Irony of one's self

Sometimes I can't resist.
I love irony, and sometimes it has to do with making fun of myself.

So....
Here I am in a summertime version number one

and version number two.

"The Other Side" of Stephanie Seymour at Gaia Gallery included in the Giornata di AMACI

ENGLISH

The Other Side

painting exhibition of Stephanie Seymour  at the Gaia Gallery

(Marsciano-Papiano, Art Farm Gaia, voc.Le logge 125)

 an event to be included as part of the

Giornata di AMACI (AMACI Day)

(Association of Contemporary Art Museums in Italy).

The opening of the exhibition will  coincide with the  Giornata di AMACI  Oct 15, 2016

and  will continue until Novembre 20^th.

^{- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -}

ITALIANO

The Other Side

 esibizione di pittura di Stephanie Seymour alla Galleria Gaia

(Marsciano-Papiano, Art Farm Gaia, voc le logge 125) 

un evento che sarà incluso come parte della Giornata di AMACI

(Associazione Musei Arte Contemporanea Italia).

L’inaugurazione della mostra coincide con la Giornata di AMACI il 15 ottobre, 2016 

e continuerà fino al 20 Novembre 2016.

Per informazione clicca qui sul link:

The Other Side - Stephanie Seymour exhibition part of Giornata di AMACI

The Other Side - exhibition Stephanie Seymour included in Giornata di AMACI

ENGLISH

The Other Side

painting exhibition of Stephanie Seymour  at the Gaia Gallery

(Marsciano-Papiano, Art Farm Gaia, voc.Le logge 125)

 an event to be included as part of the

Giornata di AMACI (AMACI Day)

(Association of Contemporary Art Museums in Italy).

The opening of the exhibition will  coincide with the  Giornata di AMACI  Oct 15, 2016

and  will continue until Novembre 20^th.

^{- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -}

ITALIANO

The Other Side

 esibizione di pittura di Stephanie Seymour alla Galleria Gaia

(Marsciano-Papiano, Art Farm Gaia, voc le logge 125) 

un evento che sarà incluso come parte della Giornata di AMACI

(Associazione Musei Arte Contemporanea Italia).

L’inaugurazione della mostra coincide con la Giornata di AMACI il 15 ottobre, 2016 

e continuerà fino al 20 Novembre 2016.

Per informazione clicca qui sul link:

The Other Side - Stephanie Seymour exhibition part of Giornata di AMACI

Being an artist, stories beneath the surface

A STORY

Several years ago I was contacted by a person who organizes an exhibition in the Embassy of Iraq in Rome. I was to produce a painting that would possibly be selected for a collective exhibition. The theme was PEACE.

I asked myself, "What contribution can I do, what would express my feelings about the world, and the main subject that interests me most: bringing people of all nations together. THAT would be my theme.

I don't consider myself an artist who appreciates banal subject matter. Basically I love irony, but I also love beauty. How could I get MY own personal view across, and something that for the Embassy in Rome of Iraq, something that would not offend....

I imagined this: a sea, a pool of water where all people from all over the world could relax and meditate, they would be together, in harmony. Water would bring these people together, and all would be at peace.

I began my rough sketch. But I had one problem, or perhaps more than one: if the people were shown nude, or at least with no straps of bathing suits showing, would that be permissable? Would that be offensive?

The water in my painting began to cover more bare skin. THAT was a solution I believed.

I even asked a friend what she thought, and she believed it was alright, that it would not offend, and that the idea was a good one.

Now, about three years later.....I just saw the pubblicity for a film that has a very similar image. People of different races are in the water, they do look like migrants, they look as if they may not have the abillity to be saved, in their shirts, in the water and with serious expressions.

When I saw this photo I thought back to my painting and thought "My idea seems to have been before its time. It seems to have seen ahead, many people in the water, together, but my people have the ability to meditate and to come out happier, not sadder or desperate.

This story isn't over actually....because my painting was not accepted into the show.

I was quite disappointed, I IMAGINE that it offended someone, because perhaps of the "imagined" nudity.

Maybe it isn't a good painting.

Maybe it is too far out of reality of peace (no doves flying, no mother holding a baby, no flowers, or hearts). Just an imagined world where everyone could be together, peacefully, in an element that helps us all feel peaceful:water.