Diversity of Style
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The sculpture above was created by Smarkusz in 1965, a few years after returning from Israel where he went on his pilgrimage. The subjects embody a contrasted synthesis of the primitive with the modern as they evolve from the concrete to the abstract, from natural to spirtual. Vincent again emphasizes the dichotomy within all of substance, structure and function. These figures were formed with aluminum composite sculpting paste then mounted on a wooden base. Interpreting "Three Sculptures"
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"The Apostles" drawing has much in common with the sculpture in terms of theme and form, including it's symbolic dualism of man in the middle of the material and the spiritual.
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The artist recreated a sculptural version of his late Fusionist period work "The New Land" originally painted In Israel. The fused figural form was first carved in sculpting foam which was then coated with a synthetic sculpting paste mixed with an automotive finish metal flake additive. The effect is that of an iridescently shimmering stony substance. Smarkusz contrasts and fuses a primitive solid objective form with the fluidly dynamic subjective theme of human behavior - a contrast existing in much of his work literally and all of his work symbolically.
Interpreting "Three Sculptures" -
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The next seven drawings were done with pastels on #900 sandpaper in 1954. The two "Dreams and Nightmares" drawings were done just before the artist entered a period of acute depression requiring intensive psychotherapy and medication. Interpreting "Almost Ashore"
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This pastel drawing and the next were discovered separately but were originally joined left to right, forming the top half of an obviously quartered whole work with it's bottom half missing. The lower half of this pastel on sandpaper drawing, most likely depicting the nativity scene is missing.
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Just before entering into an acute depression phase, the artist showed signs of dreams and nightmares in his drawings and paintings.
Interpreting "Dreams and Nightmares" -
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Smarkusz interprets Jesus Christ being taken down from the cross by three executioners in this abstract watercolor composition.
Interpreting "The Executioners" -
The artist's niece Christine is being consoled by her husband Alan on a carousel in Boston, in this Cubist style painting.
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The artist signed his name in multiple ways as he created a narrative of Body, Mind and Spirit in this quickly rendered composition. He used the handle tip of his brush to etch letters and symbols into the surface of a pine board coated with wet gesso. Interpreting "Three Symbols"
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