The Center of Solitude

The PoconoArts Cultural Center in Stroudsburg, PA held an Artists’ Reception on Saturday July 7th. The Reception featured an exhibition titled, “Shades of Solitude, Paris 1970” featuring the works of Photographer Don Manza in the Center’s ArtSpace Gallery and an exhibition displaying the work of Artist Tricia Lowery Lippert in the Center’s Studio Gallery featuring depictions reflecting her love for wildlife as captured in oil and pastels. Several other artists associated with the gallery also had their work on display throughout the center.

As one comes to expect from these two talented individuals, the work they presented was outstanding and their styles complimented each other. The love Ms. Lippert feels for her subjects can be found reflected in their eyes as they gaze upon her as their portraits are being created while the atmosphere of love Paris is so well known for can be felt from the images captured by Mr. Manza. However, in the midst of this love experienced throughout both artists’ works, one can sense a certain aloneness in the images as alluded to in the title of Mr. Manza’s exhibit.

The emotion of “Love” is often associated with the concepts of togetherness as in couples being paired or families gathering together for mutual support and nurturing. Yet, it is when we develop the ability to experience and embrace love while being alone does the emotion has its most profound effect upon the human soul. In loving oneself, one can find and redefine the essence of our natures and grow from the insights we become aware of.

We can soar through the clouds like an eagle or we can simply stand in our doorways contemplating where our thoughts will lead us. In either case, we experience a peace within ourselves and no longer depend upon the thoughts and assessments of others to determine our worth. Instead, we become free to unconditionally love our friends as ourselves as we simply reflect how more wonderful we’ve become with the passage of experiences through each other’s eyes.

The exhibitions featuring the works of Don Manza, Tricia Lowery Lippert, and other artists continue until July 31st. In addition to the visual work displayed throughout the center, their Hall of Poetry is currently featuring the poems of Jan Selving who has received her MFA degree in poetry from Arizona State University and has published in national literary journals including Ploughshares, Antioch Review, Crazyhorse, and Denver Quarterly. You find more photographs taken during the reception in PoconoArts Community Cultural Center 2012 Gallery at www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150596801360421.441769.636000420&type=1. 

Don Manza has been a member of the ArtSpace Gallery for many years and currently serves as its coordinator. His work is also on display at the Pocono Community Theater and other venues throughout the region. You can learn more about Don Manza and his work by Exploring his Website at www.deepviewstudio.net.

Tricia Lowery Lippert has lived in the Poconos with her husband and their multitude of animals since 1987. She was originally a native of the Connecticut shore where she has studied art in many places from the mountains of Canada to the villages of the Provence region of France. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Oil Painting from Marlboro College in Vermont in 1981. You can learn more about Tricia Lowery Lippert and her work by Exploring his Website at www.tricialippert.com/home.

The PoconoArts Cultural Center in Stroudsburg, PA operates under the auspices of The PoconoArts Council which is designed to build the communities in which it serves artistically and culturally by providing leadership, service, and education. It does so by offering avenues for artists to display their work through the center and other galleries, educational opportunities for those who would like to explore and/or enhance their creative natures, and encouragement to those who seek to express and/or support the arts. The Annual Members and other exhibitions are held in The PoconoArts Cultural Center. You’ll be able to learn more about The PoconoArts Council, The PoconoArts Cultural Center, and all they offer the creative community at www.poconoarts.org.