Meet me at the Bear Mountain Inn Gallery!

      Two 'Small Works', 5"x5"

   'FARM-scape Box II, and "FARM-scape Box I"

        (acrylic) by Faith Goldstein

While Hurricane Sandy was causing destruction in the North-East, I sat painting by the light of my kitchen window.  Sometimes journeys are not as they appear to be... reveiling no obvious destruction, but a subtle change in direction that brings with it, some Peace.  (As the holiday season begins, I am wishing for peace to return, to all those affected by Hurricane Sandy... and Peace, also, to those moving through other difficult journeys.)  www.visitbearmountain.com

NRAA Serviceman's Portrait Project

 The Public is invited to attend the reception on:

 Sunday, November 11, 2012 1-3pm 

 Brother Kenneth Chapman Gallery, Iona College Arts Center

715 North Avenue, New Rochelle, New York 10801

"Honor" by Faith Goldstein 11 x 14 acrylic with white Prismacolor pencil on black, Foam-board

As an artist member of the New Rochelle Art Association, it was my great pleasure to receive a photograph to paint the likeness of a New Rochelle resident and Veteran.  My 'jouney' to this finished 'likeness' has not been an easy one, as I am currently dealing with personal challenges... but after misplacing the reference photo, and struggling to 'see' the image in my mind, I quickly took great pride in being a part of this project.  I am grateful, for the opportunity, that this Journey helped me to leave some of my own 'darkness' behind. 

...the fact is, I had a white canvas on my easel for more than a week; every time I walked past it, I just couldn't 'see' the portrait in my mind.  I looked around to see what other surface I could paint on, before giving up on being a part of this project.  It seemed at this point that I was not going to get this 'done'.  Maybe it is times like these, when we feel like there is nothing to lose, (because it already seems lost), that our best, uninhibited efforts shine through.  All I know is, when I placed a sheet of black, foam-board on my easel, I started to see the painting emerge from the darkness.  It became a 'him'... living, breathing... sharing my space and asking me to share his story.  Most of his story lies in the eyes, and in the American flag, in the background.  I saw, and felt, the young man who went to war; I thought about the images he may have seen, that altered his view of the future.  I also connected to the man he has become, visible in the reference photo; he carries a strength that I admired while 'sharing this time' with him.  I chose to leave the details of war, closer to the black surface; they are left behind... it is the man himself and his love for his Country, and not the soldier, who emerges from the Darkness.

***Update***

I am happy to share that I had the opportunity to meet the serviceman who's portrait I painted. It was, such an Honor... truly!

Open Artist Studios & ArtsFest2012

     The fact is, I haven't been in New Rochelle very much in this last year.  But this is true only in the physical sense; as I found out yesterday when I returned to get ready for this event, you can 'go home' again.  How could I not continue to think about the place that has brought me such peace and kind friends that reach out with a warm embrace to greet me?  (Thank you, for missing me, and making me feel that it matters that I return... with my energy, art and happy :))  This last year, my experience has taught me that it is the people around us who make us better... standing alone, we are weak, always searching, never calm. 

Please come join me in my studio (at 81 Centre Ave. #302)... let's talk about art, make a new experience for our 'memory boxes' and share some happy!  (In this place, this part is easy!) 

BID Open Studios  is coinciding with New Rochelle's ArtsFest... 

 (please note - slightly different schedules)

 www.newrochellearts.org

 www.newrochelledowntown.com

It's a NEW YEAR...

...and I am still here! It will be a year of moving forward, with the occasional look back to acknowledge where I've been. As you can see from the photo, Faith Goldstein fine art is alive-and-well.... Ok... I have to admit that I have logged-in much less studio time than I would have liked, but the year has also been filled with taking photos and painting in my kitchen. Visiting museums, art shows and music venues, and even comedy shows(!) have added to my life, and inspired future paintings. The journey has been a bit bumpy, (whose journey isn't, after all?!) and in the end, it is the Art and the Artists (and those who care for us) that pull me through... I've joined this life-long 'conversation' that makes me excited to keep questioning and exploring what each day has to offer. ...And if ever the 'bumpy journey' overwhelms me, or the sky is void of that 'light-in-the-distance'... well, I'm an artist... a RockStar/SuperHero who can smooth out the roadway and paint in the LIGHT!