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the artwork of michael chelich |
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a retrospective exhibit
curated by
adelia c.
rasines, summer 2005 |
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Michael Chelich,
jesus washing st. peter's feet |
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Nothing can be beautiful which is not true
John Ruskin
The Art of Michael Chelich
As modern art has shrouded truth and beauty in darkness, Classical
Realism stands as a beacon of light. Artists of this school, such as
Michael Chelich, are a rarity. Their work sets the bar for the heights
an artist can aspire to. Adhering to time tested techniques, training,
and methods, they at all times remain on the path to Beauty. This is
truly the path less traveled, particularly in modern times. It can be a
difficult and frustrating path and it takes spiritual strength,
conviction in artistic beliefs, and inspiration to stay on it. Through
the centuries of recorded history, the artists that have chosen and
remained on this path are the only ones remembered or revered. Their
numbers are small, yet they are the titans, the masters, of art. Many
were unknown and unappreciated in their time, only to be “discovered”
years later as true masters.
The quest for beauty in art has never been more important than it is in
modern times. Beauty has been cast aside by modern artists, critics, and
collectors, and in its stead we find meaningless, shallow, and
superficial “art” whose intent and quality is suspect. Because of the
decades-long dominance of Modern Art, classical artists have experienced
long droughts in popularity and recognition, while vulgar “shock art”
pieces have fetched millions of dollars and afforded their authors great
fame. At this point the ambiguous term “Modern Art” (and its derivatives
including “Postmodern Art”) may be defined as superficial art lacking
meaning and being devoid of beauty. It is the lack of beauty, the one
constant in all great artwork, or aspirations to it that will eventually
relegate Modern Art as a vaguely remembered movement, rendering the 20th
century one of the darkest periods in art history.
Beauty is difficult to define because it is recognized by positive
emotions, not by structural elements. For centuries, writers and critics
have tried to define beauty in structural terms, searching in vain for a
formula for beauty. We can define beauty in classical art terms as that
quality that elevates artwork to the highest level of visual integrity.
This is attained by the confluence of traditional techniques and methods
that have been honed through years of study and experience. Added to
this is solid knowledge and implementation of art theories and
principles, including linear and color theories. But at its core, beauty
has its own nature and is not tied to specific constructs. The beauty of
a painting can transcend the importance of subject matter, and often
does in great work. Thus, an everyday object, such as a weathered barn
door can be the subject of a beautiful painting. Likewise, whether one
thinks the subject of Mona Lisa is beautiful is irrelevant to the fact
that the painting itself is beautiful. Such is the essence of beauty in
the arts. It has its own unique nature, and is the essential element
that elevates art into great art. |
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Michael Chelich:
Floral |
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Beauty’s importance in art, until the 20th century, had
been universally recognized. Humans are drawn to beauty, inspired by it,
and are in some senses elevated by it. Beauty’s attractions are not
unique to art, or to art aficionados. Beauty is relevant in everyday
life: tasks such as choosing paint colors or arranging furniture for
interior decoration become important because we have a need for our
surroundings to be “right”, a term we substitute for aesthetically
pleasing, or beautiful. Even people who do not appreciate the arts and
have no theories or opinions on beauty, consciously or subconsciously
try to get their surroundings “right”, and try to bring a sense of
beauty into their lives. Otherwise, we would all be living in square
houses with plain white walls and no adornments. These attempts to get
things right are actually attempts to bring beauty into our lives as we
subconsciously know that we are emotionally and spiritually uplifted
when we do. It is a known psychological phenomenon that humans subjected
to darkness for extended periods are more depressed, lethargic, and
pessimistic than those that live in well-lit environments. In many
regards, beauty acts as light, bringing warmth, optimism, and
inspiration into our lives. It is as natural for artists to strive to
create beauty as it is for people to surround themselves with beautiful
artwork.
The Newington Cropsey Foundation strives to recognize those artists that
are classically trained and whose work exemplifies the values of beauty
and truth in the arts. It is our pleasure to present this exhibit of the
artwork of Michael Chelich, an artist whose work typifies these
traditional values. All of his paintings, though broad ranging in
subject matter, are appreciated by those that admire beauty and
recognize its importance. It is our hope to bring Michael Chelich’s work
to a greater level of recognition and appreciation, which it so richly
deserves.
Adelia Rasines, NCF
Spring 2005 |
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