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Arts & Entertainment

The Importance of Being Spontaneous

Local artist inspired by poetry shows the bond between visual and literary art forms in his new solo exhibit.

There are several methods behind the madness of every contemporary artist's work. Some plan out the smallest detail long before they even brush a single stroke onto the naked canvas. Others take a more spontaneous approach based on their own emotional reactions.

For local mixed media artist John Stack, "It's all about revealing the unconscious and trusting one's instinct."

Stack, who's most recent collection of poetry inspired paintings,  Lulled By The Bedlam on exhibit at Toast Coffeehouse this month, is an artist who both appreciates and celebrates the unquestionable bond between both visual and literary narrative. 

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After reading poems submitted by friends and other poets, he turned to acrylics, ink, and charcoal in order to create a series that shows how "individuals are forced to balance their emotions through adverse afflictions." Even his favorite piece, entitled "Undertow Inbox", has it's own original and distinct sense of character that might not have been present had he mapped out the image ahead of time.

"I don't have an itinerary. Most times, I don't even know what I'm trying to create," said Stack. "I relate my creation process to psychological inkblot testing."

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Despite the crisp autumn night, Toast was packed with patrons eagerly discussing his work over a glass of good wine or a warm plate of tapas.  

"The artist took something personal and internal and made it tangible," said Kasmira Barrett, a writer whose poems titled Orbits and Diamonds inspired two of Stack's paintings. "The painting feels familiar; it's connected to your poem, but its different and new and definitely not what you were visualizing in your head when you were writing. It's really exciting to see your work come to life."

The integration of poetry in his large, bright pieces also made them an appealing icebreaker for the more timid art enthusiasts present at the reception.

"The way John has paired his paintings with poetry gives me respect and appreciation for the depth of his artistic expression,"  said Joy Ruben, a regular attendee of the art shows hosted at Toast. 

Solo art shows remain a rare treat for both artists and collectors as they are able to connect on a personal level. Stack continued to explain the importance of such artistic influences as Alex Gray and Egon Schiele, along with tales from his tour of the great American art museums.

He also expressed his deep appreciation and support to the members of FRESH for their dedication to bringing attention to local artists.

"They standout from the rest," said Stack. "What they are trying to do here with the artist movement is very important. And needed."

In the near future, he hopes to continue combining his fine artwork with that of other poets and artists. To view additional images of his work, visit www.johnnystackart.com or www.revealingtheunconscious.com to read his blog. His art work will be on display at Toast until December.

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