Our Art Exhibit inspired by Nepal opened in NY as the earthquake hit

RIVERDALE, N.Y. - May 21, 2015 - PRLog -- In the Fall of 2014, Canadian artist Marie Danielle Leblanc embarked upon world travels which took her on a two month journey to Nepal, followed by a trip to Italy.   By mid-November, Marie was trekking in Annapurna in Nepal and several days later in Thorong La over 17,769 feet above sea level.  The new solo exhibit, A Trek Across Nepal at Elisa Contemporary Art is inspired by these travels.

The exhibit opened at the Riverdale Gallery on April 25, 2015, the same day as the first devastating earthquake.  In light of this, a portion of all the gallery sales from this exhibit will be donated to relief efforts in Nepal through AmeriCares and Charity: Water and Empowering Women of Nepal.  The exhibit will run through July 31.

During her trip to the Himalayan Region, which is the Sanskrit term for “abode of the snow” (hima (snow) + ālaya (dwelling)), she was captivated and inspired by the beauty and the spirituality.   She captured some of her thoughts and reflections, including these:

I am in the Himalayan mountains there is no word strong enough to describe so much beauty…This morning, the view was stunning over the white cap snow mountains, pure joy to look at this scene…Here in the mountains, I lost track of the date, day and even the month, first time in my life.

Visitors and locals alike regard Annapurna Sanctuary with unique reverence. Encircled by a colossal ring of Himalayan giants, the Annapurna Sanctuary has been held sacred for centuries. It is believed that high deities of Hinduism, Buddhism, and ancient shamanistic traditions call this remarkable place "home."

Marie Danielle's travels took her up to Thorong La, a mountain pass that stays as the highest pass in the world with an elevation of 17,769 feet above sea level in the Damodar Himal, in central Nepal. The pass is located on a trail which connects the village of Manang in the Manang District to the east, with the temple of Muktinath and the nearby village of Ranipauwa, in the Mustang District to the west.  This pass is regularly used by local traders, as well as trekkers.  The Himalayan Region includes eight of the existing 14 highest summits in the world (exceeding 8,000 meters/26,000+ feet).

For Marie, the beauty of her landscapes comes mostly from a spontaneous gesture and a certain attraction to danger.  She convinces her viewers to see more than what appears in the painting. She transforms places and even the highest mountains in the world, into a space that transport the viewers into timeless and imaginary landscapes.  The exhibit will include her impressions of Annapurna and Annapurna base camp, Kot Danda (located in North-western Nepal, part of the mugu district), Pothana (in the Western region) and Jhinu Danda (known for its steep hills and close proximity to Hot Springs.  Her paintings also capture the beauty and vividness of the Rhododendron, the national flower of Nepal.

What: A Trek Across Nepal, solo exhibit of Canadian artist Marie Danielle Leblanc
When: April 25 – July 31, 2015
Special Events:  Special Relief Effort Reception and Fundraiser: Saturday, May 16 from 4-6pm
Where: Elisa Contemporary Art, 5622 Mosholu Avenue, Riverdale NY
Hours: Saturday 11am – 5:00pm; and by appointment (Weekdays, Evenings, Sundays)

A portion of all gallery sales is donated to charities helping underserved children heal through art. We support Free Arts NYC, Arts to Grow and Art Therapy Outreach Center.   In light of the recent earthquake in Nepal, a portion of all the gallery sales from this exhibit will be donated to Nepal relief efforts: AmeriCares and Charity: Water and Empowering Women of Nepal.

About Canadian artist, Marie Danielle Leblanc

Canadian artist, Marie Danielle Leblanc, was born in Trois-Rivières (Quebec) and has lived and worked in Montreal (Quebec) since 1990.

Her paintings transform landscapes into poetic worlds.   The artist loves to work with matter, her creativity leading to a never-ending fascination. She has developed her own style, almost her own signature. Her work leads toward the creation of a bare space, a world that can be discovered and contemplated. She presents us with the result of a meditative process, the testimony of a new contemplation of the horizon.

According to Marie:

“In my practice, I like to experiment with different media such as acrylic, oil, tar, ink and resin. I'm interested in the inner functioning of the living. That is why I particularly like to work with tar; an organic matter with unique color, odor and texture. Painting carries me to places where strength and delicacy, certainty and uncertainty, known and unknown, usual and strange, even life and death, coast along. Notions of duality are manifesting themselves by interactions between the body and the mind, the matter and the thought. In a state of abandonment and receptiveness, I try to let myself be carried by the act of painting without suppressing anything.”

During her travels, she likes to write down her thoughts, makes a note of the weather or the name of a place, take pictures and collect images. Marie’s travel diary is an ideal instrument for her. Whether she is driving on the highway or in the open country, walking on never-ending beaches or rocks stroked by the sea, it is through her travels that the artist captures landscapes that stretch into the vista.

She has participated in twenty solo exhibitions, and more than fifty group exhibitions. Her work has also been shown throughout Canada and in Paris, Sydney, Mexico and Tokyo.

About Elisa Contemporary Art

Elisa Contemporary Art represents a portfolio of emerging through mid-career contemporary artists, often with a focus on the dynamic use of mediums and materials.

Founded in 2007 by Lisa Cooper, Elisa Contemporary Art is dedicated to promoting the appreciation and collection of art as a way to enrich and heal our lives, our communities, and the world.  Elisa Contemporary Art has participated in international art fairs in New York, Miami and the Hamptons.  We have also curated over 15 public art exhibits in the Tri-State area.  A portion of every gallery sale is donated to charities helping underserved children heal through art.  We support Free Arts NYC and Art Therapy Outreach Center.

Elisa Contemporary Art has been featured in a number of publications including Ocean Home Magazine, Hamptons Cottages & Gardens, New York Spaces and The New York Times and on Artsy.   For more information, visit www.ElisaContemporaryArt.com or see us on Artsy.

The Riverdale Gallery is located at 5622 Mosholu Avenue, Riverdale NY.  Gallery hours: Saturday 11-5pm and by Appointment (Weekdays/Evenings/Sundays)