Paul Szemanczky
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The Elements of "Fields of Domaine"
In this collection of paintings and drawings lies a dominant theme: That freedom is the sole truth of Spirit, and Spirit is a self-contained existence. Therefore each of these works is a private park, a field of domain, for these various forms (human, animal, metamorphoses) to achieve consciousness of their own freedoms, given that each form has an active intellect stimulated by an ‘agent’ (Aristotle’s De anima) i.e. the harsh and resilient, divinely contemplated and affectingly soul-strumming landscape that envelopes them. Reconnection, due to a spirit or soul’s loss of orientation and direction, is found via reason, via ethics of escape (Ploltinus’ Enneads), which leads to the realization of the form’s destiny in a Spiritual World.
And what is meant by Spirit: “What powers it (Spirit) inherently possesses discovery from the variety of products and formulations which it originates. In this pleasurable activity, it has to do only with itself… the very essence of Spirit is activity, it realizes its potentiality – makes itself its own deed, its own work… and when it meets opposition and hindrance seeing its endeavors thereby fail in Nature and it perishes in fulfilling its own destiny and proper function, nonetheless it exhibits the spectacle of self-demonstration as spiritual activity.” (F. Hegel)
Weighing like a foreboding evil murkishly in the background is “matter,” whether fighting the sluggish sands of a desert, the untoiled wilds of the open snowy slope or some barren plain, or recoiling beneath a faceless sky, ultimately matter drags down spirit.
I apply Plotinus (Enneads 1.8) theory of derivation as being relevant: it asserts that each successive stage of derivation represents a lesser degree of perfection or (saying this negatively) a greater degree of imperfection. All matter reduces the Good and any thought transcending to reach its totality with the One originator of the Good. The paradox is that Good makes evil, and evil appears at the end of limit of derivation or production of the good. Moral evil (human choice to do acts of evil) rises not solely from metaphysical Evil by derivation but additionally “by self-willed movement inclined to the worse” e.g. the paintings of The Terrorist and Near India. Yet the inherent Spirit is immortal. It stands like a wall or a mountain as in the painting of Blue Lotus Dancer to block and discourage the aggregate of evil. The presence of immaterial being can caution evil to desist, encourage individualism to persist, and can rejuvenate spirit to “transcend the immediate, simple, and unreflected existence.”
And what is the Evil sensed by the different forms in the Fields of Domain’ paintings: the opposite of Good; a non-being kind of existence; a decrepitude of desire; a concrete and unrefined disorder of spirit; a loss of will and piety for searching and individuality. Plotinus called it “permanent deficiency in relation to what is self-sufficient, always indeterminate, in no way stable, affected in every way, unfulfilled, total poverty.” (Enneads 3.14-16)
ARTS RESUME
EDUCATION: Degrees
University of New Haven – Masters in Education, Middle School Grades 4-8 )
State of Connecticut Teachers’ Certification, Art and Literature instructor
Providence College, Providence RI – Bachelors
USAOCCS, US Army APG, MD – Technical writer/illustrator MOS 79-81 A/C certs.
Non-degree:
Landscape and still-life painting courses: Creative Arts Workshop, New Haven, Ct
(instructors: Peter Ziou and M. Barnes); Monhegan Island, ME (instructor: Clay Kent0; U. of MD (instructor: R. Taplin); Ft. Gordon, GA (instructor: Ken Yarrow)
Non-degree teaching:
City Spirit Artists, New Haven: elementary level drawing and painting, K-5, 85’-89’
Poetry and writing workshops, volunteer – Corrections Dept., 82’-85’
Galleries: exclusive
“Fields of Domain” paintings @ Good News Café Gallery, Woodbury, Ct. 2/’02
“Animals Natural” paintings @ The York Square Cinema Gallery, Ct 11/’00
“Landscapes 2” paintings @ The Palace Performing Arts Center, Ct 9/’87
“Landscapes 1” paintings/drawings @ Showplace Gallery, Ct 1/’87
Galleries: inclusive competitive
New England Artists Trust Congress V @CAW, New Haven, Ct. Winter ‘96
First St Gallery, NY, NY Summer ‘97
New Britain Museum of American Art, New Britain, Ct Winter ‘96
New Britain Museum of American Art, New Britain, Ct Spring ‘95
Artspace Gallery, 3rd and 4th exhibitions, New Haven, Ct, Spring ’89-‘90
Affiliations: Member of Wethersfield and Mt. Carmel Art associations
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