Josie at the SOHO

“Listen to her voice,
Hear it echo through creation.
Without fail, she reveals her presence.
Without fail, she brings us to our own perfection.”

Verse 6 from The Tao Te Ching by Lao-Tzu

The So-ho in the BURG Gallery in Stroudsburg, PA held an Artist’s Reception on Saturday October 5th for their exhibition titled, “A Show for Josie” featuring the work of Ed Mesko. As revealed to me during a conversation I had with the woman whom I discovered to be the namesake of the exhibition, Mr. Mesko’s wife, Josie, kept “pestering” her husband to present his work in a gallery setting for quite some time. So, when he finally decided to surrender his creative inhibitions in order to follow her advise, he decided to immortalize her name by ascribing it to the body of work he presented at the So-Ho as a gift to her loving insistence.

The work presented in the exhibition depicted scenes one commonly associates with landscape portraits in which the scenic vistas depicted inspires a desire to explore the beauty that is captured or to recall the pleasantness of experiencing the contours of the site first hand. But, although the inspiration such images bring to a viewer can enhance one’s perceptions of life, Mr. Mesko’s work goes beyond the beauty and the pleasantness of the scene by adding an element of mystery to each piece he places within the frame. One can see a road or a hill before them on the canvas but the sense of something lying beyond what is seen produces a wonderment entreating the viewer to explore the piece more deeply. Once this exploration is embarked upon, one soon discovers the deeper mystery to be revealed is not within the work but hidden deep within the viewer waiting to become a part of the conscious life.

In his masterwork titled, “The Tao Te Ching,” Lao-Tzu writes, “The spirit that never dies is called the mysterious feminine.” and that “The gateway to the mysterious female is called the root of creation.” The ancient Chinese Philosopher, to whom many attribute to be the founder of Taoism, professes the eternal elements essential to the creativity of human kind can be akin to the feminine nature of the universe. Its subtleties attracts us and its sensuality entices our desires until we conjoin together in a divine embrace. These aspects can also be seen in Mr. Mesko’s work as the soft moonlight subtly reflects its radiance upon the ground or in the trees who sensually curve their forms to invitingly offer the viewer an opportunity to surrender his/her inhibitions in order to explore the gateways between their limbs.

The element of mystery found throughout the exhibition is enhanced by the feminine qualities inherent in each piece that is displayed. This makes the show all the more intriguing to the many who visited the gallery to experience the work. During my conversation with Josie Mesko, I asked if, besides her “pestering” technique encouraging her husband to present his work, the air of mystery I sensed in the paintings could also be attributed to her. She moved her lips as if to answer but gently ceased to do so allowing her ambiguous smile to respond.

In addition to the intriguing work that was shown, Chef G masterfully created a cuisine which was prepared on site. His culinary creations never fails to enhance the experience of an Artist’s Reception held at The So-Ho in the Burg Gallery and this occasion proved to be consistent with all previous ones as the tasty morsels delighted the palates of all who partook of them. You’ll find more photographs taken during the October 5th Artist’s Reception for the Exhibition titled, “A Show for Josie” in The Stroudsburg Art District 2013 Gallery at www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151420282390421.539464.636000420&type=3.

Ed Mesko is a member of the family who own the Mesko Glass Company that has been located in East Stroudsburg, PA since 1958. Mr. Mesko has had no formal training as an artist but the creative approach of Vincent Van Gogh could be seen reflected in his style. “A Show for Josie” is his first solo exhibition and will continue to be on display at The So-Ho in the BURG Gallery in Stroudsburg, PA until October 31st. The next exhibition presented at the Gallery is titled, “Anything Goes” featuring the work of area artists. An Artists’ Reception is scheduled for Sunday October 13th beginning at 2pm. More information about Mr. Mesko and his work can be gained by calling 570-807-1623 or 570-223-2222.

The So-Ho in the BURG Gallery is an extension of the Backstreet Studio and Art Gallerie which opened its doors to the public in April of 2012. The space is owned by Andrea Robbins Rimberg who has become well known for her creativity as many of her pieces were and continues to be presented in prestigious museums throughout the United States. She is also know for her undying dedication to the arts which she utilizes her exuberant energies to promote at every opportunity. Among her many positions serving in organizations and groups relating to the arts, she is the former president of the Pocono Arts Council and currently is the Arts and Photography Director of The Forwardian Arts Society literary and Art magazine titled, “Forwardian.” You can learn more about So-Ho in the BURG, Ms. Rimberg, and all their creative endeavors by exploring their Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/BackstreetStudioAndArtGallerie.