THU TRAN was born 1940 in Vietnam, immigrated to Canada as an adult, then to Orange Ct where he now lives. He graduated from fine art Asian Artistic school and studied sculpture at the college in Vietnam. He is a member of Kanata Civic Art Gallery in Ottawa, East Central Ontario Art Association and Pastel Artist Canada.
Thu had his work in solo shows in Vietnam and Ottawa and in group shows in Vietnam, Canada, and in Orange, CT. His works are included in both private and corporate collections in Vietnam, France, Canada and the US.
He says, “Nature is beautiful...It had given me inspiration and guided me towards my passion. I desire to maintain that beauty through my works of art...At first, I found passion in realistic works of art that captured everything that was physically visible in nature and seen as they really are. Gradually, I expand my approach on art and grew interest in the field of abstract. I wanted to illustrate my thoughts and expressions instead of simply portraying the things that we can already see. I now draw lines, various shapes, colored blocks, and much more while creating my own stories behind them all. This artistic aspect of art exists in me through my imagination, where there is no limit or boundary that is preventing my imagination from prospering.”
SARAH CHAPMAN was born in the south of France and now lives in Westport. She studied Fine Arts in Aix en Provence and taught elementary school in many countries and for many years. She is a certified yoga instructor, a facilitator of Yoga Nidra (Sleeping guided meditation) and a Reiki practitioner currently training to become Reiki Master. She is also the founder and active participant of the JoYga Project to help people living on the street and donates a percentage of the amount of each painting sold to the project.
Sarah started painting and taking photographs when she was about 12. She published and illustrated a bilingual children’s book, did private sales or commission work for brand names and donated paintings to schools and other organizations. She has exhibited at the Rowayton Arts Center, the Bruce Kershner Gallery, and in NYC.
Sarah will be showing her series, Meditative Art “the expression of the meditative mind creating from within, no intention, no pre-ideas of what it should look like...”, as well as Prenez-guarde!, “the different designs inside the ocean represent the waves that disturb the stillness of the ocean and even though they feel still and peaceful, sometimes we attach too much importance to it and lose the big picture, the peaceful flowing background that once was... When we create from the self, we create from a place of stillness a place of peace, just like the ocean....Just like in life we can sometimes focus too much on these tiny details and the designs of these waves that can sometimes disturb the stillness... we can always find peace, we can always find stillness within the movement, finding stillness within the fluctuations of life. ,... no external factors that make you want to create. You create because you are, just let it be, go with the flow of the energy within. Let it drive you and surrender, accept what is and own it. At least that is how the background of the painting is born; No mistakes, no need to resemble anything or anyone, let the creativity flow...”
MARI GYORGYEY creates book arts, pen and ink drawings, paintings, computer imagery, and fine art etchings that are figurative and expressionistic.
Since earning her BFA and MFA, Mari has shown her work in Hungary, Budapest, as well as in Stamford where she lives. She has won printmaking awards from UPENN, Dharma Silk Company, and the Center for Contemporary Printmaking, where she is a longtime member.
Mari’s work integrates her fine art and textile design background. She says, “The connection between where I am from and the processing of ideas, is the force that gives me direction. As a multi-media artist with bicultural influences, I face traditions, history, experiences and re-compose them into highly detailed narratives. My work represents the immediacy and vulnerability which in itself is life through a colorful, curvilinear hand and highly imaginative eyes...My subject matter transcends observation, history, and fact. These variables merge with my memories, experiences, and create my visual fiction.”