February 2011 Scott Cahaly
Amidst the gray of winter, color emerges. This month the Somerville Arts Council and the Inside-Out Gallery feature the vibrant work of Scott Cahaly, bringing a lively spirit to the heart of David Square.
Artist Statement Scott Cahaly
My art is a reflection of me and an all pervading vision I have of the world around me! I choose to portray this world through the mediums of paint and stone. I enter the creative process only having some small idea of an issue I want to address. It could be something I saw on the news, a political issue, something about my yoga practice or even my bike. At the inception of each piece a few broad strokes or chisel marks are made then the work informs me of what it wants to be. At this point the work takes on a life of its own and I become its humble servant. My creative process has grown into something that resembles its own world, filled with heart energy, visuals and mystical sensations. I do my best to remember what has yielded inspiring results in the past and what is needed to keep the process and finished result fresh and inspiring In my work I seek to depict inner and outer realms, the metaphysical, the transcendent, and a sense of timelessness and mystery. In both the painting and the sculpture I use repetition of stylized depictions of the face and the human form. At times these are easily recognized, and at others they are abstracted almost past the point of recognition. These pictorial elements comprise my primary visual vocabulary which I use in dynamic, swirling, and fluid overall compositions. In the paintings I use brilliant color on dark grounds, resulting in a radiant feel not unlike stained glass. Through my work I aim to reinforce for the viewer the validity of his or her own spiritual journey. My artistic practice feeds my spiritual progress and I hope it helps contribute to that of others. My art is a reflection of me and an all pervading vision I have of the world around me! I choose to portray this world through the mediums of paint and stone. I enter the creative process only having some small idea of an issue I want to address. It could be something I saw on the news, a political issue, something about my yoga practice or even my bike. At the inception of each piece a few broad strokes or chisel marks are made then the work informs me of what it wants to be. At this point the work takes on a life of its own and I become its humble servant. My creative process has grown into something that resembles its own world, filled with heart energy, visuals and mystical sensations. I do my best to remember what has yielded inspiring results in the past and what is needed to keep the process and finished result fresh and inspiring.