I hope all has been well and that you’ve been safe and healthy!
Lately I’ve been so occupied with a number of things in my personal life, that I’ve not had the chance to share with you some of the projects I’ve been up to. As I’m in a bit of a “cool down” period right now, I can finally have this chance!
I’m delighted to share with you all that my newest work, Zwischen den Butterblumenfeilen, is a contributing piece for the Dark to Light exhibition that will be on display in the Art Depot’s Spotlight Gallery from August 8th – September 19th in Abingdon, Virginia.
Benefiting the Ashleigh Langbein Project Foundation, the exhibition showcases the artworks of 21 artists across the US in response to Ashleigh Langbein’s poignant literature. For the show, I’ve selected this particular writing as I found myself immediately connected to it…
“Death and Grief”
“Dense Macabre Round-a-bout of skeletal fractions, Bones picked for sport. A festival of frantic actions, of the ephemeral type of sort. A shot taken- gone through the ribs, Albeit alcohol or a bullet, who knows? A feeble old man comes, and they call dibs, There massive numbers only grow. A prayer is made where one of them rests, The 1st prayer to him ever spoken. A mist appeared inside his chest, so he vanished now, unbroken. For years now, unbroken. For years now they’ve all been waiting, as the people they love grow older. They keep each other company-craving. For a name whispered on a sepulcher.”
The passing of my father was one of the most monumental experiences that shaped me into the artist I am today. Watching both of his cancer and alcoholism strip him of strength, awareness and mobility had all been instrumental in my understanding of what death and greif entail.
Naturally, the relatable sense of anguish, as transcribed so vividly in this poem, is what prompted me to demonstrate my connection. The subject of my work touches upon the complexities of loss and sorrow in addition to paying homage to all of those who’ve battled, and or continue to, suffer from cancer and alcoholism.
Zwischen den Butterblumenfeilen, 2020 graphite on paper, 11 x 17
Those of you who are in the VA area, I hope you all have the opportunity to view the outstanding artworks in response to the lovely poetry of Ashleigh Langbein. A huge thank you to Rayne Singree and Paula for putting together such a remarkable exhibition. To view the gallery’s website, please follow the link here: http://www.abingdonartsdepot.org
Below is a beautiful description that was written for the ALP open call:
“The Ashleigh Langbein Project was founded in 2017 by Paula and Russell Langbein in honor of their daughter to continue her legacy through acts of love and support. The ALP works to fund scholarships for students in Psychology and Theater at the post-secondary level through endowments established at Emory and Henry College, Ashleigh’s Alma Mater. With this exhibition, the foundation hopes to connect to Ashleigh’s words and story to a wider audience by asking artists to create a piece in response to a selection of her poetry. A prolific writer, Ashleigh’s poems talk about her struggles and victories, the light and dark. Thus, the title of the show: Dark to Light, inviting us to do what Ashleigh did for so many people she met- turn the darkness in this world into light.”
“We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm, and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if we only seek them with our eyes open.” – Jawaharal Nehru
During the first few weeks that followed graduation, I felt the most solitary, yet equally as comforting, sensations that would naturally accompany such a drastic transition in one’s life.
After exchanging my final goodbyes to many of my friends and classmates, It was hard not to feel homesick when thinking back to the days where it all began.
I’m honored to have been exposed to such integrity, ambition, awareness and sensitivity. Even now, I remain grateful. I’ve grown with, and even apart from these artists; all while experiencing monumental turning points together.
Taking the good with the bad, I’m thankful for the lessons they’ve taught me, the challenges they’ve evoked, the beautiful smiles they’ve created and for giving me the most cherished memories I could have ever asked for. Although most of us are separated now, It’s an absolute pleasure to still maintain close connections to many.
My dear Willow, is one of these friends.
Painter, print-maker, film maker and photographer, Willow Wells is a New England based artist who depicts scenes of horror comedy through exaggerated motifs of violence and paraphernalia. For the many years that I’ve known this talented woman, I’ve never seen her give anything less than her best work.
I’m the proud owner of not just one, but many, of her stunning pieces. It’s always been the greatest pleasure to have her works adorn my walls.
She’s not only acted as an artistic inspiration, but also a guide, voice of reason and strong support system for me.
In more ways than one, Willow has always been there to support me during my lowest moments. If we had to put a name and face to the word “love”, it would certainly be her. She produces such incredible work under that term and has always advocated for the benefit of others because of it.
She may never realize how much of an impact she’s made on me; especially from the small acts of kindness that extends anywhere from having quick lunches together to watching horror films on a cloudy day. No matter what the case may be, adventure is always swift to follow her.
With this, it’s safe to say that a spontaneous day trip to Rhode Island together, was easily an emprise found straight out of a dream.
During this time, I was shifting in and out of three, very different homes. It was difficult for me to find the proper environment where everything fell into place. I wanted an atmosphere where I could better myself mentally and physically in.
I was aching for home; a place where I could freely express myself and take authority over my own life. I thought that by uprooting everything I’ve built over the past three years, I could grow into the person I’ve always aspired to be.
What had been originally intended as a fresh start and change of pace, quickly transposed into another, toxic environment. Although for very different reasons, both cases offered the same negative impacts on my health and overall well-being.
Thankfully, with the encouragement of friends like Willow, I felt stronger and more optimistic that everything would turn out alright in the long run. The positive energy was infectious and raised my spirits immensely. Despite the encompassing negativity, each day was made all the more bearable because of that faith they’ve poured into me.
And of course, there’s no other treatment more rejuvenating than spending time with a dear loved one.
Chapter I
Providence Place
Heading out early, we began our adventure by stopping somewhere for breakfast.
Although slightly different from the bakery we struggled to locate, The Middle of Nowhere Diner supplemented as a wonderful second option.
Planning our day over coffee and bacon strips, we decided to stop at a few parks that were in close vicinity to the Providence Place Mall. Eventually, we found our way to the Waterplace Park and strolled in between the busy city life.
I couldn’t resist myself from getting a few shots as we passed by the cutest restaurant.
Unfortunately, we hadn’t eaten at “Friskie Fries”, though we’ll certainly have to do so for the next time around!
Waterplace Park
I assure you, this was cutest archway I’ve seen to date.
As we exited the park through a community built archway, Willow and I stumbled upon something absolutely extraordinary.
By shear luck, we discovered a remarkable, Gothic cathedral.
The little ‘ Medievalist ‘ in me felt true sensations of awe when gazing up at the delicate rose windows and pointed arches towering from above us.
When returning back home to Connecticut, I immediately did some research to better familiarize myself with the cathedral’s history.
The Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul is considered to be one of the most prominent pieces of architecture for Providence. With the exterior’s sister-towers ascending at a remarkable 156 ft, the structure is entirely built with Connecticut Brownstone. The interior is decorated in a Gothic / Romanesque Revival style, that echos the Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago, Illinois.
With a growing number of Catholics in the region during 1872, Bishop Francis Patrick McFarland expressed an interest in expanding a small church that was dedicated to Sts. Peter and Paul. The following year, Irish-American architect, Patrick C. Keely; to whom was responsible for designing nearly 600 churches, was selected to draw out plans for the build of the cathedral.
The first Bishop of Providence, Thomas F. Hendricken, was also invested in the project. Feverishly working towards eliminating $16,000 of debt in 1872, Hendricken signed a contract two years later that issued the approval for the construction. Unfortunately, the Bishop’s health rapidly declined during that year; later passing away before the church was fully completed.
While construction was still underway, the Bishop’s funeral mass was the first to be celebrated at the cathedral in 1886. During the time of his death, the investment costs towards the build was an incredible $300,000.
With over a decade passing after the original plans began, the cathedral was finally complete and consecrated on June 30th 1889 by Bishop Matthew Harkins. In 2006, the basement was renovated with a tomb stone that was laid in the upper church as the final resting place for Bishop Hendricken.
To this day, he rests beneth the very cathedral that is his legacy.
The Roman Catholic Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul
Secondary to the lovely Willow herself, the Cathedral was easily one of my favorite parts of the trip.
Unfortunately, with the church’s hours having been closed; this fated our admiration of the interior to be experienced on a different day. Although disappointing, one could only imagine my excitement over what calls for a second adventure back to the cathedral!
I was absolutely smitten with this beauty, and spent quite a bit of time trying to capture the perfect angles of it. In case you folks don’t believe me, here’s the blackmail in question to prove it!
Image courtesy of Madame Willow, of course!
It was incredible to see the very structure that represents such monumental history for Providence. It was all the more lovely getting to share in that experience with such a dear friend. I appreciate her so much for being with me that day; especially because she gracefully put up with the amount of time I’ve spent for photo-taking! ๐
Finally departing from the cathedral, we made our way over to the Providence Place Mall. Naturally doing what any young millennial would do, we shopped around for outfits. At one point, we couldn’t believe what we’d just found in one of the stores….
Providence Place Mall
Matching banana printed rompers!
You heard right, banana rompers!
Although they fit neither one of us, we made it a point to take home a photo of us with them on. This was particularly wonderful, as bananas and various other fruit types are seen as recurring motifs in Willow’s pieces.
There truly couldn’t have been a more perfect outfit for us to match in. Now if one with a pineapple print somehow made its way to us, I’m sure that it would be an outfit near impossible for us to leave behind. I wouldn’t have purchased something faster, I do think!
So here we are, banana-nana’d up, and ready to take on the world! Or, maybe just Newport.
Chapter II
Newport
After noticing a very peculiar building from just off of Connell Highway, we took a slight detour to pull into the driveway of what became known to us as Aardvark Antiques.
Aardvark Antiques
Everything within this store is utterly breathtaking. From wooden thrones comprised with exquisite carvings of dragons, to elegant slabs of stained glass windows; the entire world can be discovered here.
Antiquing is one of my favorite passed times and I’m so glad to have a friend who is just as enthused about it as I am. If we hadn’t been losing so much day light by this point, I’m sure we could’ve easily spent a few more hours exploring.
Thankfully, the store wasn’t too far from where we were headed, to which turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Parking was definitely an extensive hurdle for us, but well worth it when we were finally able to overcome it.
Here are a few captures from walking around the miscellaneous shops, view fronts and sweet bakeries/cafe’s.
Ending the evening with dinner by the water, we got a few Polaroid shots before finally heading home.
It was absolutely wonderful having that time together.
I’ve learned so much on this adventure; chiefly taking in that it’s not about the physical space you occupy, but of the moments shared with your loved ones that make for a true “home”.
Although certain things haven’t fallen into place just yet, I’ve learned that no matter how often my life may change, the love of “home” will be always be constant and static. Our paths may be different, but our friendship and support in each other will always be one in the same.
I love this little lady with all of my heart and always look forward to the next adventure together.
When you all have the chance, please have a look at her fantastic work. I promise, you won’t be disappointed!
Tomorrow night, I’ll be attending the opening reception as one of the participating artists for Orchard Art Collective’s Fall 2019 Group Exhibition in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
I’m honored to have my three drawings: Tongues of Dark Water, Drown and Empty Truths be on display from October 5th – October 20th. The reception is from 5 pm – 9 pm tomorrow evening with free admission and light refreshments provided.
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The gallery is located at:
4325 Orchard Street, Suite #203, Philadelphia, PA 19124
If anyone is in the Philly area or find themselves close by, please join us for a wonderful evening full of tremendous artwork and celebration. Thanks for looking everyone, and I hope to see you all there!
Tongues of Dark Water, 2018 graphite on paper, 16 1/2 x 15 1/2
This past spring, I was enrolled in a course on the History of American Illustration.
Lectures of the instructor touched upon technological changes, examined the role of art education, and interpreted illustration as a delineator of contemporary culture in many eras.
As this particular Illustrator, in fact, was a student of my professor at one point, I figured that writing my final assignment on a work by James Jean , would be a great note to end the course on.
The writing interprets the implications of symbolic motifs and for how such ornamentation was approached in a manor that enforced a greater narrative to the overall scene.
I would love to hear any suggestions you may have!
Being that my major wasn’t Illustration, I was extremely excited to look at the course from a different kind of perspective.
“The Materials of Medieval Art in Cross Cultural Perspectives” has proven to be one of the most influential courses that I’ve taken as an undergraduate scholar.
My final thesis work explored the excision of the Gothic Style as a foundation of religious significance in architecture.
I consider this to be an important piece of mine, as my research introduced such a deep appreciation for Gothic architecture and a love for Medieval artworks of the Middle Ages.
If anyone is interested, It would be a pleasure to have your thoughts and feedback!
Below you can find my paper to read through if you’re a Medieval enthusiast such as myself!
Milan Cathedral, Cathedral church of Milan, Lombardy Italy, ( 13th century ) -Photographer unknown
Friday, I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in fine art drawing with a minor in painting from the Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts.ย I had the tremendous honor of delivering the commencement address as the class of 2019’s student speaker.ย
I couldn’t have been more thankful for all that I’ve been given by my fantastic peers and mentors; Roland Becerra, Dr. Janis Mink and Dr. Charlotte Gray. These lovely souls have supported me in a number of ways. With their emotional encouragement and academic guidance, these individuals have transcended so much more than the role of being our educators.ย They’ve been our protectors, challengers, students and dearest of friends. There were never any questions asked when it came to validating their care for the student body.
Because of my classmates, family and professors, I’ve found the strength in myself to overcome many fears and hardships. It’s because of these souls, that I was able to speak before everyone and confidently express just how much my life had been impacted.
These people had faith in me when I reached moments of crippling self doubt. They’ve brought me back from one of the darkest points in my life and have saved me from myself a countless number of times. Simple moments of laughter, group excursions to Lake Compounce, or the simple lunches together before a horror movie induced night, have been the most cherished memories that I’ve ever had.
There’s never enough words that I can fully say to articulate all of my love for these artists.ย Thank you so much for pushing me when I’ve felt at my weakest. You are all such amazing souls.ย Congratulations everyone! ๐
Image courtesy of Viktoria Sundqvist / Hearst Connecticut Media Image courtesy of Viktoria Sundqvist / Hearst Connecticut Media Image courtesy of Viktoria Sundqvist / Hearst Connecticut Media
I’m extremely excited to relay that tomorrow, I graduate as a drawing major with a painting minor from the Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts. It’s been an incredible journey these past few years, and I wanted to celebrate by sharing with you what I’ve composed for my undergraduate thesis project.
*Just a quick note, my drawings depict the male and female unclothed form with heavy anatomical alterations. For any friends who have sensitivity to nude art or abstracted figures, I just wanted to let you know ahead of time so that way you don’t have to look through my works if undesired. *
So before I begin, I would like to introduce the greatest influence on me as not just artist, but for everything else in my life. This is my father Sal, who passed away from a rare form of cancer just over three years ago.
Salvatore Joseph Tasca jr.
Watching him suffer with such aggressive and painful symptoms, resulted in a pivotal turning point in my life that completely altered my perspective for the way that I view things.
Following his passing, I started inventing figures with muscle and joint alterations. By personifying the deterioration of what was happening to my father, these forms assumed themselves as channels for my frustrations in having to watch someone that I loved struggle.
The more that I explored the motif of anatomical distortion, the more I began to realize that these figures were actually speaking to me about something more. In a sense, they were becoming a body of unconscious self-portraiture.
Around this time last year, I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, which is a disorder characterized by heavy amounts of fatigue, brain fog and chronic joint and muscle pain.
Having learned this, coupled with the loss of my father, I started to grow extremely discouraged to the point where I started allowing it to impair me artistically.
So towards the end of the term, I decided to focus on an entirely different thought process altogether with. I felt that in doing so, It would enable me to better accept the events that were going in my life. Consequently, this led to my original concept for a senior project.
Something that Iโve always wanted in life was to find love. Building a deep connection with someone has always been one of the most important things to me, and after looking at the paintings of Michelle Doll, I was completely inspired to manifest this need of mine into a full body of work. Although, the more that I tried to keep going with it, the more that I felt an unexplained corruption to my confidence in my ability to keep moving forward with the concept.
There was something that was holding me back and I just honestly wasn’t sure what that was at the time.
So after putting up all of my works for my first open school critique, a vast majority suggested that I was actually doing the exact opposite of what was intended. Because of this, it conducted strong encouragements for me to work with my fragmented figures again.
By this point, I was so overwhelmed and frustrated, that for the complete purpose of appease, I scrapped the entire monthโs worth of investment to pursue these figures again when I just emotionally wasnโt ready to.
So I tried again…
During the process of starting over I was looking at the works of Albrecht Durer, Nathan Reidt and Zdzisลaw Beksiลski to pull inspiration from.
These were the first two pieces that I started for the project. I decided to approach them with an experimental attitude to further explore the abstracted forms of Beksinski, while applying the value structure of Nathan, that was than anchored by the calligraphic mark-making of durer.
Although I enjoyed the processes of working more experimentally I found myself more at home with a piece that I composed with a limited value range rather than one of stark contrast.
I approached this with the idea of dissolving the forms in and out of the spaces they were in; picking and choosing certain areas to be defined or not. Each figure was purely innovative, without being drawn from life or with photo references.
No matter how badly I wanted to hide it, I found this method of working spoke volumes to everything that I was trying to suppress in my life…
Sensations of fatigue and memory impairment….
Loss and immobility…
Or for how I perceive my own body to look….
At this point in the project, one of the faculty told me,
“Someone has got to love these bodiesโ.
This in particular stayed with me more than any other commentary I’d been given from the instructors. I brewed on their words for such a long period of time, well up until the end of the semester. So, I essentially did just that.
I started giving these bodies someone that could love them for all that they incompletely were.
By entwining these figures in states of embrace, I felt that they were beginning to transcend everything that I originally sought after.
For the first time, I saw that these figures were redefining intimacy for themselves. They were limited, yet encouraged and supported by their accenting partners. They were whole.
Truthfully, it was the most excited that I’d been about my project all year.
It finally felt as though everything was coming together for me.
Although, In early February just after completing this piece, I went through a very dark period that deteriorated many things for me. I lost entire faith in myself and felt completely undeserving of the things that I loved.
All of my artistic investments, passions and interests quickly became questionable to me, and the stresses of these feelings caused my health to decline.
Under this fact I had no energy, I wasnโt sleeping well and I was finding myself in a constant state of worry.
Thankfully, after a month of several doctorโs trips, I was able to get the proper care that I needed to get myself back on track.
Although I started feeling healthy enough to try and produced work again, I can’t say that something didnโt change. I realized that the void I was feeling over my original project was because I was unconsciously trying to build a world that wasnโt permissibly my reality.
This understanding hit me harder than I ever expected, and with it also came the realization that I was pushing these figures away because I didnโt want to accept that my father was gone and that they were also projections for how I see myself physically.
No matter how angry or upset it made me, I had to accept that I couldnโt hold back any more.
It was really than that I started realizing that it was ok to let myself to feel these things and to be patient with myself all the same.
If there is one thing I want my viewers to receive from my work, It would be for them look at illness with a different perspective.
My father taught me that there are some things left completely out of our control, but if we carry forward with every ounce of love and determination, we can find the strength to pull through, even it means taking a break when necessary.
In the words of Confucious, โ Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. โ
The Roots Project
Rochelle Tasca
Artist Statement
Seen through the lenses of a dysmorphic perception of self, manifestations of sexual trauma, loss, violation, neglect, depression and chronic illness speak to one another with languages of flesh. Gentle caresses of graphite to paper breath life into fragmented forms of subtle anatomical manipulation that are obscured behind their own wet, matted and dirtied hair. Calligraphic mark-making trace the landscape of each figureโs skin to create a sense of sculptural three-dimension. While projecting an influence by the hands of Albrecht Durer, I utilize integrations of bodily elongation for my work to evoke conversations of empathy and compassion.
Each figure begins as a pencil sketch that gets refined and adjusted before the final idea is conceived. A series of these sketches grow to test different dynamic-fusion arrangements. They are then transferred onto a larger surface, with where more intimate line work and detail is applied. The figures are in a constant state of change from one another, developing to assume different identities of ailments.
Fall 2018 – Spring 2019โ Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts Undergraduate Thesis Project
It’s difficult to believe that just this past Friday, I was one of the many other featured artists for the Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts’ undergraduate thesis exhibition.
The opening reception was a moment that my fellow peers and I celebrated every sacrifice that it’s taken for us to reach this point. Every heartache, uncertainty, insecurity and fear brought us all to where we are now.
My heart is so full of love and gratitude to have met such extraordinarily thoughtful individuals. With open minds, each of them produced one thousand and one different forms of unique, self expression and I sincerely couldn’t be more proud.
It was remarkable to see such a body of diversity sectioned to adorn the campus walls of the Chauncey Stillman , Sill House and Foyer galleries. Each artist had their own artistic fingerprint, marking lengths of research and experimentation, yet most importantly being- self discoveries.
Watching these students grow into the tremendous artists that they are, has been an utter pleasure and great honor in every way possible.
In these last few weeks as a Lyme student, my heart continues to fall heavier at the fact that my systematic pattern of seeing these familiar faces each day, will soon be drawing to a final close.
These students, faculty and staff, have all made such a tremendous impact on my life. At this school, I’ve experienced some of the greatest, and equally as devastating, experiences that I’ve ever had to face thus far. No matter how difficult the obstacles were, support and encouragement was always there.
However, just two weeks before the start of the academic year, the board of governors from our partnered college, The University of New Haven, announced on August 13th 2018, that the Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts will cease to offer BFA degree and certificate programs, effective after the final academic year of May, 2019.
For years, the college struggled immensely following its initial accreditation in 1996. Difficult changes, sacrifices and decisions were (and had to have been) made by UNH in order to keep us financially afloat. Despite the announcement coming as such a shock to everyone, all that was permissibly in our power at that point was to keep our strength and to carry on with our artistic pursuits nonetheless.
Thankfully, my graduating class were able to remain unaffected by this drastic change. This coming May, we will all be able to receive our degrees side by side. I couldn’t have been more thankful for such a blessing to come into our lives. Given this opportunity to finish the traditionally based, classical education that I began with, will be a gift that I’ll always cherish.
I’m humbled to have seven of my thesis works currently exhibited in the main Foyer of the campus. Just as my peers had done, I poured all of my heart into this ‘little, big-body-of bodies’, and I couldn’t wait to mount the works onto the very same walls that my mentor and dear friend, Roland Becerra exhibited his paintings on for years.
This private, intimate space that the lobby gave my fellow exhibiting friends and I, what in a sense was perhaps destined to be, our very own “group show”. Deeply, I want to extend my appreciation to all five of my tremendous, encompassing “mini grouped” artists:
Left: Cheyenne Singree, Avery Williams, Roberta Scott. ( Not pictured: Daniel Criblez, Rosemarie Haughton )
To my incredible class of 2019, thank you for your courage, dedication, strength, open mindedness and patience. The genuine brilliance of your creative thinking is outstanding and It has been the greatest pleasure to have studied alongside you all. Although it hurts to dwell on the days we’re soon to part, I couldn’t have been more happy to call you my friends and classmates. I can’t wait to see where your talents will take you. Thank you for giving me a home in this little town of Old Lyme.
For more photos of our work from the show , have a look here:
RochelleTascaArt 