Scorpius Necrus by The Skullmaster
The zodiac, a powerful and ancient system of reducing the expansive universe into a manageable discipline of relationships, retains a hold on our increasingly technology-based culture. The word zodiac comes from the Greek zōdiakos kuklos, which means circle of animals. Astrology interprets a belt of constellations, divided into twelve equal parts or signs, encircling the earth and ruling human behavior. Half of the Greek zodiac signs are represented as animals and two more are represented as mythical animal hybrids. A new art show exploring the zodiac theme opened at Congregation Gallery last Saturday night. The show features an impressive roster of 32 contemporary artists. Each zodiac sign was represented, alongside other thematic pieces.
This is an outstanding show that challenged my view of the zodiac. I was impressed by how dark and bleak many of the interpretations were. Often the zodiac seems like a benign influence in our lives, with winking stars helping us find our way. But consider unsympathetic forces high above our heads ruling the key events of our lives. The principle discounts freewill. Suddenly zodiac seems violent, ruthless and dangerous. I’ve never been a faithful horoscope reader, or had an astrological chart drawn up, but I always thought of my sign as a friendly force or guide. No longer…
Leo the Christ Lions by Cam Rackam: Leo is the lion and the fifth zodiac sign, thus the five faces of the lion.
Aquarius by Steve Rodgers: Aquarius is the water bearing sign and is ruled by Saturn. Since this is my zodiac sign I was a little startled to see it portrayed as a bringer of apocalypse. Rodgers explained that people overly ruled by horoscopes or numerology have a poisonous and crippling influence in their life, thus the figure dispensing toxic waste on earth. The menacing figure has the roman numerals for eleven on his forehead because Aquarius is the eleventh zodiac sign.
From left, artists Cam Rackam, Steve Rodgers, Tatomir and Dan Harding
Taurus by Tatomir: Taurus is the bull sign. The artist put a heart on the scale because this is his wife's astrological sign. Behind the bull, tiny stars depict the constellation.
Cancer by Dan Harding: Cancer is the crab sign and is ruled by the Moon. The starfish in the foreground of the painting form the constellation.
Painter and Musician (System Syn and Imperative Reaction) Clint Carney standing with his wife and a friend.
Child of Saturn by Clint Carney: This painting represents Capricorn, the sea goat sign. In the upper left corner of the painting, the stars form the constellation, and in the upper right corner is Saturn, the sign's ruling planet.
Artist Krystopher Sapp stands on the left wearing an awesome Toxic Toons hoodie. While one of his mixed-media sculptures is on display at the back of the gallery, he does not have a piece in the Zodiac show.
Zodiac Lady Killer by The Creep
The Zodiac Show is full of powerful pieces by talented artists. To see more previews of the show, or for more information, visit the Congregation Gallery website.
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How creepy is it that my sign is also Aquarius and I spend my days fighting toxic waste and there is that painting? Creepy. I like the lion and the crab ones too-