The Shadow: to Conceal and Reveal

In November, 2004, Daniel Mack curated a installation at a Gallery in Warwick, NY

"It’s really more of a side show than an art show", says artist-curator Daniel Mack.

The Show featured installation work, performance and interactive exhibits as well as a schedule of workshops and events through the month   it had work from 26 artists from all over the country .  Each related to the nature of Shadow in a different way

Why Shadow?

"The Shadow, of course, never dies; we always cast a shadow. But how we relate to it, and it to us, depends on whether it is known. Once known, we have inevitably lost an innocence that can never be recovered. What replaces it is a knowledge of the complexity of our nature. Sometimes we are fortunate, and this knowledge elicits a kindness and tolerance in us for others — even, perhaps for ourselves."               writer-activist   Deena Metzger

Mack has used the ancient concept of Shadow developed by Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung as the basis for the show.  “Shadow” is that part of life which is hidden, out-of-sight, stashed away. Jung’s notion was that it is important to give voice to Shadow, to allow it expression and presence. It's just the other side of who we are.

"To Light a Candle is to Cast a Shadow" Ursula LeGuin

Several literally cast light though an object to reveal its shadow on a wall or screen. Wilby Colman of Georgia has an elegant sleek metal sculpture of a human head that changes expression as the light moves across it.

Wisconsin artist MariOsa has made a driftwood sculpture of three women which looms very large and different as light is cast upon it.

• Composer-Performer Somna Bulist celebrated the Closing of the Exhibit on December 5th with her Fragrance of the Blue Lotus, a evovation for the harp and voice of the energies of The Medicine Wheel and the primal elements of water, darkness, hiddenness and infinity.
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• Kaete Brittin Shaw of Stone Ridge, NY is best known as a ceramacist. For the Shadow Show, she offers two tall ladder-like objects with porcelain rungs leaning against the old brick wall of the Gallery
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• Michigan artist Bim Willow created shadow illusion with his willow mask.
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• Daniel Mack, natural forms artist of Warwick, had a worktable at the Gallery and was there working many days.
• With Sally Leonard, he recited this Buddhist chant to prevent Calamity every weekday of the Exhibit at noon:

• Sho Sai Myo Kichijo Dharani   (Auspicious Buddhist dharani For Averting Calamity)

  No Mo San Man Da Moto Nan Oha Ra Chi Koto Sha Sono Nan To Ji To En Gya Gya Gya Ki Gya Ki Un Nun Shiu Ra Shiu Ra Hara Shiu Ra Hara Shiu Ra Chishu Sa Chishu Sa Chishu Ri Chishu Ri Sowa Ja Sowa Ja Sen Chi Gya Shiri E Somo Ko

• David Horton, Warwick Construction artist, created a darkened booth to present his Psychic Pop Generator
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• Poet-Artist Shotsie Gorman presents his painting-- Kristine dispells the shadow heart and reads from his new collection of poetry, Black Mark, at the opening  and closing receptions

Wilby Colman	Bim Willow
Mariosa	Roger Sayre's Chair of Shadows

Poet Paul Kane has selected several poems about Shadow and reads during the Opening and other times during the Show. He includes his own poem: Shadows.

Robbie Haldane, the Irish waller from Columbia County created a stone cairn holding a limestone carving of Thor's Hammer.

Trish Helmer of Dutchess County made a series of mechanical“NightMares”, those equine creatures who visit, at night, in the shadows.

New Hampshire artist AM has built a Shadow Cabinet where she keeps her shadow. She invites you to look in... perhaps take something, and leave a bit of your own shadow.

New Hampshire artist Laraine Howard makde a collection of faces from hypertufa.  Each was made "blind"... as she worked on the material inside a plastic bag.

California artist Mary Fullwood works primarily in encaustic. She made 15 ritual objects using such natural materials as: Sagrada driftwood, beetles, dung, goat hooves, stone beads, Sagrada feather, stone beads, cord leather, clay beads, elk tooth, hawk wing, old knife, copper, glass beads, tin disks, Sagrada fish spine, seed rattles, shell, gem stones, abalone.  She offered a workshop, The Imaginal Doula, on Friday, November 7

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William Gerbracht, Westtown, NY, made a ceramic construction which gets built and re-built, -constructed and demolished-- throughout the Show.

Many artists were at the receptions for several special events and performances including the Making of a Medicine Wheel by David Wiener   Other Shadows artists are: Robert Kalka, Roger Sayre, Sally Stang, Monica Serra and Mark Stankiewicz.

Kaete Brittin Shaw	Kristine dispells the shadow heart
William Gerbracht Changeable Construction	David Wiener

An original meaning of the word MIRROR was "shadow catcher"

• MORE on Carl Jung's works, including The Shadow
  
  
• More Still