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Skies, stars focal point of new Atwood art exhibit
By Chris Heinitz
Published:
Thursday, December 9, 2004
People throughout history have been captivated by the Earth's sky.
Some may go as far to say that people are collectively obsessed with astronomy.
For some, the astrological fascination centers around the endlessness and absolute vastness of the heavens. For others, it's a way to better understand our place in the world in spite of its incomprehensibility.
For artist Eileen McConkey, it's the "indescribable abstract awe." That awe is exactly what she attempts to communicate with her new exhibit "Cosmic Possibilities and Then Some," now on display in the Atwood gallery.
Her work is an artistic trip into the mystery of the universe. She uses extreme colors and patterns to create abstract visuals of time, space and eternity.
"My work reflects my ever- increasing interest in deep space and mingles it with the ever-present journey of my life," McConkey said. "I seek to move the emotions of awe and wonder and mystery, taking the viewer into the unlimited reaches of cosmic possibilities, as well as the unlimited potential of their very own soul. I do this with the punch of color, the seduction of depth and the mystery of nebulous forms."
McConkey said that the genesis of her astronomical works began four years ago when she, like many, found herself looking skyward.
"Five years ago, I was looking at a constellation, (and) I couldn't figure it out," McConkey said. "In my little (astronomy) book, it said if you look at it with binoculars, you can see the drum of a galaxy. And I thought 'a whole galaxy?' (So) I looked at it and saw this little fuzzy ball. When I realized what I was looking at, it took me over."
After that experience, McConkey was inspired to go back to painting after saying she may never paint again in her life.
"That incredible abstract awe. That knock-you-down-at-your-knees wordless wow. That's what I'm after," McConckey said.
"She uses astronomy to educate them and inspire an awe of the universe," third-year student Jermaine Ogaja said. "I thought this was a pretty good objective, because as soon as I stepped in here and saw all this work, I was like 'Wow. This is amazing.'"
She accomplishes this feeling by using "nebulous abstract color," a tremendous ability to convey depth and spatial movement and the innate beauty of the mysterious cosmic abyss. "I think they're all beautiful. I think they're all fascinating. I like the look of the stars. I think there representative of a lot," second-year student Cassandra Bixler said.
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