Lydia van den BergMany thousands of people have in different ways written and spoken, painted and photographed America - New York - Manhattan.I know that the sights and emotions of my experience have been discussed before, but despite that I feel that my experiencewas unique and a memory I will treasure.I remember when I first learnt about Agora Gallery. I was intensively surfing the web looking for a potential business that might beinterested in integrating my art into their products. I came across the Agora website, and instantly felt at home. I was interestedto read about the various artists, to view their images and learn about their concepts and motivations, as well as find out aboutAgora’s staff. My first and constant impression was and is positive, very positive. I am really impressed with the way in whichAgora Gallery presents the artists it represents.Without giving it much thought I presented myself to the gallery. I felt like a small fish that had dived into the huge unknownocean. I was unsure if I could even swim. What happened was an amazing experience which has opened a new page in mypersonal biography. I would like to thank Angela Di Bello and her lovely team for their professional support.I have asked myself what a successful exhibition means. I believe success is not reflected by the red marker representing “Sold,”although that is something to value. The biggest achievement for me is when the audience is not bored, when they take theirtime to appreciate and understand my art.My solo exhibition was just like this! The atmosphere of Chelsea, the wonderful art district of New York, encourages people toengage with what they are seeing, to really appreciate the art in the galleries there.My first trip to New York was made up of unforgettable moments and memories which will stay with me. Arriving at the airport, itwas as though I had landed in a movie. I was like a film star and joined with so many others – together, we are all a part of themovie.It is unique feeling and can only be experienced here in New York by someone willing to jump right in. The question is, “Do youwant to have a part in the play?”To my surprise I didn’t concentrate on the travel books and museums; I was totally fascinated by the diversity of all the differentpeople and their expressions. Back at home I was pleased to have the opportunity to view this film from a distance. I findthat the photos I took in New York seem almost unreal… I can’t believe that I have only recently returned from that remarkable,unbelievable city!I am happy that I have jumped into the water and I now know I can swim!www.Agora-Gallery.com/Artistpage/Lydia_van_den_Berg.aspx80 <strong>ARTisSpectrum</strong>
Richard StuttleLong flight to New York, JFK, leaving the airport in a taxi towards the city… excitement and anticipation filled my body. Driving overthe Williamsburg Bridge I saw the city skyline and knew this would be a city I could fall in love with, if it had not already happened!First day in NYC my adventure began. The sun was shining, the city awaited me. Armed with sketchpad and water I headed outto explore a place I had until this point only seen on TV and movie screens. With a spring in my step I wandered from Soho toCentral Park, eyes wide. Everything was amazing: sidewalks, shops and people all new and exciting. I remember gazing up thesides of huge mirrored skyscrapers, seeing the slightly distorted shapes and colors of the opposite buildings, following the linesto the top and nearly losing my balance. The city is incredible, but strangely I had a strong feeling of familiarity.First impressions, of everything from the streets and buildings to the people who lived and worked in them, was that everythingwas mind-blowing and on a massive scale. To me, the city itself was alive, the streets like veins and the living inhabitants thebloodstream keeping the metropolis pumping. I love the attitude of New York, that whatever you want to do can be done! Athousand ideas a day; some brilliant, others leading to avenues of thought that might never otherwise have been considered andsome complete rubbish! All can be nurtured in New York.One great privilege for me was to attend a showing of Phantom of the Opera on Broadway. The performance was a dream, anexperience I will never forget. I was fully absorbed in the production and it touched my soul like nothing else, my eyes glued tothe actors and stage, their voices incredible. The show was the best I had seen. Understanding the resonance of performance,I captured a feeling that would be unleashed on a canvas when the time was right, and even writing this now I am overwhelmedby the passion of that moment, the inspiration that will be with me and I will use within my art forever.New York has almost everything an artist could want to complete their mind, body and emotional state. The only thing I missed intwo months was depth, a depth I found in European history and culture. I found that the American mentality is to keep ahead ofthe curve – citizens want to be fresh in ideas and lifestyle, at the forefront of technology. As an artist I strive to dig deeper, in to thedepths of time past, and find the essence that transcends the centuries, the same energy the old masters tapped to create timelessworks of art. America has all a boy could want, but boys grow up and crave more. Is there enough here to sustain a lifetime?New York has definitely inspired me. Back in my studio now, I’m working on large scale oils capturing impressive skyscrapers,beautiful parks and moments of genius found in the city. Special moments from the last two months were captured in sketchbooks,on film and most importantly in my feelings and memory, experiences that touched my soul. I will love NYC forever.www.Agora-Gallery.com/Artistpage/Richard_Stuttle.aspx81 <strong>ARTisSpectrum</strong>
- Page 1 and 2:
ARTisSpectrumVolume 26The Chelsea P
- Page 3 and 4:
© Rob Heath Time to Reflect ... Sp
- Page 5 and 6:
ARTisSpectrumPublisherAgora Gallery
- Page 7 and 8:
ProfilesIf you like to keep up-to-d
- Page 9 and 10:
Cade TurnerAustralian artist Cade T
- Page 11 and 12:
L. ByrneRed Fireball Oil on Canvas
- Page 13 and 14:
When did you realize that you wante
- Page 15 and 16:
One Dime Acrylic on Canvas 32” x
- Page 17 and 18:
Laurence SteenbergenIce Fruit Acryl
- Page 19 and 20:
Joshef MatèIn the work of Joshef M
- Page 21 and 22:
Bruce Leslie ThomasBruce in his Stu
- Page 23 and 24:
Carlo ProiettoItalian artist Carlo
- Page 25 and 26:
Madeleine ArnettParadox 1 Acrylic o
- Page 27 and 28:
Cristina Popoviciuring painting,”
- Page 29 and 30: 29 ARTisSpectrum
- Page 31 and 32: The singular landscapes of Italian
- Page 33 and 34: Marty PoorterMarty Poorter’s acry
- Page 35 and 36: John StevensonRenowned Canadian lan
- Page 37 and 38: Early modern men and women, at the
- Page 39 and 40: Norma PicciottoNorma PicciottoL’e
- Page 41 and 42: Cristina ArnedoWendy CohenCombining
- Page 43 and 44: techniques and inspirations.The ben
- Page 45 and 46: Alberto MontoreanoThe Ozone Layer O
- Page 47 and 48: Did you first see the artwork onlin
- Page 49 and 50: Escape from the Cosmic zoo by Aelit
- Page 51 and 52: Agora Gallery’s 27th Annual Jurie
- Page 53 and 54: Nataixa RosLa Tyranie de la Danse O
- Page 55 and 56: Valentino BellucciItalian artist Va
- Page 57 and 58: Jim CobbPhiladelphia artist Jim Cob
- Page 59 and 60: Why an artist needs to go out on ap
- Page 61 and 62: Even when remaining local, and not
- Page 63 and 64: Laila Khan FurniturewallaLaila in h
- Page 65 and 66: Ancient Olive Trees Inspire Artwork
- Page 67 and 68: Ancestral Ghosts, Family Tree 2 Car
- Page 69 and 70: A long wooden table on the terrace
- Page 71 and 72: LaroucheTamara GrizjukLes Belles So
- Page 73 and 74: Igor NelubovichRussian painter Igor
- Page 75 and 76: Thierry FazianEnigmatic Dreams Mixe
- Page 77 and 78: Alison Jane RiceI arrived in the ci
- Page 79: Catherine Gaillard PerezVisiting Ne
- Page 83 and 84: Dominique BoutaudI feel honored to
- Page 85 and 86: VéroniKaHEphémère Stained Glass
- Page 87 and 88: Surrealistic tableaux fill the canv
- Page 89 and 90: How do you decide whether to recomm
- Page 91 and 92: Fred FriedrichFred FriedrichCuadros
- Page 93 and 94: You might know Mr. Waits from seein
- Page 95 and 96: Tom Wait’s inventiveness doesn’
- Page 97 and 98: Patricia Armour has been weaving ta
- Page 99 and 100: Penelope PaigeHyung Jin ParkViewers
- Page 101 and 102: Vito MateraVito Matera creates artw
- Page 103 and 104: Brigitte MartinezBrigitte in her St
- Page 105 and 106: Building on the artist’s passion
- Page 107 and 108: Ben FeldshuhFor Brooklyn artist Ben
- Page 109 and 110: Creating works that bridge cultural
- Page 111 and 112: Cheri MittermaierCheri Mittermaier
- Page 113 and 114: Z. TodorovaZ.Todorova in her Studio
- Page 115 and 116: CLOCKWISEFROM TOP RIGHT:1) Maracaib
- Page 117 and 118: 5761234CLOCKWISEFROM TOP RIGHT:1) S
- Page 119 and 120: 6875123CLOCKWISEFROM TOP RIGHT:1) C
- Page 121 and 122: Christchurch, New Zealandby Joanne
- Page 123 and 124: Shanghai, Chinaby Ping HeLocated in
- Page 125 and 126: Rome, Italyby Monica MorgantiRome,
- Page 127 and 128: Málaga, Spainby Carmen SotuelaMál
- Page 129 and 130: Tehran, Iranby Masoud AbediTehran i
- Page 131:
Subscribe to ARTisSpectrumThe Gift