T H E   M A N I S C A L C O   G A L L E R Y

presents

TRUTH

The Exhibition
Holiday Salon

Sunday, December 9, 1-4 PM through January 5, 2002

featuring TRUTH artists, poetry, music and holiday performances - we encourage poets, actors, dancers to create works around the current exhibit and present them December 9th.

Featuring works by KYLE STONE, VITO VALDEZ, MARK JACKSON, JAC PURDON,
JESSICA FLINT, MICHAEL COOPER III, AMANDA MANISCALCO


Detroit, MI — The Maniscalco Gallery opened TRUTH, the exhibition, exploring our understanding of this most illusive of values. The original intention of the exhibit was to peel below the surface, to get a glimpse into the central core of what it is to be human. On September 11th, our perspective of what is true was changed forever. What it means to be an American, for instance, has been transformed by a single dastardly stroke. The very freedoms we hold most dear are under attack, even as I write. The image of truth as an onion, with layers that can be peeled away, no longer seems quite adequate. Is truth relative or is it absolute? There seems to be a powerful need for some kind of an absolute truth, an answer, something that makes sense, to explain the inexplicable. There are many answers floating around, many "truths."

This then raises the question, "what is the relevance of art in light of this tragedy?" Is it merely a distraction, an indulgence or is it something more? All I know is the way I look at truth in relation to art has changed forever. I believe, now more than ever, it is through the mystery of the creative process that we are able to carve understanding from chaos. The concept of truth is essential to the arts. It is the artist's role simply to ask the question, "what is truth?" That's what this exhibit is about; it is a personal inquiry into the nature of truth. Like an onion, TRUTH is intended to be comprehended on many levels from many points of view. Some artists will present new works as well as "pre-September 11th" works, to be viewed from these new and evolving perspectives. TRUTH is free and open to the public with an artists' reception on October 13th from 7-10 pm.

For more information: (313) 886-2993.

Central to Jessica Flint's (Mt. Pleasant, MI) work is the human body, especially the female body. Strange figures appear in exaggerated, contorted positions: huddled within subterranean, womb-like spaces, floating in haze, or covered by a chrysalis-like web or skin. In many of these images, an isolated figure is surrounded by a golden background reminiscent of religious icons. They evoke a sense of physical or psychic confinement, and occasionally a transcendence of these states. Ms. Flint is interested in contradictory themes of pain and pleasure, beauty and ugliness, strength and vulnerability. TRUTH marks Jessica Flint's first public showing of her work.

Sculptor Jac Purdon (Grosse Pointe) received critical acclaim at the
Michigan Gallery exhibit which brought him to the public's attention in 1990. His brilliantly articulated, highly rendered sculptures compel the viewer to confront popular culture's definitions of truth. Both literally and
metaphorically his works peel away the pretense of facade revealing at
once a painful yet enchanted view of humanity.

Personal introspection, symbolism and cthonic myth are the driving forces behind the paintings of Mark Jackson (Detroit). His inspiration, his truth, comes easily in dreams and brief glimpses into the unknown. He takes nothing for granted. "Every shadow contains a possibility for me. There are a continuous stream of ideas in my head and when I paint I grab the nearest one." When asked why he paints his earnest response is, "for the same reason I eat, sleep and breathe." TRUTH marks Mr. Jackson's first gallery exhibit.

The imagery of Michael Cooper is both powerful and complex. TRUTH marks a return to the Detroit's fine art scene for this incredible talent. Cooper had achieved much recognition in the late 80's for his breakthrough paintings, winning the Spirit of Detroit Award in 1987. Currently he is doing portraits in the streets and can be found in Greektown every weekend. "God gave me a gift which I use in whatever way I can." His paintings are loaded with political images but he doesn't view his work as political in that he is not taking a position, "I'm just an objective observer of life going on all around me."

Amanda Maniscalco (Detroit), a framer by profession, asked the simple question, "what could I do with the materials I work with to express myself as an artist." Her mat board assemblages are eloquent in construction, conceptually fresh and unpretentious. Her mentor-ship with Jac Purdon, a modern master of conceptualism, has lead to an outpouring of simple yet powerful ideas which are nothing short of "cutting edge." Keri Guten Cohan of the Detroit Free Press recently described her work as both "elegant and formal."

Vito Valdez's (Detroit) expressionist works get to the heart of TRUTH, in the purist sense of the word, particularly if we are talking about raw truth, stripped of pretension and ego. Valdez is a widely recognized master and is a member of the faculties of some of Detroit's most prestigious art centers like the DIA. Valdez is very active with "at risk" children creating murals and generating a variety of opportunities for them to achieve full self expression. He recently participated in the creation of a traditional Mexican Ofrenda, a ritualized offering, that deals with the violence of our society.

Kyle Stone's expresses in paint the commonplace events of life, mingling images and ideas in a non-literal interpretation stemming from his emotional reflexes. Images appear in his p aintings directly from his subconscious mind. His fantastical, yet expressionistic renderings seem to remind us of familiar moments, feelings, experiences even though they are obviously of another plain of existence.

The Maniscalco Gallery was founded in 1997 by artist Robert Maniscalco as an exhibition space and contemporary art center for talented local and international artists, both established and emerging. "Our goal is to retrieve art from the esoteric trash heap and return it to it's inherent foundation of joy and the wonder of creation. I believe we cry only in the face of beauty. Art must move, touch and inspire or it means nothing. Our goal is to present art which is an exploration of life and what it means to be human," says Robert.