The Shadow Group | What We Become in the Shadows

Jan. 4

The Shadow Group
What We Become in the Shadows

Focus & Edges Galleries, January 4 - 26, 2019

A group exhibition featuring the work of Clarie Strauss, Bianca Martin, Josh Lesage, Jessica Hall, and Charles Hegsted.

The pieces that have been created were inspired by the theme of shadow. Shadow, a term often used to describe the darker sides of humanity both in individual and collective spheres is often composed of rejected aspects of ourselves that directly correlate to our conditioning. Each one of us has, for reasons unique to our circumstances, learned to heighten and suppress certain aspects of our identity in order to navigate the fabric of our lives. Often internalizing what is conventionally accepted and desirable and rejecting what causes conflict inside and outside ourselves, we lose sight of key components of our being. The aim of creating around this theme rested in exploring these hidden aspects and bringing them to light. Each one of the artists that collaborates were given free rein in exploring what the theme meant to them, as well as how they would like to express it.

CLAIRE STRAUSS

As I enter the shadow of James Kirby’s death in 2017, the light of the New Year is revealed. Something about surrendering to the darker places in my mind felt intuitively vital in letting pain, grief and loneliness surface in me.

To join the Shadow Group was to explore the private and the collective at once; merging the two. Trusting the creative values of all members, I was lifted by the constructive and narrative aspect of the group. Sharing stories and building works of art together meant I was forging myself out of the pain, grief and loneliness. I have always found inspiration in Natural forms and geometric beauty. To create a mythos from the dark side (personal) to the light (public) strengthened my spiritual capacity. In forming the body of work in What We Become in the Shadows, I have gained a greater spirit of being.

My gratitude extends to Patrick Royle; the Hall family; my family and friends and to Arts Underground.

JOSHUA LESAGE

Within the last few years, I have been exploring the multi-faceted idea of shadow work. In 2016, I had the opportunity of completing a week-long residency with Californian artist Tom Wolver. His clay sculptures center around exploring his own shadow. Although strikingly eerie at first sight, with discernment one can see that they hold qualities of surrender and grace. I was fortunate to learn some of his sculptural techniques as well as be inspired by his process. I would say that this short apprenticeship has enabled me to gain more confidence in allowing my own personal style to emerge in my creative endeavors.

The inspiration for this body of work stems from self-inquiry into my personal mythology, as well as readings and research into this subject. The process has provided me with the beautiful liberty of unearthing insightful material from my “inner world”, all of which are in some way relevant to my own shadow side.

BIANCA MARTIN

To me, this art show was less about end products than it was about intention and process. Since I have always revered the potential of creative endeavors in permitting surrender into unconscious aspects of myself, I was honoured to be a part of this group show. The shadow theme resonated with what matters deepest to me as a human being, which is the capacity each one of us has in exploring who we really are. It is my belief that the personal development that can ensue from this type of work is rich and under-developed in our society. Bringing the unconscious and unrealized into the realm of awareness is a path onto itself, and I am compelled to it. The idea that we are multi-dimensional beings constantly unfolding and uncovering hidden or shunned expressions of ourselves speaks to me, and I like to use art as my point of entrance, as a mirror to reflect what is hidden.

Additionally, being able to honour the impact that James Kirby has had on my life as a friend and a teacher has also been a focal point for me in this show. James encouraged and strengthened my capacity for shadow work. He was a master at this himself and it is in watching him courageously step into the greatest initiation that death is, that I understood how much his knowledge was anchored in shadow work. His wisdom propels me in taking the work of uncovering the soul that much more seriously. Creating for this show has been a ritual in itself. Shaping cold wet clay and turning it into solid matter through intense firings is reflective of alchemy. The tortured figures that I created were a way for me to summon the parts of myself that I resist out of fear and of letting them have their own coming into being, their own release. Being an empathic person, I loved the weaving of artistic energies that came together for this group show. I felt nourished and inspired by other member’s collaborations. If you have never had the opportunity of sitting and listening to James, I hope this show gives you a taste of his medicine. Also, may it inspire your own truths to surface~

JESSICA HALL

I was honoured to work with the late James Kirby on a documentary about his art, his religion and life. I was intrigued by the idea of creating a film that involved the dark arts. I was also a bit afraid of what I might find.

I discovered, however, that black magick is not what I thought it was.

Most people I’ve met who practice magick, black, white or otherwise, do so in secrecy, in the shadows, often because of fear, the same fear I felt in the outset of that film. Fear of being discovered, ridiculed, persecuted...fear based in ignorance.

This has been on my mind a lot since James’ passing, the fear his magical side could invoke in people. The fear of the unknown. The fear of the other. How people hide who they are, what they believe, from the world, and sometimes from themselves.

But James was an outlier who did not hide who he was or what he believed, he was an out and proud black magick practitioner, an example of someone who fully embraced all aspects of himself, who took the time to learn who he was.

James taught me many things on our journey together, and one of the most important lessons I learned was that, as hard as you may try, you can’t get away from your own shadow. Your own dark side will always be with you, it’s up to you to decide what to do with it.