Two artists are daring to boldly venture into creations that will make guests stop and think.听
Carol Roberts is presenting Puzzling, a collection of acrylic on canvas, plastic and paper, alongside Rochelle Brubacher鈥檚 costumes for the 50th anniversary of Star Trek. Their work is at the Foyer Gallery, located in the entrance of the 麻豆社国产Public Library, until Oct. 31.听
In the cases, Brubacher听honours the phenomenon of Star Trek鈥檚 50th anniversary in sci-fi costume creations of textiles and sculpture.
鈥�Star Trek is not just a kind of TV show but an institution full of alien races, unique characters听and future humans who have solved the problems plaguing current day earth and present an outlook to life where exploration, learning and peace are the highest goals,鈥� Brubacher says.听
As part of the display, aliens represent archetypes with prominent, over-emphasized characteristics that make us look at ourselves.听
Spock values logic over emotion while Picard exemplifies leadership. Kai Winn (Deep Space 9) epitomizes ambitious politics hidden in the disguise as a religious leader.
As a child, Brubacher听was encouraged by her parents to sew and engineer creations. Then came Mr. Dress-Up鈥檚 tickle trunk full of costumes.听
Her journey evolved from designing Halloween costumes for herself to making costumes for her children to eventually outfitting entire casts of high school musicals.听
鈥淔inally Gene Roddenberry inspired me with his creating Star Trek, not just with the vast array of aliens and uniforms to re-create but with a life philosophy that compels us to believe in a non-dystopian future where there is a better way and the ills of the earth will be healed,鈥� she says.听
鈥淭he popularity of Star Trek is unlike any other, period. The combination of positive, visionary futurism with relevant social commentary distinguishes Star Trek from every other science fiction television program that has followed it,鈥� says Brubacher, an obvious devoted fan.
Brubacher鈥檚 creative听focus is to make each piece as true to the original costume as possible and admits that she might watch a representative episode 20 to 30 times while sketching, engineering and finally sewing the costume.
She considers herself a life artist.听
鈥淢y whole life is a work of art, flowing where the day takes me. I paint watercolour, quilt, costume, sing, play guitar, build, whatever suits me on a given day. Life presents itself and I accept and embellish,鈥� says Brubacher who听lives off the grid听with her husband.听
As environmental nature-lovers, they work together toward a reduced carbon footprint lifestyle and raise awareness of how important respecting and working with nature is.听Live Long and Prosper.
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Abstract ideas
Roberts听is an abstract expressionist, a communicator, a risk taker and a creator of emotional impact. Her works are a manifestation of ideas, balance, design and colour, all combined to address both playful ideas but also real challenges that humans must puzzle over for a sustainable world.听
Jigsaw puzzling and all games may come to mind when you think of Puzzling, the title of听Robert鈥檚听art exhibit. Her artful expressions reflect an interest in solving problems with heart and intuition 鈥� to find creative solutions to new situations.听
Roberts received her degree in art education from UBC to teach in the public school system and is known for developing a journaling style called Visual Recording. She has taught this form of expression in Canada, Mexico and Thailand where she also worked in tourism. Extensive travel introduced her to forms of visual interpretation that give an ethnic personality to her bold, playful representations.
For Roberts, there is never a dull moment.听
She divulges, 鈥淔irstly, I puzzle over the very nature of humans. We are a 鈥榣usty lot鈥�, always wanting more, and this is wrecking havoc with our planet. Secondly, humans are curious. We are actively exploring everything including outer space.听
鈥淭o be human is to be a Puzzler. I see this as a positive part of us and听Puzzling听is necessary for our survival.鈥澨�
Her inspirations are the political and environmental landscape, travel and spirituality. She invites you to puzzle over her images and see how they speak to our times.
On the Young@ART wall Roberts includes a co-creation that she made with her grand-kids, who are inspiring artists keen on subjects like volcanoes and dragons.听
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- Toby Jaxon is the curator for the Foyer Gallery.听
