New Exhibition at The monOrchid Takes You Higher

PHOENIX - Jan. 7, 2014 - PRLog -- "Modern life can descend into monotonous numbness," says Carstens, who will exhibit the largest painting of her 30-year fine art career at the show, which opens Friday, Jan. 17. "That's why art is so important in our lives — it has an unparalleled capacity to lift the human spirit."

Sigmund Freud would agree. He theorized that art may influence humans in subtle and subconscious ways even if the artwork seems to have no direct meaning or apparent emotional connection. "The enjoyment of beauty has a peculiar, mildly intoxication quality of feeling," he wrote. "Beauty has no obvious use; nor is there any clear cultural necessity for it. Yet civilization could not do without it."

Writer, psychologist and artist Dr. Rodney Chang looks at the physiology of it, contending that art affects the brain differently than other everyday objects, establishing a deeper emotional connection while using both the right and left sides of the brain.

"This doesn't mean that all art is uplifting," admits Caron, who will be showing work that takes full advantage of monOrchid's soaring space. "But it definitely can take us beyond the mindless state so many of us suffer in urban life and elevate us to a more euphoric one."

Using the color of light, Carstens' ethereal oil paintings ascend to a new level in her reinterpretation of the desert landscape. Caron aims high with his sometimes soaring, often swooping sculptures, as epitomized in The Seed, his 16-foot-tall sculpture for the lobby of Chandler, Arizona's $12.6 million Tumbleweed Recreation Center.

The monOrchid Art Program Director and Curator jumped at the idea of "Elevations" when Carstens and Caron first proposed the show.  "The arts in Phoenix need to be elevated and showing work of this quality by artists with an excellent, established pedigree increases our gallery's visibility, and that of the downtown arts district.  We are looking forward to showing off our space and introducing new visitors to everything that downtown offers culturally."

The show opens with a free reception with the artists on Friday, Jan. 17 from 6 - 9 p.m. A second reception will be held Friday, Feb. 21 from 6 - 9 p.m. The monOrchid gallery is located at 214 E. Roosevelt in the heart of Phoenix's downtown arts district.