Priya Rama - I experience. Then, I paint. My art, like my life, revolves around my chronic migraines. Everything that I do follows the ebb, flow and crest of wellness. When a migraine comes on, even with my eyes closed, I "see" things. Colors and shapes flood my mind in fluid poetry. These mystical images recede, shift, radiate and pulse, becoming more vibrant and vivid with every capture! Frequently, I paint through a migraine, trying to quickly tap into what I see. When I can’t, I’m able to recall the imagery at a later time, and commit that to canvas. My work is a constant search to best represent the three and often four dimensional images of my mind onto a two dimensional, flat surface. Each piece I create evolves from a meditative and introspective process, wherein I become one with my art: It is being aware in that moment, being mindful, acknowledging the pain and chaos, and losing myself to the visual symphony that unfolds. Some notes are peaceful while others discordant. I've trained myself to paint through the pain and discomfort: my breathing slows down, my jaw unclenches, and my body slowly begins to relax. Often, completing a painting acts as a release, and reminds me that my mind can do more than just process pain: It can transform pain into beauty.
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Evangelia Philippidis - Since the time of Homer, the Greeks have been master storytellers. They created images in the listeners’ mind and depicted them on classical pottery. In the best tradition of her ancestors, Evangelia is a storyteller as well. Her stories are not only about mythical heroes and Olympian gods, they also depict modern man. As an editorial features illustrator for The Columbus Dispatch, she spent 22 years presenting visual stories of humanity and hubris, technology and spirituality, passion and pathos. As an avid reader of history, poetry, classical works of fiction and nonfiction she finds much inspiration in the written word. Through images that reflect both her Greek heritage and modern influences, Evangelia invites viewers to be moved, amused or provoked, or simply stop and reflect. Evangelia’s work celebrates two passions, nature and dynamic women. For the Ancient Greeks nature and mankind were intricately bound. Many of their myths stress the need for humans to treat nature with respect and humility. Born and raised in the shadow of the Parthenon in Athens, Greece, she follows the ancient traditions of her ancestors. In nature’s simplicity she finds order, whimsy, joy and an assurance of life’s continuance in the never-ending cycles of day and night, season to season, and the steady ebb and flow of life and death from year to year. Raised among powerful women who had endured war, loss of country, home, husbands and children; women who fought against injustice and held their families together through two world wars, civil war and famine, yet through their sorrows and tribulations they maintained strength of spirit and an attitude that they would overcome and persevere. These women have inspired Evangelia to give a visual voice to female spirts long silenced in history and in modern times. In a career which spans over 40 years she has been an award-winning editorial illustrator working with major national newspapers, book cover illustrator for Yale University Press and Penguin classics and other international publishing houses; she’s been an educator at the Columbus College of Art and Design as well as a nationally recognized fine artist.
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