{"id":11056,"date":"2025-04-07T21:21:21","date_gmt":"2025-04-07T21:21:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kevinbarry.com\/?p=11056"},"modified":"2025-04-07T21:21:22","modified_gmt":"2025-04-07T21:21:22","slug":"sparks-of-creativity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kevinbarry.com\/sparks-of-creativity\/","title":{"rendered":"Sparks of Creativity"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From the interplay of light and nature to pressing environmental concerns, the art program at Fairmont Breakers seamlessly blends artists&#8217; personal passions with the property&#8217;s singular <em>genius loci<\/em>. In this feature, several contributing artists share insights into the motivations that fuel their creative practices and shape their distinctive works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4>Olivia MacDougall: The Dynamic Beauty of Glass<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cYears ago I wanted to begin utilizing stained glass within a home, and not just in a window. Stained glass is valuable both for the beauty achieved with sunlight, but also in its own right without backlighting, so I explored other uses of glass to add beauty within an interior space. This led me to focus on designing pieces for corner spaces, as well as installing spacers for depth and a hint of light reflection within their frames.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"687\" height=\"822\" src=\"https:\/\/kevinbarry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Kbaa_AprilBlog2_02.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11061\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kevinbarry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Kbaa_AprilBlog2_02.png 687w, https:\/\/kevinbarry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Kbaa_AprilBlog2_02-251x300.png 251w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 687px) 100vw, 687px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4>Mark Rebennack: Drawing Breath into Form<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMy work is a meditative practice\u2014each freehand line is drawn for the length of one breath. I begin at the bottom of the piece with the straightest freehand line possible. As I put my pen on the paper, I inhale and I exhale as I draw the line. Each new line mimics the previous. Any imperfections in one line are responded and reacted to in the following lines, creating the \u2018waves\u2019. This is an organic process with a focus on mindfulness and honesty. Each line, one breath.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"687\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/kevinbarry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Kbaa_AprilBlog2_03.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11062\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kevinbarry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Kbaa_AprilBlog2_03.png 687w, https:\/\/kevinbarry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Kbaa_AprilBlog2_03-300x252.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 687px) 100vw, 687px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4>Cody Lusby: The Surreal Divide of Wet and Dry<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cCannon Ball II is part of a larger body of work called Arid West. Arid West takes a surrealistic approach on the importance of water and how here in Los Angeles, water conservation is a way of life. By combining black and white desert scenes with lush full colored bathers, I give a stark reminder of California\u2019s divide between the wet north and the dry south.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"687\" height=\"882\" src=\"https:\/\/kevinbarry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Kbaa_AprilBlog2_04.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11063\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kevinbarry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Kbaa_AprilBlog2_04.png 687w, https:\/\/kevinbarry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Kbaa_AprilBlog2_04-234x300.png 234w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 687px) 100vw, 687px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4>Manon Steyaert: Material Illusions and Wonder<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cA massive influence to my practice is the feeling one has as a child: being curious about the mundane\u2014discovering, observing, and being present in the stage of observation. I try to create works that confuse the viewer to become more present in the act of viewing, becoming aware of their confusion and curiosities towards the pieces. This is one of the reasons I\u2019m fascinated with silicone, using such material to blur lines between mediums and attracting a viewer to discover more.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"687\" height=\"882\" src=\"https:\/\/kevinbarry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Kbaa_AprilBlog2_05.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11064\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kevinbarry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Kbaa_AprilBlog2_05.png 687w, https:\/\/kevinbarry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Kbaa_AprilBlog2_05-234x300.png 234w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 687px) 100vw, 687px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4>Amber Goldhammer: The Language of Happiness<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWords are so powerful, and I use them in my art to inspire happiness. I was given the opportunity to create the mural at the Fairmont Breakers using a lovely quote by Clark Gable (who used to frequent the hotel back in the day) which is \u201c<em>When You Smile, It&#8217;s Like The Sun Coming Up<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"687\" height=\"584\" src=\"https:\/\/kevinbarry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Kbaa_AprilBlog2_06.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11065\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kevinbarry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Kbaa_AprilBlog2_06.png 687w, https:\/\/kevinbarry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Kbaa_AprilBlog2_06-300x255.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 687px) 100vw, 687px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4>Ronald R. Santos: Dancing with Liquid<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI was inspired by calligraphy and movement. I begin by pouring paint strategically, then move it around using various tools: rulers, spatulas and brushes. The image is gradually built up until I&#8217;m satisfied with the balance of shapes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"687\" height=\"514\" src=\"https:\/\/kevinbarry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Kbaa_AprilBlog2_07.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11066\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kevinbarry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Kbaa_AprilBlog2_07.png 687w, https:\/\/kevinbarry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Kbaa_AprilBlog2_07-300x224.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 687px) 100vw, 687px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4>Caryn Baumgartner: Nature&#8217;s Hidden Beauty<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMy inspiration for both selected pieces stems from nature\u2014revealing a hidden beauty that was always present. Capturing this essence of discovery and transformation, even in abstract form, is central to the work.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"687\" height=\"514\" src=\"https:\/\/kevinbarry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Kbaa_AprilBlog2_08.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11067\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kevinbarry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Kbaa_AprilBlog2_08.png 687w, https:\/\/kevinbarry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Kbaa_AprilBlog2_08-300x224.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 687px) 100vw, 687px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Explore the extensive art program, iconic history, and more in the <a href=\"https:\/\/kevinbarry.com\/project\/fairmont-breakers\/\">Fairmont Breakers Case Study.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The artists of Fairmont Breakers Long Beach share glimpses of their inspiration.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":11060,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[37],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v16.0.2 - 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