Waking Vision, 90" x 44", Acrylic on Canvas

I had a dream this summer which turned into a waking vision.  The dream was so real that it stayed with me for days and now it is a constant daily passenger in my thoughts.  In the dream I was standing in front of all the souls in heaven being applauded.  As I looked out over an ocean of souls into a mist of whites , purples and pinks, I felt completely loved in this sea of spirits and completely complete.  The gift of the dream was that I was standing next to my twin soul--the one they say that is with you since the beginning of time.  The audience that stood before us was noisy and active and chirping for the two souls before them who travelled such a long and weary journey to this place.  They say that twin souls rarely come together on earth,  but when they do it is a gift that is heaven sent.  I had a dream this summer--a waking vision--and it remains a constant passenger in my thoughts.

Heavenly Spires

This is the first painting completed in over two months since I began the gallery/school/studio journey. The painting was inspired by a friends photograph of the Gorge amphitheatre in George, Washington. He calls the spot "heavens amphitheatre". The green, blue and yellow palette is reminiscent of paintings that I did when I was 16 and 17 years old. The earth object that is overlapped on the foreground is actually the same object painted in the "Dubai" painting. It is from the poplar tree and looks somewhat like a spire. I chose this object for its pointed shape and majestic look like that of a kings spire. There is also a tower metaphor going on in the imagery. The sky was inspired by Sharon Antholt's Tibetan paintings. Antholt is one of my teachers who used to show her work at Anton Gallery, in Washington D.C. The gallery closed several years ago.

Some thoughts about the spire are as follows.

A spire is in the word inspire.
Dictionary definitions:

a tall, acutely pointed pyramidal roof or roof like construction upon a tower, roof, etc.

a similar construction forming the upper part of a steeple.

a tapering, pointed part of something; a tall, sharp-pointed summit, peak, or the like: the distant spires of the mountains.

the highest point or summit of something: the spire of a hill; the spire of one's profession.

a sprout or shoot of a plant, as an acrospire of grain or a blade or spear of grass.

Vienna Connection Exhitition & School Press

Week in Vienna
The Vienna/Oakton Connection Newspaper

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Giampa Presents Retrospective, Opens New Gallery and School


Joan Marie Giampa is exhibiting her 16 year retrospective to coincide with the grand opening of her Red Caboose Gallery & Vienna Studio School on Aug. 28, 6-9 p.m. at 138 Church St., NE in Vienna. Giampa, a 16-year-veteran of the D.C. area arts scene, is known for her exhibitions such as "The Smell of Colors" and "13 Fish" at the Foundry Gallery in DuPont Circle.

She calls her studio school a "fine arts school for the new millennium." She will offer small classes and individual study in a classroom setting similar to that of the community college in painting and drawing.

Painting and Drawing Classes are forming now for September. See schedule: http://www.joanmariegiampa.com/Vienna_Studio_School/index.html

Giampa sees the Church Street as an up and coming arts scene and festival venue and feels that her Red Caboose Gallery and Vienna Studio School will be a welcome addition to the already bustling arts scene and business community on Church Street.

Giampa is a native of northern Virginia. She was born in Arlington in 1960 and has been a resident of Vienna for 37 years.

Giampa received an MFA in painting from the University of Maryland in 1998 and a BFA in graphic design from James Madison University in 1983. She teaches painting and design at Northern Virginia Community College. Giampa is advancing towards candidacy for a doctorate degree from George Mason University in the field of scholarly teaching and art.

Giampa has been exhibiting her work professionally since 1993. Her work is in private collections throughout the United States and Europe. Last year she was selected to be in Mary Washington University's annual Mid-Atlantic Painting Exhibition. The exhibition was curated by John Ravenal, curator for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Another exhibition she was invited to display her work in last year was "Virginia Painters Process Unveiled‚" Rawls Museum, Courtland, Va.

Contact: tel. 703-349-7178; email: joan@joanmariegiampa.com

Grand Opening Invitation

Vienna Studio School & Red Caboose Gallery

This Artist has been very busy lately.  I will be opening my own studio school, gallery and studio in the heart of downtown Vienna.  On July 23rd, 2009 the Vienna Studio School and the Red Caboose Gallery became official.

Looking forward to seeing you at the open!

Red Caboose Gallery

138 Church Street, NE, Vienna, VA 22182
703...

Grand Opening

August 29th 6-9 pm

Joan Marie Giampa

"A 16 Year Retrospective"

works from 1993-2009
Gallery Hours:
Monday-Friday 10-5pm
Saturdays 10-4pm

Dubai, 60" x 54", acrylic, 2009

 

Some paintings seem to flow off the brush naturally as if the image was waiting to be discovered within the canvas ground.  Dubai is one of these paintings where each stroke felt complete.  The painting is inspired by a photographer friend of mine who shoots images all over the world.  His photo, Dubai is of similar palette--a warm purple red with layers of pink overlaying.  Pink is the color of unconditional love and its a color I am embracing in my own life this summer. 

I bought a huge pink purse and some pink shoes along with pink shirts and underwear.  I can't seem to fill my life up with enough pink and it reflects the new inspiration I have found in my life and my work.

I am opening a gallery/studio in my hometown of Vienna where I will teach students and workshops on painting.  More to come on the studio and its location.  Hope you are having a wonderful summer as I am having the greatest summer and adventure of my life.  I just sold my house and am moving back into town.  Yes I am a townie--a vienna townie and proud of it.

Pinnacle Building, Tysons Corner Exhibition

... more Dubai

This painting has a slow and rhythmic unfolding. There is an exploring process that is deep and mysterious much like that of a new lover. The red purple hue denotes a passion unrestrained.

Over the next week, I am off to a workshop in Lilydale New York. The workshop is being conducted by Joseph Shiel a world renowned spirit artist. This is something that has interested me for many years and I finally have the opportunity to explore this venue of artistic expression.

More Dubai...

This morning, fathers day--Sunday, I enjoyed listening to a program on NPR about a spiritual songwriter and singer, Mr. Joe Carter. I had the privilege of listening to spiritual singers in church this past winter by a group that came to the Center for Spiritual Enlightenment, in Falls Church, Virginia. That music raised my spirits and moved me in ways I have never felt before. The vocal harmonies were sung with such intensity that I felt a trembling in my soul. I know now what the term spiritual revival means. Joe Carter talks about the music being handed down to him by a woman named Jesse Anthony, who came to him one day with a briefcase full of music. I would imagine such a treasure. The greatest gifts are handed down from our elders. Artists do this by handing down their processes to younger artists. This is the way we keep our traditions alive.

I have always wanted to sing the gospel. I really don't think I would ever give it the same justice as these incredible singers did that day in church. Some day I will have my chance and blast away with a full choir-ed regalia. It may just be other worldly, but I will do it.

Dubai, 60 x 60, acrylic

Today was the first day back in the studio after many weeks off. I have been teaching a painting course at NVCC this summer as well as taking a course in my program of study. So it has been busy. I was inspired by a friends photo today of Dubai. The landscape was a reddish purple-- misty hue. It goes along nicely with the green palette of summer.

I found these pointy earth objects during one of my walks last week. They remind me of claws.

This is the earth object I found. If anyone can identify it, I can get the genus and species.