SUSPENDED ANIMATION

I’ve written hundreds of reviews of galleries, museums and fine craft shows over the years, with many clever theme titles, but I must say this is among the cleverest titles I’ve seen. “Suspended Animation” is a fresh look at the concept and how it can be expressed as art. The mixed mediums of five artists span from assembly work, watercolor and oil paintings to found materials. The artwork selected for this exhibition offers perspectives on daily living and our connections to the spaces and structures of our lives.

The diversity of this show adds immensely to the joy of experiencing it. There’s Andrew Chulyk, who won’t be limited by well-defined expectations. His career spans five decades and includes product and package design and works featured by the Society of Arts and Crafts and Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts. His paintings have also been exhibited widely in museums and galleries.

“Regardless of medium and materials,” he said, “my work has always been grounded in geometry. Hidden or obvious, sacred, or profane, they explore abstract surrealist narratives.” Composed of colorful geometric forms, they depict dream worlds filled with contradiction, mystery, and symbology. Rooted in surrealism’s traditions where nothing is quite what it seems, the viewer is ushered toward a new perspective as to what is real and what is not.

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