'RECKLESS PROPHETS,' GALLERY EXHIBITION

 The  Exhibition runs THRU Saturday February 1, 2014 at the HVCA art center’s gallery, 205 W. Livingston Road.

Gallery hours for the exhibit 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays.

“We are a sisterhood of creative dedicated woman artists,” explained photographer Patricia Izzo. “Each of us is a unique individual, with a passion for our craft.  There is power in our collective energy. It provides an atmosphere for further exploration of our inner voice within a circle of kindred spirits. Our artistic paths will be different--some dark and daring, others not, but all expressions will be honest and have integrity. Our mediums range from sculpture, painting, fine art photography, collage, assemblage, fiber and poetry.”

In addition to Izzo and Barnes, The Reckless Prophets are Martine MacDonald, who specializes in large-scale oil paintings; Linda Allen, a painter who assembles art from found objects; Nicole Rainville Camilleri, a primarily self-taught painter who lived in France for 15 years; painter Mary Ellen Croci, who incorporates found objects into some of her work; fiber artist Sharlet DiGiorgio; Andrea Irwin, who uses a variety of media/techniques, including encaustics, collage, assemblage, woodcut prints, fiber and felt; painter Karin Klue and Marion Melody, who makes homemade paper, from which she crafts paper sculptures.

Izzo said all the artists exhibit with and without the other Reckless Prophets. “As individuals, we have exhibited in a variety of solo and group exhibits, earning numerous awards of distinction. Our group includes members experienced in curating and installing large exhibitions, as well as musicians and poets who enrich our openings with their performances. We are honored to have our individual work represented in regional, national and international galleries, as well as corporate and private collections. We maintain our own studio spaces and are involved with national women artist organizations, and multiple galleries in the Detroit Metro area.

“Our mediums range from sculpture, painting, drawing, fine art photography, collage, assemblage, fiber and poetry. We have chosen our individual pieces to best represent our work in our individual mediums. We wanted to use the idea and concept of a ‘Restless Prophet’ as an artist, having something to say, and something to share with the viewers, prophetic perhaps, but moving for certain.

This isn’t the first exhibit they’ve done together and it won’t be the last.

“The Reckless Prophets have been exhibiting together since 2010 throughout the Metro Detroit area and Indiana,” said Izzo. For 2014 and 2015, she added, “we are exploring Windsor, Canada and Brittany, France…. We have given ourselves full permission to create what we feel are our truest works for all of our exhibits going forward.”

Izzo said you can sum up the Reckless Prophets’ “passion for creativity” with a quote from Joan of Arc: “‘I am not afraid. I was born for this.’”

For more information, visit the HVCA’s website at www.huronvalleyarts.org or call the HVCA Art Center at 248-889-8660.