Is Pleased to Present an Exhibition featuring artists Almagul Menlibayeva and Sheldon
Horton
International Visions-The Gallery
2629 Connecticut Ave. NW
Washington, D.C. 20008
April 14, 2004
Please Join us at the Artist’s Opening Reception
on April 17, 2004 from 6:30-9:00pm
Almagul
Menlibayeva a
native of Almaty Kazakhstan attended the State Theater
and Art Institute of Almaty where she studied decorative
and applied art. Almagul is a pioneer in the tradition
of "punkromantic Shamanism", following mystic
laws of Kazak art. She is noted as one of the most progressive
young artists in all of Almaty. Her creations of "graphics
in wax" are the traditional technology of Tekemets
that attracts the element of fortuity, unpredictability,
and spontaneity by which she obeys her inward impulses.
Almagul's works confront us with the issue of the interrelationship
of man, nature and animals as fellow creatures. Her
personal experiences and primitive, iconic style influence
her genuine decorative structure
Sheldon
Horton first began his studies
in art at the Chouinards Art School in Los Angeles.
At the age of twenty-one he left the school to serve
in the post-depression army, whence his unit was sent
to New Guinea in 1942. The war, the jungle, and the
beauty of the environment inspired Horton to continue
his art by carving on logs. In 1945 Horton returned
to California to renew his studies of art. His experience
in New Guinea had a profound effect upon his artwork,
for he tended to look harder at everything he painted
in order to truly grasp the reality and energy that
lay within. Horton completed his studies at Pomona College
and Claremont Graduate School, and then started his
own art school in Claremont, which became quite a success.
Horton later sold the school but continued teaching
art in prep schools on both the East and West coasts
until he recently retired from St. George's School in
Newport, Rhode Island. He currently resides in Arlington,
VA and continues to exhibit his work.
