Studio 457 had their ribbon cutting in Matagorda this past Friday afternoon, and while I was excited about seeing this new studio and supporting their instructors, I had no idea I would be walking into an art gallery!
With a myriad of paintings from three different artists, one enters the space with a feeling of groundedness and a sense of calm - just what you want and expect from a yoga studio.
One of the first pieces that caught my eye was the giant stylized oyster that hung on the back wall.
It was the largest painting and one of the most captivating.
With its dark blues against the prism of color that made up the oyster itself - with swirls of purples, pinks, blues, yellows, and greens - it created the perfect focal point for contemplation.
The artist, Kaleigh Glover, a native of Bay City and currently living and working in Corpus Christi, loves being outdoors and near the water; her work reflects her love of nature and the creatures who live alongside us as evidenced in her other two pieces that were displayed - a Roseate Spoonbill and a Great Blue Heron, both with their movements majestically captured.
David W. Strong is another featured artist who lives in Matagorda but has an interesting background in the circus and film.
My favorite scene of his was “Pelican Flight” in which a group of five pelicans float over the water.
I think this was my favorite because pelicans are my favorite birds to watch on the bay in Palacios.
And when they glide over the water, I always think in my mind, “There goes the cool kids!”
There is just something about pelicans that I absolutely love.
In addition to this painting, he had several others that captured the essence of Matagorda and our county - a shrimp boat, the coastal marshes, a moonlit water scene, and a fisherman reeling in his catch.
All very simple, yet his strikingly strong use of color contrasts against his silhouettes.
The most interesting thing I noticed, and thought really added some playfulness to the studio, was the colorful abstract work of Bay City artist, Zeinab Ghais.
At first I wasn’t quite sure of the juxtaposition between such serene paintings and her abstract work, but the more I settled into the space, the more I had this feeling of this space being one also of creativity in the body.
These abstract works are a dance of color appearing in great swaths and lesser ribbons. Mimicking larger movements of the body and the layering on of skills that are built on in yoga, it is like the layers of color in her paintings gain strength over time as well, just as one does when practicing yoga.
These pops of color throughout the room are a reminder to stay playful and to expressive on and off the mat.
It was exciting to see such a wide range of art in one space.
And a testament to the fact that art can enhance any space.
I encourage anyone to go see these artists work, take a class, and perhaps even take some art home - I did!
