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Karen Medley installs her latest art project, Icons and Nikons, at the Triangle L Ranch in Oracle Arizona.
Oracle artist Karen Medley will be presenting her show “Icons & Nikons: A Photographic Journey Towards a Golden Celestial Overload” at the Triangle L Ranch Land Adobe Barn Gallery. The show will run from Nov. 7 to Dec. 21, 2016. The Artist’s Reception will be held Saturday, Nov. 12, from 1-5 p.m.
Karen has lived in Oracle for over 30 years and taught art at San Manuel High School. She received her Bachelors of Art degree from Arizona State University. She did graduate work at University of California, Northern Arizona University, University of Arizona and Arizona State University. Karen completed her studies at the J.P. Getty Art Institute of Los Angeles.
Karen recently created the art work for the Oracle Run T-shirt and the oak tree mugs which were the first place prizes for the 10K and 5K race. Her latest project Icons & Nikons is named for religious icons or images and the photographs of them that she uses in her art installation. Karen says “This art installation explores my personal connection with the world of spirituality and Christian culture thru religious iconography.”
Icons & Nikons was inspired by her recent travels with her husband John through Europe where they visited many cathedrals and art galleries including the Louvre in Paris and the Sistine Chapel. “It happened in Rome” Karen said. The idea or “vision” came to her as she stood on the balcony of their hotel room. She was looking up the street where they had a view of the Roman Colosseum.
Karen says of her project: “When you walk into the barn the walls are empty because I want you to look up to view the religious icons. This is not a traditional way of displaying art. You glance up and catch the fractured mirrored iconic images in this exhibit. It challenges the viewer to search for the iconic images, just as one might search for their own spirituality or a religious experience. The adobe barn brings us closer to more of a humble place for your personal religious/spiritual experience. The viewer will have their own personal experience; it is not just dictated by the iconic images.”
Some of the reflections of deep thoughts or “musings” that this work of art may illicit are: Celestial overload; fractured thoughts of spirituality/religion; Celestial Dream Sky; churches build to the grandeur of God; Do we come away with a unique and different experience/feeling than the grandiose churches of worship; What would we need to add to these images of spiritual/religious iconography? Karen’s husband Royal John, a published author and poet said of Karen’s art installation “She lurches toward churches as the statues stare at ya”.
The artist “can’t dictate what the viewer should feel or perceive as art” but this “photographic journey towards a Golden Celestial Overload” will have you come away with your own interpretation and perhaps a spiritual awakening. It should be an interesting show.
John Hernandez lives in Oracle. He is retired and enjoys writing and traveling. He is active in the Oracle Historical Society. He covers numerous public events, researches historical features and writes business/artist profiles.
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