Collaboration as an Act of Intimacy: The vision is to show the connectedness between humans and nature - the psychological  influence of the seasons, and the power of two minds. Many of the collaborative paintings were created using a technique that artists  call “Cadaver Exquisite” to create together in a chamber of intimate respect. Ost and Gagliano would pass paintings back and forth  without explanation or instruction - for a common thought of impact.  

These works celebrate humans and nature in all in that shared unspeakable yearning of survival. The vision of this exhibition is a  teaching one. Gagliano is the alchemist of light and Ost is the visionary of the future. The exhibition opens in the abstract and falls into  surrealism as a manifest of surprise, into the museum’s catalog of our mind. Reality is the only moment that is true; everything else is  surreal.  

Daring to Be, daring to Become. Anger is a tremendous energy source; some use it as a fire to burn and destroy, others use it as fuel to  build and ignite. But, the beauty of sitting with an empty mind, there is no place an artist would rather be than here, and now, so the  artist can see herself where they all together are. The exhibition will include five parts, plus an introductory entrance space. The number  5 represents many aspects in life - the human body and our physical world (5 major continents). 5 major color themes are also  throughout many of the works.  

The complete installation includes over 90 artworks. This exhibition is a completely immersive experience that also embraces all of the  other four senses beyond the visual. Though not interactive, the sense of touch is represented by the vibrant textures of the works both  as sculptural installations and paintings. There is also an audio soundtrack playing in each of the rooms - seducing the sense of sound  with a symphony of music and nature sounds. For the sense of smell the natural scent of roses from rose oil will fill the experience. For  taste, images of food and sculptural food items will be presented- real dried mushrooms and real baked bread. 

Room 1: The Promise

In this darkened room, the floor is covered with black rice, which is a historical allusion to the Chinese tradition of Emperor’s forbidden black rice which was only available to the upper class. Gilded objects from nature like stones and sticks are buried in the rice. We want to offer this plentiful rice as nourishment to all children. Five gilded children’s chairs sit in the center. Five is a recurring motif throughout the exhibition: five continents, colors of the Olympic flag, and parts of the human body. The chairs and rice create a hopeful tableau. But, gilded branches above cast a shadow over them. Paintings from the “Nature Nurture” series are on the walls. 

"Dissected Presence I:

The Exalted Cake"

2021

Oil on canvas

30x24"​

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"Dissected Presence II:

Absolute"

2021

Oil on canvas

30x24"​

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"Dissected Presence III:

Satisfaction"

2021

Oil on canvas

29x24"​

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"Change Is..."

2021

Shoe polish and oil paint

24x24"

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"Transformation..."

2021

Shoe polish and oil paint

24x24"

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"You Give Yourself.."

2021

Shoe polish and oil paint

24x24"

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"Into The Perpetual Dance..."

2021

Shoe polish and oil paint

24x24"

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"Of Impermanence..."

2021

Shoe polish and oil paint

24x24"

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"The Truth of All Things..."

2021

Shoe polish and oil paint

24x24"

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"Under the Sun..."

2021

Shoe polish and oil paint

24x24"

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"Nature Knows..."

2021

Shoe polish and oil paint

24x24"

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"All Secrets."

2021

Shoe polish and oil paint

24x24"

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"The Wild Gift"

2021

Oil on paper, gold leaf

35x50"

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"My DInner With You"

2021

Oil on paper, gold leaf

35x50"

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"I Have to Play God in the Garden"

2021

Oil on paper, gold leaf

35x50"

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"The Psychedelic Collapse"

2021

Oil on paper, gold leaf

35x50"

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"No Conditions in Our Hands"

2021

Oil on paper, gold leaf

35x50"

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Room 4: Beauty is Harsh

This room is flanked by two large canvas curtains painted with earth and holding sculptural masks (ceramic faces), embroidered mice. A table adorns the center of the room made of gilded wood surrounded by 5 bails of hay. The table contains another ceramic bowl - this one not fully repaired with its cracked pieces falling around it containing a
large loaf of fresh baked bread. Text adorns the wall of Beatrix Ost’s “Beauty is Harsh: Thoughts and Ongoing Inspirations”. This room also includes two sets of natural paintings by Michelle Gagliano and a painting by Beatrix Ost
The room welcomes visitors with its floor covered in straw. In the middle stands a modest gilded dinner table, holding aloft a large cracked bowl within which a loaf of bread sits. The straw underneath is the discarded waste left over from our daily bread. Within the straw also lays the shattered remains of broken bowls, symbolizing the scarcity of food. Beside the scene are two large linen wall hangings. Each curtain is decorated with scenes of the circus of irresponsibility, painted with Red Earth Clay. The wall hangings
also feature clay face masks and embroidered dead mice. Gilded sticks and leaves also hang suspended in this chaotic scene of human folly and nature’s perseverance. Abstract paintings depicting the reclamation of nature hang on either side of the entryway, as well as another painting portraying the king of nature’s possession of the Amazon.

"The Irresistible  Dance: I"

2021

Earth, oil, gold, on canvas

7.5'x14'​

"The Irresistible  Dance: II"

2021

Earth, oil, gold, on canvas

7.5'x14'​