Angela L. Chostner: Art That Speaks to the sacred essence in us all
The soul language of my paintings revolve around one core belief- that within all of us is the capacity to love without reservation, express ourselves fully and recognize the beauty in each other and ourselves.
When I paint, it feels like a dance, where my heart speaks to the canvas, and the painting that slowly emerges reflects every feeling, prayer, meditation and intention poured into it. My themes are all virtue-based, and as I step into the shoes of these virtues, my understanding of these principles such as gratitude, trust, and respect evolves, often in directions that surprise me. My process is fluid and requires that I stay in the moment, my skills always in service to my vision.
My path as an artist has included illustrating for the children’s market, teaching art classes, and designing art programs. My art is in private collections, The Mazza Museum, and has been exhibited
throughout the Midwest including Chicago and Kansas City. In the St. Louis area I have shown at the Angad Arts Hotel, Framations Art Gallery, and Longview Farm Park.
Currently, several of my paintings are part of the “2020 Who Is God? Healing Midwest II” virtual art exhibit October 3 to November 30th presented by the Gretchen Brigham Gallery. (Facebook.com/GretchenBrighamGallery/)
My art degree is from the Art Academy of Cincinnati, but my deepest education has come from the melding of my spiritual and artistic life. AngelaLChostnerart.com
(314) 308-5349
achostner@gmail.com
instagram: @achostner
(poem that accompanies the painting “Respect”
Respect: I see you, you see me. Let us be mountains together
May I see you as a mirror
of every loving kindness
ever bestowed upon me,
and any discord or difference,
a tiny pebble smoothed by cool waters of forgiveness.
May you see me
by the light of my heart,
even when I stand in shadow.
And if there is no memory
of loving kindness,
Let it start now.
As we listen, as we laugh, as we pray.
And this prayer, it is the wind.
So frequently felt, yet never truly seen,
like the gentle touch of a mother.
Resilient hands untying stubborn shoelaces,
quiet companionship when words are not sufficient,
and wisdom is still in the making.
If respect were a color, it would the color of wind.
Let it flow through us
as we stand, as we cry, as we create a new world
where everyone can be mountains together.
-Angela L. Chostner