasy, a study of fire. Mathias is v e r y m u c h aware of the p o w e r and devastation of fire. L i k e an o c e a n w a v e , y o u are afraid yet in awe. Fire's s p e e d is often u n d e r e s t i m a t e d , o u r best defeat is p r e v e n t i o n . M a t h i a s ' w o r k is an a t t e m p t t o m i m i c t h e t e n s i o n of fiery f o r c e s that are b e y o n d c o n t r o l . T h i s t h o u g h t p r o v o k i n g artist leaves us with a quote from Aristotle, " U n e x a m i n e d life is n o t w o r t h living." Maya o n Fire, glass, biferglass, mortar, height 29", 2000 See O n Fire at Seymour Art Gallery, D e e p Cove from November 1-22. Opening reception is November 7, 7-9 pm. Artist Michelle Mathias, Los A l a m o s . Glass, 16" x 20", 2000 Vivian Mcintosh is an award-winning North Shore artist