News & Events – Page 2 – PhilaSophia | love wisdom | holistic branding, photography, web design, print design, illustration in beacon, new york (hudson valley web designer)

Moments in the Medium: Medicine & Meditation

THE MEDICINE IS IN THE MAKING

Illustrations & Oil Painting

MEDITATIONS ON DEEPER LESSONS

The medicine is in the making, but sometimes, I need to sit with the message further to move past it. Originally a photo composit from my series Without Fear and Full of Love, “Bloodline” is about grief of the loss of pregancy, which I’ve experience more times than I want to admit. It is a bloodline, severed. A channeling of a soul cut off from this life’s karma, or one to return to life in another way. I have these connections with bees, clinging to me, often on hikes, or really, all kinds of places. They are friendly and quite stubborn to stay by my side, which makes me wonder sometimes, “Is this you, the soul I’m grieving over?” I have no answers, but I’m still not over it, which is why I decided to continue the art medicine further into this detailed illustration, which I finished on Dia de los Muertos 2019.

This is my second illustration in this style, which I’m currently painting now. I have to say, I feel most content in this medium pairing. Its flow comes naturally. I feel the intensity of the message as I focus into each shadow and curve. It brings me such joy to express myself on canvas, or in this case, on wood.

More to come on my progress in this medium.

News & Events

FRIDA | Sold-Out Screening, Contracts Renewed @ Story Screen

I was thrilled to see so many unfamiliar faces at this evening’s screening of FRIDA at Story Screen. The screening was completely sold out. This is the fourth movie in my series on Love & Wisdom, about the life and artwork of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. I also renewed my contract with Story Screen to continue this series. We are still in talks of it becoming a partial membership film series. More to come on that in December. The film series will start up again January 2020. Stay Tuned!

News & Events

Inside The Creative Process Of Artist Meghan Spiro | A Little Beacon BLOG

Meghan Spiro’s exhibit for October’s Second Saturday was pretty powerful.

The first I learned of it was in the grocery store checkout line, which is where most important information is traded and discussed. What stuck with me was not the subject matter, but the responses she said she got from women she told about the project, which was an autobiographical visual and poetic exploration of the physical abuse she suffered during her marriage.

Therefore, we are lifting some of her photos from the show and publishing them here for more to see. At least one of them, “A Bloody Beautiful Blooming” shown here, was featured earlier in February 2019 at the the local gallery Catalyst during their “Cycles” exhibit.

In order to help others who may harbor similar feelings Meghan experienced, this article not only displays select images of the art, but includes a deep dive into how she created the art.

READ FULL ARTICLE

News & Events

OPENING NIGHT – WITHOUT FEAR AND FULL OF LOVE AT BAU

Feeling it all and all at once. So much gratitude for yesterday’s show open at BAU: Beacon Artist Union. After nearly 10 years of healing and 3 years of manifesting artwork and poetry, I opened my inner world to the public with my show Without Fear & Full of Love. I was overwhelmed by the positive response from the show. The journey of being able to sit in my truth and fully open about my life has shifted my paradigm. I only hope that this show encourages others to not feel shame for their traumas. The first step of healing is to talk about it. There is good and there is wrong, but honesty is what bares truth.

Eternally grateful for the following people that have been key to my journey: Russell (healer, curator, photo assistant, I dedicate this show to you, my luv), Caren Charles (co-creator, painter, body painter, stylist and soul sister/close friend), Lindsey Buckley (fellow artist, muse, soul sister, model), Genevieve Wood (soul sister, mirror in healing, stylist and photo assistant), Melissa Robin (soul sister, muse), Julianna (soul sister and photo assistant), Kaitlyn Cronin (headdress extraordinaire), Andrew Zanzarella (friend and model), Jaclyn Rae (model), Rob Penner (photo assistant, printing and mounting), Mark Westin (drone operating), T.j. Squires (edit videographer and friend), Michelledana Shafran (photo assistant and friend), @lauraruggirello27 (photo assistant and friend), Danielle (photo assistant and friend), Wag Magazine (for making my story a cover and centerfold), Chronogram (for featuring my show), @baugallery (for hosting my show this month), thank you ayahuasca and pachamama, thank you yoga, thank you mountains and climbing, thank you Ishwar Puri for your spiritual guidance. I learned fearlessness through Don Spiro and love through Russ Ritell. 🙏🏼

News & Events

CHRONOGRAM | A Curated Guide to October Galleries and Exhibits

CHRONOGRAM

A Curated Guide to October Galleries and Exhibits in the Hudson Valley

Without Fear and Full of Love” at Beacon Artists Union

Photographer and poet Meghan Spiro is among the one in four women who has been a victim of physical violence inflicted by an intimate partner. The 23 mixed-media self-portraits in Spiro’s exhibition constitute an autobiography of her efforts to overcome “PTSD, addictions, and self-loathing.” In one of these, Spiro appears with her head bowed, eyes closed, entangled in black yarn, encircled by images of anger and abuse. In the end, however, Spiro’s is a tale of redemption, of triumph over demons both external and internal.

October 12-November 3

VIEW ARTICLE

News & Events

WAG MAGAZINE, Art as Healing (cover story)

I’ve never had any printed press about me or my artwork, so I was honored that WAG MAGAZINE wanted to write an artist feature on my upcoming show @withoutfearandfulloflove. I had no idea that it became the cover story. I was speechless when I saw it arrive in the mail yesterday. Thank Mary and Bob for this beautiful article and portrait. Thank you @wagmagazine for honoring and showcasing my story and artwork to highlight the deep social trauma of domestic violence. The first step to any healing is talking about it. And thank you @russritell for kind words and support throughout this journey.

The story you withhold, becomes a centerfold.

Waves of women, rippling revolution.”

– Meghan Spiro

Art can resonate in many ways, not only for the viewer but the artist as well.

And when that artist is Meghan Spiro — a Beacon-based commercial photographer, art director and designer whose personal work taps into her photographic skills to explore subjects close to her heart — that resonance goes deep.

Earlier this year, Spiro relied on her photography to examine concepts that included the harvest and nourishment, conservation and waste in the “Bella Monnezza, beautiful garbage” exhibition at the gallery at Hudson Beach Glass, also in Beacon. Her unique approach was front and center in the layered works that depicted Spiro’s turning compost, from food items to dried flowers, into still-life studies that went beyond the outward, surprisingly beautiful, aesthetic.

And that thoughtful approach will be intensely evident this month when Spiro exhibits a most personal collection of work exploring domestic violence at Beacon’s bau Gallery…

READ THE REST OF THE STORY AT WAG MAGAZINE

News & Events

On Yoga: The Architecture of Peace September 18th 8pm @Story Screen

News & Events

The Prophet – Cinema Series – August 20th 5pm & 8pm

THE PROPHET @story_screen_beacon
TUESDAY AUGUST 20TH 5pm (families welcomed!) and 8pm

Based on the literally master and poet Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet

News & Events

Kama Sutra – Cinema Series at Story Screen

I’m pleased to announce that I’ll be hosting a monthly cinema series at Story Screen focused on Love & Wisdom. My first choice is a film that shifted my awareness on sex and love, influenced my style and pursuits in belly dancing, and inspired me to study photography and motion picture. It’s story of sisterhood and betrayals, lust and the art of sex, desire and boundless love. Set in 16th century India, this period piece explores how desire and envy fuels art, wages war, and complicates the true tenderness of connection and love. Please join me Tuesday July 16th at 7pm to view this stunning film, written and directed by Mira Nair.