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Sun Resort and Art Enhance Beauty
Sun Resort Tanning and Fitness presents
Feminine Desert: Paintumentary by local artist Michelle Leivan |
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TOPEKA, KANSAS- January 2, 2009 - Sun Resort Tanning and Fitness presents Feminine Desert: Paintumentary by local Artist Michelle Leivan. The exhibit will open on January 2, 2009 during the First Friday Art Walk 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. at the Sun Resort Tanning and Fitness at the 1301 Gage location in Topeka, Kansas and will run through the month of February.
 About the Series:"Feminine Desert: Paintumentary" is a series of paintings and prose based on the perception duality many young women present to the world. The conflict of the independence they believe they portray versus the true co-dependency they actually exhibit to the world, a contradiction they are too often unable to recognize. Each piece is dominated by abstract human figures. The pallet used allows expression of the human form in a multicultural, non-ethnic specific tone, capturing the universal aspect of humanity. Notable the use of color creates a striking contrast to the expected outcome in portraiture.
Left: "Candid Introspection" Mixed Media on Paper - 23" x 17" (larger digital version available from artist on request)
The imagery, commentary and call to action that Feminine Desert presents is for young women to find love within rather than seeking approval from others. The message encourages the seeking of inner beauty which will only enhance the great looks the customers reap through Sun Resorts Tanning and Fitness' services. |
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The Inspiration As young women I watched my sister-in-laws struggle with co-dependency issues. I believe many young women, including myself, at some point in our lives have a tendency to please others and are eager for self sacrifice and believe we are happy if the people in our lives are happy with us.
My in-laws and I spent many evenings in long discussions about their relationship choices and their desire to define themselves through other's eyes. I ached to witness their lives filled with disappointment and tough affairs of the heart. I sought relief and turned to my art to sort out my own anguish I began painting the series.
One evening I was nearly done with the current twenty pieces and I had another long night talking about relationship disillusionment with one of these young women. During the drive home I mulled over the long debates. I found my inspiration to complete the series. As soon as I got home, in a flurry of creativity wrote all of the accompanying prose for this series. What developed was an intricate intertwining of imagery, prose and use of anagram within each title to create a message which mimics the complexity of co-dependency. I hope that the message will encourage women of all ages to find love within and discover their inner freedom and beauty.
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Feminine Desert: Paintumentary Book
Michelle Leivan has recently self-published her second book featuring the entire Feminine Desert:Paintumentary with paintings and prose which is newly available online through her website link Books at www.MichelleLeivan.com |
