Alyson Souza
"Integral Impediments"

La Luz de Jesus Gallery
July 2 - August 1, 2010
Artist Reception: Friday, July 2nd; 8-11 PM


In the past, Alyson Souza's work has examined themes ranging from modern concepts of beauty to the internal dialogue we have within ourselves; those voices we choose to listen to and those we suppress. Presently, the artist feels that she is living in a time of particular social and political urgency and it is this that now informs her paintings. The content of her work questions and reframes present events. She examines concepts of good and evil and the cloaks worn to obscure the facts. Her most recent work is political. Much of the work also has a religious component. She is and has always been, interested in the answers and explanations given by various belief systems and how they are used or sometimes manipulated towards a specific end. Souza's paintings often reference the problems that occur when applying philosophical answers universally. Though her topics are current and situations sometimes interpersonal, she consciously chooses to frame her subjects, visually and conceptually, in a manner that renders them less event or time specific. She does this by using symbolic imagery and presenting modern objects in an obscure almost iconic format. The text incorporated in the paintings is her own. She enjoys the graphic quality of lettering and the play between the representation of the three-dimensional and the flat painted character. Additionally they further illustrate the concepts behind each piece and set a verbal tone. The pieces are not however, text dependent. Alyson works in a very meticulous manner and believes strongly in creating well-crafted objects. She paints thickly, though realistically, with oil on wood. In the past her work has been three dimensional somewhat like an image in a pop up book. It has incorporated found objects and mechanical or electrical components. Most recently the work has been flat and painted on shaped wood panels. The largest of these are cradled to prevent future distortion. The term “New American Surrealist” has been used to describe her work and as labels go this is fairly accurate:

"I've always seen my paintings as a way of communicating.
The challenge is to do so in a way that is original and thought provoking irrespective of time and place."

Contact the Gallery Director for availability and purchase info: (323) 666-7667

Click here for review of this exhibition on The Huffington Post

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Benevolent Fool (click for close-up 1,2) Oil on wood construction, hardware, electromagnet. Fluctuating needle, push button operation. 10" x 27" x 5" (open) $2,700.00	Tiny Evils: Deception, Disrespect, Destruction (click for close-up 1,2,3,4) Oil on wood constructions, hardware. 13" x 12" x 6" (x 3) $3,000.00	Sustained by an Echo (click for close-up) Oil on wood panel 35" x 17" (x 1") $2,000.00 *text reads: "Sustained by an echo, his previous design was long forgotten."
St. Jane Oil on wood 9" x 17" (x 1") $850.00 Sold *text reads: "St. Jane whose heart was truly warmed by the good fortune of lazy people."	Blinded in the Process (click for close-up) Oil on cradled wood panel 13" x 72" (x 2") $4,000.00 *text reads: “Blind or blinded in the process, the strength of their resolve was without meaning; a bitter pill. Wasteful battles well fought, neither ceased to exist, eyes for decorative affect, the body suffers again, the only body, again. There was always only one.”	St. Stan Oil on wood 9" x 17" (x 1") $850.00 *text reads: "St. Stan the satisfied."
To Protect, To Defend (click for close-up) Oil on wood construction. Coins drop from top piece to bottom. 9" x 9" x 3" (x 2) $1,600.00	Fib (click for close-up 1,2) Oil on wood construction, hardware, electromagnet. Fluctuating needle, push button operation. 19" x 16" x 5" (open) $2,700.00	Plastic Sky (click for close-up) Oil on wood panel 34" x 34" x 2" $4,700.00
	The Deed (click for close-up) Oil, wood construction, string, electronics. Interior of rib cage illuminates when button is pressed. 9.5" x 5" (12.5" x 8" framed) $3,200.00 *text reads: "His heart was not consulted. It was his hands that did the deed while his brain wasn't looking."