Art Verité Gallery

Something Blue

Something old,

Something new,

Something borrowed,

Something blue

Blue, a color that has always held a prominent place in art, has a rich history spanning from ancient artifacts to contemporary works. From the depths of the sea to the expanse of the sky, blue signifies the infinite and the sublime. It reminds us of our insignificance in comparison to these grand phenomena.

Blue is a color associated with a range of complex concepts and emotions. It represents depth, melancholy, sadness, optimism, nobility, fidelity, spirituality, wisdom, and peace. Humans have always been drawn to the allure of this hue, seeking blue talismans to ward off the evil eye and couples incorporating blue tokens to their wedding attire ensure the quality of their relationship.

In more recent times, the blue screen has become a symbol of doom for those working on computers. Throughout art history, individual artists have embraced the significance of blue in their work. Picasso had his Rose and Blue periods, Yves Klein created his own unique shade of blue, while Milan Kundera saw death tinged with a metallic blue, adding to the enchantment of this ubiquitous yet exquisite color.

In “Something Blue,” Nina Garibay explores this hue through her process of creating collages and translating them into oil paintings. The visual themes present in the exhibit include the metaphorical nature of a shell, a hollow vessel carrying the essence of the sea. Synthetic fabric is crumpled and shaped into the form of a seashell, capturing its allure. Silhouettes, another form of a shell, suggest obscured or hidden presence, creating a sense of foreboding.

“Black and Blue” reveals a distorted and cropped portrait within an ill-fitted silhouette, implying a casual yet violent confinement. The only piece without the color blue, “Both Sides, Now,” takes its title from Joni Mitchell’s song of disillusionment. The almost monochromatic painting depicts a figure in an act of resignation, with hunched shoulders and a covered face. However, the bright yellow hands in the middle serve as a counterbalance, another point of view. It suggests that our perception and interpretation of experiences shape our outlook on life.

Nina empathizes with the hopeful tone of Mitchell’s song, recognizing that we are mere specks on the blue marble of Earth, traveling through the vast universe. “Something Blue” invites contemplation of the signifaicance and impact of this captivating color on our lives and artistic expressions.