Living Art of Montana 6th Annual Light Show

Mirror/lamp for The Light Show - "Emotional Patina

Living Art of Montana is a Montana-based non-profit 501(c) (3) corporation founded in 1993. The mission of Living Art is to use the arts and nature to support healing.  They accomplish this mission via a variety of workshops. The “Cancer, Courage and Creativity” workshop has been the sentinel program offering since 1993. Other workshops include a photographic workshop, “Another Look- Through Imagery and Writing“, among others.

Living Art of Montana serve the brain injured, the bereaved and professional care-givers, cancer survivors, heart-attack survivors and people suffering with fibromyalgia, migraine headaches and depression. The Living Art “way of working” can be helpful for individuals facing a multiplicity of illnesses and challenges, and that such a “mixed” group can experience a cohesive group process.

Their annual fundraiser, The Light Show, is on May 15th. Come check out the sneak preview this First Friday at The Warehouse Mall.

Living Arts of Montana [link]

“Physical Patina – Reflections” by Marc Moss
As we age, we piece ourselves together over time from various pieces. A character quirk we pick up from an old friend. A philosophic outlook on life from a series of adventures or events. Throughout it all, our essence remains the same. We are, at our core, ourselves.

Yet we are continually changing. Like metal exposed to the elements, we take on unexpected scars, patinas and decay. We must continually look at ourselves in mirrors to see if we still recognize ourselves.

Even our emotional and spiritual beings change. Hopefully, we’re growing in these changes. Throughout this growth, however, we remember our core. We are solid in who we are. Or at least we hope we are.

It is in a dim light that we are able to look inside ourselves, ignore the ravages of age and disease and see who we truly are.

Physical Patina – Reflections explores this idea, using disparate, re – purposed and found objects. Some are aged and rusted naturally, while others are treated to force patina. They are bound together with new materials to create a cohesive whole.

The process of creating a piece like this is one of acceptance of, and adapting to, the unexpected. Allowing asymmetry. Allowing the original blueprint to fall away. And finally allowing the piece to reveal itself to the artist and to the viewer.

This piece looks much different in its final state than it did in its initial sketches. Creating it was a lesson in patience, acceptance and adventure.

Physical Patina - Reflections (detail)

Physical Patina - Reflections (detail) - lamp/mirror by Marc Moss