By Yvonne Wright • The Current Contributing Writer
Within the plethora of visual arts’ forms of expression, the idea of art indulging our senses and enriching our souls is probably one of the most prevalent and broadly accepted. We live and breath art without consciously giving it a thought, surrounded by images, sounds and even smells that can, in a broader sense, constitute an aesthetic or artistic encounter. Architecture, for example, tends to stimulate our senses with its spacial configurations and exterior embellishments.
Our own home environments frequently contain elements of art, in which furnishings and wall decorations are specifically acquired to give us the pleasure of looking at them, and their functionality is often secondary. Most importantly, our homes are our castles, and beneath all necessary functionality there is a creative thread woven into most home arrangements, conducive of our innate desire for an art-filled existence.
Similarly, people’s lifestyles often reflect the inventive fashions of the day, while cosmetic and tattoo applications arranged in various degrees of artful interpretations testify to one’s individuality.
The entertainment industry has undeniable creativity at its core, but rules of aesthetics also apply to food, a popular art form through differing ways of preparing and serving a meal – particularly enjoyable at local pubs and restaurants in tourism-oriented towns like Jim Thorpe…
There is also an increased intertwining of creative forms, wherein traditionally manual fine art techniques and live-performed music have expanded into a digital/virtual world, greatly enriching our enjoyment of life.
The relationship between music and the graphic arts has been paramount from the moment commercially released recordings became available to all who wanted to enjoy music – enabling experience of contemplative aesthetics without a reliance on one’s ability to play an instrument, or be gifted with a beautiful voice.
Today, a recording artist’s lyrics and instrumental renditions can be skillfully communicated through pertinent CD sleeve illustrations – signaling to the audience their artistic merit.
Such a successful alliance between art and music just happened in our midst with the release of a new album “Faithful” by Jennifer Eckhart & Stained Glass Road on November 1, 2020, demonstrating the importance of artistic collaborations; in this case, between Jim Thorpe artist, Maggie Lukasevich, who designed the front and back album covers, and a talented singer/song writer/musician and Blue Mountain Community Church pastor, whose first commercially recorded songs are destined to inspire her congregation.
Maggie’s colourful cover design draws on the idea of a stained glass window, composed of pieces in varying sizes. Creatively, the artist alludes to the band’s name (Stained Glass Road), but on a deeper level, she refers to the lead singer’s (Jennifer Eckhart’s) 17 year-long journey towards completion of the project; a time punctuated with broken dreams and renewed hopes.
The fragile complexity of stained glass can be also compared to the multiplex layers of human emotions, and one’s ability to persevere through a process of creating something out of broken pieces. Jennifer Eckhart’s debut album is a tenet of her faith, hence the title, written and performed in a style I would describe as contemporary gospel or popular worship music.
Her CD and MP3 downloads are now available at www.jenniferkeckhart.com, or can be purchased at Jenny’s Sweets and More and Beautiful Hidden Treasures in Lehighton.
An abundance of artful visuals and sounds traditionally permeates our senses during Christmas and New Year holiday celebrations. From an avalanche of sleek and often highly creative television commercials to elaborate store displays and street decorations, winter holidays inspire ornamental creativity on multiple levels – including in our homes, artistically spruced up for the occasion.
Rich velvety reds, deep greens and glittery gold and silver customarily embellish everything from retail packaging to Xmas trees, creating a full sensorial attire in proclamation of year’s end, and in hope of a better tomorrow. In this secular and/or religious mix of ornamental fireworks, well-integrated commercial strategies make the season a landmark destination for our emotional refuge with a touch of luxury – elevating our lives, if only for a moment, beyond simple existence.
We are surrounded by an ever changing stimuli of images, sounds, and aromas that inspire us and redefine our personal and public spaces, soothe our senses and intuitively help us to communicate our identity with others. Art is omnipresent and is in a constant flux.
Come and visit Jim Thorpe this holiday season, and experience first hand the atmospheric extravaganza this town traditionally has to offer. From Josiah White Park to Hazard Square, and West Broadway, there will be enough indulging of your senses to brighten up anyone’s day – but be courteous and follow the necessary Covid-19 safety rules! To All, happy and safe Holidays!
Yvonne Wright is the owner of STUDIO YNW at 100 West Broadway in Jim Thorpe. She can be reached at studio.ynw@gmail.com
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