Barry Mack on Art and the Artist

Secret Passageway

Zeus Enters Time and Space

Having delved in art all his life, Barry Mack, now an expert in the predominant styles of contemporary painting (abstract expressionism, minimalism, conceptual art and pop) found “Cosmic Consciousness” after years of meditative practices, fasting and studying world religions.

3000 Years

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“I began to spontaneously paint in an abstract style, as a metaphor to express what I had experienced as a higher dimension of Reality.”

Ancient City

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Themes in Mack’s work vary but most often the subject is light.

Another Golden Moment

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“I am interested in creating an image conducive to a meditative or thoughtful frame of mind...like a mandala. The goal is to relax, achieve a peaceful, higher state of mind, and then possibly inspiration.”

Approaching Light

Awakening

Mack says his creative process is something that just happens. Keeping his materials close at hand, he tends to dive in whenever inspiration strikes. And when an artist is getting his motivation from everything in life, moments of artistic genius can occur anywhere and at any time.

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Mack is interested in producing art that reflects his values, quality and values that help us enhance the human experience and develop as human beings. Mack says he is always looking for ways to use his work to grow and improve communication through art. It is a manifestation of his thoughts and feelings, not an attempt at illustrating his ideas. He intends to create thought provoking, interesting and meaningful work.

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“My fine art has been largely informed by an interest in metaphysical studies. I have reached the conclusion that all Life is interrelated and this idea continues to inspire my artwork. Also, I love natural beauty, which always provides fresh inspiration.”

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Aside from producing artwork, Mack designs quality books for artists and photographers. He has also produced two books on his own work, the first of which can be seen on his website.

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Barry Mack Art Together 10

Mack says his work intoxicates him and an average workday tends to go by very fast. Despite the fact that being self-employed requires a lot of discipline and focus and he says,

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“My days are a like walking a tight rope. It's a constant balancing act between the euphoria of freedom and the intense pressure of responsibility. If I fall, there are consequences, so I've always got to stay focused. I think there's a popular myth about being an entrepreneur. In many ways, it is more demanding than having a job. It’s also very very rewarding, exhilarating and lots of fun.”

Energy Dance

Fluid Future

Mack’s personal favorites among artists are Rembrandt and James Turrell because their work embodies the traditional and contemporary life of an artist.

Geology of Wealth

Hidden Door

His advice to all young artists is to find around them those things that inspire and then focusing on the joy emanating from that inspiration, capture it and present it as an artistic visualization.

Hidden Treasure

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To the viewer, Mack says, “You are a co-creator, supporter and collaborator.” He believes the role of the audience is crucial in helping artists thrive and develop their work into a universal bond between the creator and the viewer.

One

Red Guardian

The Joy of Rejuvenation: Nancy Yule

From humble beginnings, to becoming an artist in her own right, Nancy Yule has come a long way. An early childhood accident resulted in a brain injury causing her speech problems. As a result, she was put in remedial classes because complications in expression caused hindrances in communications. Yet, each year, Nancy graduated to the next level in school. By middle school, she was experiencing school as a popular child. She excelled more at school as compared to within her family at home. 

“Throughout kindergarten, no one, including my teacher was able to understand a word I said. Tested repeatedly for hearing problems, speech problems, I was put into remedial classes, yet the teacher graduated me to grade 1. Gradually, I was able to enunciate clearly, and by the time I got to grade 5, my grades had drastically improved.”

Fragile Childhood

Belonging to a household that encouraged boys rather than girls to participate in activities outside the house, Nancy was forced to find her own niche within the family. Fortunately for her, there was creativity all around her. Words could not have expressed better what art has helped her express in life. The speech impediment forced her to use her hands more, helping polish her natural affinity to interact with material using her hands. Her first medium used for expressing art was clay. 

“Burlington had just opened the Burlington Cultural Centre, later becoming Burlington Arts Centre. I just loved it! I remember sculpting some very unusual pieces compared to everyone else.” 

Conclusion

The realization that she was making pieces unique from other people’s creations set the foundation for Nancy’s future endeavours. She gained confidence in her abilities to express herself using her hands. Avidly seeking other forms of expression, she taught herself how to knit, crochet, sew, and bake. Her mother taught her the fundamentals of sewing and knitting, but it was woodworking she always coveted. Her father considered it too manly a “craft” for her to pursue. An early marriage set her free from the conventions that had kept her from indulging in craft making. Her husband’s support led her to explore her artistic abilities freely.

Curls

“I chose my own way of life and with love and support from Rob; I was able to take a different journey from the one I had known as a child.”

An avid reader and observant person, naturally intuitive and innately able to manipulate material, Nancy found herself experimenting with what took her fancy. Experimenting with texture struck her the most. 

“I love texture. I notice texture wherever I go. I love colour. I notice colour.”

Folds of Fragility

Nancy’s aim at creating art is to gain expression; she feels money is a secondary aspect of creating art. 

“When the pool of one’s inspiration is steeped in desperation (particularly financial), the work comes from a desperate place, and that is not good.”

As a mother she gained creative independence. She would express her joy in art by sewing clothes for her children. She branched out from sewing to quilting, and from sewing cloth to sewing on paper, metal, and other unusual materials. Recently, she has started teaching her self how to work with encaustic wax.

Bound by Ceremony

“Bound by Ceremony represents my current work, incorporating textile with encaustic wax. I was playing with the ends of the teabags dangling from the work, casting shadows on the wall much like birds in flight. Normally the story of a piece is contained in the four edges of the canvas but I try to allow the story to spread onto other surfaces through the shadow of some of the elements.”

Nancy’s inspiration, like that of all artists, comes from what surrounds her. What differentiates her from others is her ability to identify uniqueness in commonality. 

Spool of Life

“I am particularly fond of materials that have great significance to us, and yet we take them for granted. Such as tea bags. The fact that tea has so much meaning in our daily lives fascinates me. When sharing a cup with a friend, we don't just share tea, we share memories, feelings, and emotions. It makes me wonder if all that energy is also infused in that material? And then we just dispose of it.”

In Her Shoes

Nancy believes in being well grounded as an artist. She believes in finding steady ground in the foundations of a medium or form of art first, experimenting and departing from the norms later. She loves introducing stories into her work using symbolism. Most of the symbols used emanate from her own spirituality. 

Potential