Water Mandala by Joy Kreeves METUCHEN An international exhibit will mark the beginning of the fall exhibition season at the Nails in the Wall gallery at St. Lukes Church, 17 Oak Ave.

The exhibit, Spirituality of the Mandala, Reality in the Round, consists of 40 pieces of art by 24 artists from across the country and around the world, with work in a variety of media film, drawing, collage, ceramic, wood and metal sculpture, fused glass, painting and photography.

The mandala exhibit continues the gallerys interest in showing work that relates strongly to the spiritual element of humanity without being connected to one specific belief system.

The round has been an underlying form with healing and spiritual connections in every culture, in every religion, from the very earliest of recorded human time, said Linda Vonderschmidt LaStella, gallery director. Some artists today continue to work within that format and in that spirit.

Feathering by Tamlyn Atkins Choosing to develop an exhibit focused on the mandala, the gallery invites viewers to recognize through the art the commonality of their quest as spiritual persons, an expressed goal of the gallery.

Highlighting the mandala form as a part of living religious practice, a rangoli will be created on the gallery floor by a local Indian artist. Her family creates them regularly in their home as part of their Diwali celebration, an event that serendipitously falls within the course of the exhibit.

The exhibit opening and reception is set for 2-5 p.m. Sept. 21. It will remain on view until Dec. 31.

Other New Jersey artists with work in the exhibit include

Amy Brooks, Metuchen; Pam Shore, Metuchen; Anne Spence, Milford; Joy Kreves, Ewing; Bernadette Calnon- Buote, Moorestown; Dennis X. Murray, Verona; Lauren Curtis, Somerset; Mariane Trent, Chester; Maxine Snow, Red Bank; and Clarisa Marin, West Deptford.

From farther reaches, artist Fiona Stolze of Bristol, England, has sent three of her silk paintings, and Monika Mori, an award-winning Austrian artist, will have a four-part acrylic piece in the show.

Originally posted here:

Metuchen exhibit highlights spirituality of the mandala