It’s so hard not to get caught up in the common manifestation of ‘Do More’.  If you aren’t doing all the time people seem confused.  Does anyone just exist anymore?  I wonder sometimes what the strong resistance is in this world to just let things be, naturally.

We consume and alter everything natural in this world – including ourselves; for the self imposed “should and should nots”.  Not to mention the collective bombardment of prescribed messages of how we ought to be (in who’s opinion?) by media and marketing, passed down through God knows where and filtered through the minds and mouths of everyone we come into contact with each and every day of our waking lives.  If I am always the consciousness in me how do I grow? Letting go of the rigid mind structures imposed on me; False identities; the way others see me- has to mean nothing to me.

What do I want to see? I can be anything.  So what’s in the heart of me?  What is true for me?  I have a choice, the freedom to plot my own destiny and design what is around me.  Beautiful or ugly; it is up to me.  Alter my perspective; creative or destructive.  Negative or positive.  I often feel confused, enmeshed in the collective.  Pushed and pulled and inside out.  Spinning around and upside down. What really matters anyway?  What do I want to achieve today?  I want to share a good belly laugh, smiles and love in just the eyes, intense joy and connection.   No struggle.

Tingles on the flesh from deep within like fizz from God knows where arising from the bottom of a glass of cold pop on a hot day.  Do some painting, see some nature, smile again.  Breathe deeply, relax and share all this with someone very dear to me.

On Thursday August 12, 2010 at Gallery Gachet, SKin was IN.

Founded in Vancouver in 1992, Gallery Gachet is a unique collaborative gallery that strives to provide a focal point for dialogue amongst artists.  Located at 88 East Cordova Street, Vancouver’s infamous East Side provided an eclectic backdrop for this event.

The SKin is IN exhibit was a dynamic collection of local artists painting on both human skin and canvas.  The artists showcased their pieces for purchase and graced the guests with personalized, complementary art pieces, on their skin!  Sponsored by Gallery Gachet, Kevan Seng of Capulet Art participated making the art showcased accessible to everyone in the form of posters and art cards.  This was an amazing night where the public was given the opportunity to meet with the artists and witness the creative processes of each.

As the DJ began spinning and the drinks began flowing, the space transformed into a living, breathing hub of creativity.  In center stage stood Amy Louise.  Donning nothing but a painted black bikini, her alabaster skin became the canvas for the creative collective that began with a few mere strokes.  By the end of the evening, Amy was a veritable mélange of colors courtesy of Monika Bilchar, J Peachy and Sarazen Brooks.

Special thanks to Monika Bilchar of MAB Ventures Inc. and J Peachy, without whom, the event wouldn’t have happened.  It was a truly revealing evening.

- Jessica Archibald

jessica.a.archibald@gmail.com

© 2010 ArtConverge (ISSN 1918-9273‏)