Ainslie Hielich at The Main Street Jukebox

The Main Street Jukebox in Stroudsburg, PA held an Artist’s Reception on Saturday March 6th featuring The Art of Ainslie Hielich along with musical guest Dark Matter Void. Ainslie has become best known for The Vintage Karma Tattoo Studios she and her partner owns but little is know of her life which influences her artistic approach to her work on both human and non human canvases. Her life was very much on display upon the walls of The Main Street Jukebox for all to see.

Ainslie was born in neighboring New Jersey but her family moved to rural southwestern Virginia when she was 10 years of age. Throughout her life in the Appalachian community she was exposed to, led her to author “Secrets from the Dirty Old South” which describes the still prevalent North versus South mentality. This is coupled with the geographical isolation of the area encouraging its inhabitants to see outsiders as interlopers not to be trusted.

Upon moving to New Jersey at the age of 22, she found an atmosphere of acceptance for who she is and her work. She has begun to accept her own Southern heritage although she often finds herself torn between the two worlds. Much of this is evident in the work that is currently on display with depictions of banjos, the stars and bars, and some very insightful pieces touched with a glimmer of humor as it communicated on a subconscious level.

The musical guest for the reception were Dark Matter Void. Their music complimented the art it too communicated on a subconscious level. Many of the songs reached into the mind of the listener with sounds almost hypnotic. Their psychedelic sounds moved the awareness to altered states before bringing the transformed back to themselves anew. Artist Nara Strete painted the musicians while they performed. You’ll find more photographs at The Forwardian Arts Society Main Street Jukebox 2010 Gallery.

The The Art of Ainslie Hielich Exhibition continues until March 28th. The next event will be The Art of Abby Braman and Omni Artists’ Reception on Saturday April 3rd beginning at 6pm with musical guest Meshach Richards beginning at 7pm. Please Contact The Main St. Jukebox at 570-424-2246 for more information about these events and all they have to offer.

Websites of those mentioned in this article are The Main Street Jukebox at www.myspace.com/mainstjukebox, Ainslie Hielich at www.artofvintagekarma.com, Dark Matter Void at www.myspace.com/darkmattervoid, Nara Strete at www.myspace.com/hondurastoxicdogstar, Abby Braman at www.myspace.com/rivalstag, Omni at www.stroudsocial.com, and Meshach Richards at www.myspace.com/MeshachRichards.