Press Release And Public Announcement

Press Release and Public Announcement What: Exhibit, "Sephiroth: the Soul's Journey" Who: Artists Matty Kirk and Ondrea Svaldi Where: Here! Planet Earth When: Reception--Friday, April 10, 7pm Exhibit dates: March 21-April 25 Free to the public

“Sephiroth” Matty Kirk/Ondrea Svaldi @Planet Earth & the 4 Directions Gallery 524 Colorado Avenue . Grand Junction . Colorado

81501

Contact: Caole Lowry 970-256-9630

Opening Reception: April 10th , from 7-10pm Exhibit dates: March 21st - April 25th

"At the Heart of the Matter"

Ondrea Svaldi copyright 2009

"What the bleep do we know about the Kabbalah?" The Kabbalah is one of the world’s oldest bodies of spiritual wisdom, and is a system of thought drawing on the Torah, the first 5 books of the Bible. Kabbalistic teachings explain the complexities of the material and the nonmaterial universe, as well as the physical and metaphysical nature of all humanity. Kabbalist sages have said that the model for quantum physics is a scientific translation of what the ancients have been teaching for over 4,000 years. The Tree of Life is a central symbol in the Kabbalah, and in this exhibit.

Denver Artists, Ondrea Svaldi and Matty Kirk, present the show ‘Sephiroth’ an event that shares personal interpretations of the Kabbalistic Tree of Life and the Tarot. Visitors can expect to view some provocative art work based upon the 10 "Sephiroth", which are sacred vessels representing the soul’s journey on the Tree of Life. The Tarot is an ancient visual interpretation of this journey on the Tree of Life, as well as a conversation with the Universe when used with integrity. The interpretive paintings by Kirk and Svaldi play off the idea of feminine and masculine collaboration, using colorful compositions layered with universal themes of spirituality, and ranging from the styles of representational collage to abstraction.

"Netzach"

copyright Matty Kirk 2009

Denver artist, Matty Kirk has been immersed in creative expression since he was very young. His art takes many forms--from playing bass in his punk rock band ‘Agents of Chaos’, to more recently painting at Red Rocks to live music, Kirk is certainly dedicated to the world of avant garde art. Currently Kirk is working on a series of paintings of the Tarot, and has been reading Tarot since he was about 13. Kirk is a fan of Esoterica, Crowley, and a colorful member of the Discordian church. "If I had to describe my art to an art student from another world, I would say that I use Peter Max's techniques and approach, but I'm trying to paint Salvidor Dali's chaos.

Denver artist Ondrea Svaldi always had a great love of literature, and story telling, especially fairy tales. Drawing from her love for stories, Svaldi now dabbles in comparative mythology. She is a mixed media artist, and accomplished jewelry maker. Currently on hiatus from the Denver scene, she is a resident silversmith at Planet Earth Art Gallery. The Tree of Life as an image currently informs her jewelry design, and she is in the process of creating a line of pendants centered on both the images and the surrounding mythos of the various world trees. Interested in transformation of materials and energy, whether it is in making art, or in working with the spirit of things, Svaldi lends an element of the mystic contemplative to all of her work. The finding, through her studies, of the Kabbalistic Tree of Life, coincided

with her meeting Kirk. In collaboration, they find that the ancient systems of thought in the Tarot and the Kabbalah are profoundly related. Thus was born this exhibit, ‘Sepiroth.’ With the art comes original music by Eldreth, a classical guitarist who will be accompanied by flautist, Ron Standing. Also as a special guest, we have invited Wendy Videlock, poet, artist and alchemical Tarot reader. She will be reading the Tarot and offering her insights through this ancient practice. "Through art, mysticism can be available to everyone. It takes work and thought and feeling and presence. This is the magic that has inspired visionary artists of the ages. William Blake, Alex Grey, Salvidor Dali, photographer Alfred Steiglitz and his wife and muse, Georgia O’Keefe, Leonora Carrington, and countless others. This is the realm of art imparting sacredness to itself and thus to humanity. Being and creating in this time is a gift, not just an illusion and we are the ones to make this life manifest now. Get to it! And come see this remarkable exhibit." (Caole Lowry, Artist/Curator, Planet Earth & the 4 Directions)

“We are not ghosts walking the realm of the dead, we are alive in the spirit of our creation." --Spearhead