In the show was newcomer Lance Masai Jackson with two pieces represented. The first is a monotone mixed media on paper called ‘The Waves Sift the Sand; What is Revealed is True Gold’.
The second is a “cloud-scape” called “Evening Grays”(or “Clearing the Storm”), an oil painting in cool blues and grays . The choice of color emphasizes the “subtleties in life, the moral choices we have to make everyday are all different shades of gray; truth, kindness and tolerance (shown in the center with Chinese characters in rays of light) cuts through the haze and helps one to define wrong from right,” says Jackson, who signs his work ‘Masai’.
“Truth, kindness and tolerance clear storms in your path” Jackson says of his painting.
Filled with symbolism and metaphor, Jackson’s work is inspired and guided by traditional Buddhist and Taoist teachings. A butterfly, the only color on the monochromatic piece, represents complete transformation. “When you actively improve your moral character, it will completely transform you,” says Jackson. The artist lives by this profound wisdom and is also a practitioner of these scriptures.
Raised in rural NY, Jackson spent a great deal of time outdoors where he always felt the strong connection between nature and spirituality. Just after graduating from high school he decided to communicate these experiences through painting.
He received a classical education at Boston University School for Fine Arts studying from masters who gave him the skills and tools to fulfill his aspiration.
“The basic law of the universe is to be kind, true, and tolerant. It takes strength to be these things [since] people think it is weakness,” he said. Jackson pointed to Gandhi who overcame the English army with nonviolence.
Jackson, 45, works as an artwork installer and says, “Art should be curative.” He notes how important it is to surround oneself with colors and objects which will affect us in a positive way. He believes strongly in respecting objects and finding the proper place for things, as well as finding the right balance in a composition.
People are very aware of the food they eat, yet don’t care about the kinds of images they allow into themselves. Jackson likens this to the way advertisement works, infiltrating the subconscious. Images have a strong influence on us whether we are aware of it or not. Why hang disfigured disturbing images in your intimate living space?
As Jackson continues to synthesize and harmonize his passions, and is committed to bringing balance and harmony to all he does. “It’s the reason to be an artist, to talk about high level things.”
Also in the show at the James Gray Gallery were works of artists Gadi, Rita Blitt, Cindy Ingraham, Tom Keefer, Jan Thompson, and Mara Galvao.
