Emotionalist Art Group Exhibits at Sloper Wesoly House
By Diane L. Mechlinski at April 8, 2011 | 7:00 am | Print
The Polish American Foundation of CT sponsored an exceptional exhibit of Emotionalist art on April 2 at the Sloper Wesoly House on Grove Hill St. The work of 26 artists was exhibited during this also “17th Anniversary of the Emotionalists Art Group.”
This group of Emotionalist artists was founded in 1994 by Lubomir Tomaszewski who was born in Warsaw, Poland. Tomaszewski is a renowned sculptor, nestor of the Polish School of Industrial Design, and professor emeritus from Bridgeport University. The group’s members represent several countries. Most live in the United States (NY and CT primarily) but some are in Poland, France, Ukraine, Germany, Luxemburg and Finland. To exhibit her work in this exhibit, Patrycja Todo, flew in from Paris for three days. She also writes poetry and does photography.
“Aleksandra Nowak and Catherine Kollar began this group with me,” said Tomaszewski. “We felt there needed to be an individualism that culture and society seeks in art. We are a group that is in harmony with nature. We study nature and people for the purpose of our art.”
The Emotionalists are a multi-media artists group with styles varying from pure abstraction to classical realism. Their mission is to return to the natural language of expression in art, restoring true value and meaning to art, awakening deep emotions within the viewer.
Tomaszewski claims to not only create art, but he contemplates it, posing questions toward his work. “I’ve always felt the need to philosophically reflect on the subject of my creation. Modern art has lost much emotion and mood. The goal of my art is to broaden the strength of perception.”
Thus, Tomaszewski founded the multi-disciplinary group consisting of painters, sculptors, illustrators, photographers, graphic artists, textile designers, dancers and musicians – their goal being to produce works filled with mood and emotion. Inexperienced art viewers may ask “what is emotionalism?” Simply stated, emotionalism is the belief that the greatest importance in a work of art is its emotional impact on the viewer.
Curators for the evening’s exhibit were Emotionalist artists Anna Zatorska, of New Britain, the group’s youngest exhibitor, expressing her emotions in colorful nature scenes and Janusz Skowron of New York who claims his art is like having a conversation with his inner self.
“I’m happy that people came for this exhibit, to meet with friends. Polonia in New Britain has grown with this,” said Skowron.
“My work comes from the heart,” said Skowron’s son, Artur. “We are like the opposition to the avant-guarde – we look for feeling and emotions.”
Artists whose work was represented are: Lubomir Tomaszewski, Beata Szpura, Maria Fuks, Zbigniew Nowosadzki, Maksymilian Starzec, Piotr Betlej, Agnieszka Uzieblo, Janusz Skowron, Witold Wojcik, Adam Panek, Jolanta Badyna, Patrycja Todo, Sewer Salamon, Mieczyslaw Rudek, Beata Trefon, Janek Hausbrandt, Aleksandra Nowak, Wojtek Kubik, Katarzyna Derda, Artur Skowron, Christine Tomaszewski, Ivan Bratko, Monika Pastuszak, Kinga Kolouszek and Malina Boreyko.
Krzysztof Medina, described as “painting with music”, provided the evening’s entertainment with his saxophone. A “17th anniversary” cake was shared by all.
