PRESS RELEASE FOR UMVA FEBRUARY 2023  EXHIBITIONS: HIEROPHANIES BY MARIA LUNDIN AND THIS ENERGY OF MINE BY NORAJEAN FERRIS.

PORTLAND MEDIA CENTER,  516 CONGRESS STREET, 5PM to 8PM. 
FEBRUARY 3rd - 24th, 2023                                      

The Union of Maine Visual Artists is pleased to host the upcoming exhibitions, Hierophanies by Chilean artist Maria Lundin and This Energy of Mine… by American artist Norajean Ferris at the Portland Media Center located on 516 Congress Street, in Portland Maine. The exhibitions will be shown from February 3rd to the 24th, 2023.

In definition, the exhibition Hierophanies explores the idea of how humanity relates to spirituality in its most symbolic nature. Etymologically, the word itself comes from the Greek hiero-, "sacred," and  phainein, "to show"), a term that describes the manifestation of all things venerated. The paintings in this exhibition respond deeply to the philosophy of art that accompanies a vision of a world that encompasses wholeness. Hence, the objective of Hierophanies is not mere representation itself, but rather transformation. Maria Lundin describes her drawings and paintings as a “language and territory that helps me to consult and give meaning to the realities that I experience:  intellectual, sensorial and spiritual.. I have also found in my drawings and paintings an answer to the limitations that, we as humans,  experience as intellective and sensitive beings. Some concepts and ideas can be inexpressible in  words because of an ineffable character.  However, I believe that through the patience of visual art, we as communities are able to overcome these linguistic barriers.

Throughout her artistic practice, Norajean Ferris creates many abstract pieces. These works, done in pastel and oil paints, reflect her ever changing creative process and artistic identity. “As an artist, I am constantly trying to make sense of the modern world, a task that can be overwhelming for the boundless energies that exist in my soul.” As a way to make sense of her emotional unrest, Norajean creates abstract pieces that start with no premeditated thought process yet end with eccentric structure and elusive balance. The creation of these pieces inspired Norajean to create This Energy of Mine…, a statement that describes “my unplanned but directional thought process, that creates the colors, patterns and shapes that are the foundations for these pieces.” In addition to this, the overall purpose of This Energy of Mine… is to make viewers see the elements of the human psyche in relation to art. The abstracts that are displayed in this show will make “people realize that there are no boundaries for emotions, intention, discipline or technique in creative expression, and that art, in itself, connects all facets of humanity to the ever-changing constellations of the creative universe.”