Tessa Dreossi -Insecurities Acrylic and black marker on wood panel 18” x 18” x 3” $225

People’s thoughts can affect their emotions and appearance of themselves. The lines in the faces represent how some people may see themselves with only their insecurities in mind. The thoughts are morphing into their face, the red face represents someone at peace with their insecurities. Everyone has insecurities, some more than others.

In this piece I wanted to show that even if you have insecurities, you are the only one who sees them in the worst ways; to other people they aren’t quite as noticeable. I want to encourage people through my art to look at the positives in themselves and not worry so much about the negatives: you are your biggest critic.

Zia Foley -Alpha Morph Acrylic on Wood Panel 18” x 18” x 3” $300

Until a concept is named, defined and written down, can we discuss it? Language enables understanding, debate and ultimately change. This artwork traces the metamorphosis of the Latin Alphabet, and echoes our collective past from which it came.

Kay -Journey of Acceptance Acrylic on Wood Panel 18” x 18” x 3” $250

My artwork is a portrait of my past and present self. I've been exploring this style from two years now. It is connected with my previous artworks where I've made portraits of certain individuals but I like to call it an unconventional way of making portraits because this artwork focuses more on the inside of the individual rather than focusing on how they look like. I associate certain colours with qualities and values of people and how I feel about them and perceive them.

When I first heard the word Metamorphosis as our collective theme, the first thing that came to my mind was my own self's metamorphosis and how I've come to accept myself in my truest of forms. As a queer person born and brought up in a country where it's still a taboo subject to even talk about our queer identities, it has been the biggest struggle of my life to come to terms with my sexual and gender identity. When I look back, I see how beautiful sometimes struggles can be. That's what I've tried to portray in this artwork.

MYMYMY -Acceptance/Old Skin Polymer Clay, Aluminum foil, Acrylic Paint, Aluminum Wire, Glue, Glitter 18” x 18” x 3” $222

In this piece, there is a woman figure who is shedding old clothes and skin full of heavy words that once weighed her down. This woman who has shed the old skin holds a ribbon in her hand with the word “Acceptance”. The ribbon is the key and reward of her transformation.

The woman has transformed from those old sayings about her that may have come from the world or the self. She has come to realize that she can accept traits about herself that may seem ugly to others. Her self-acceptance is what has purified her state of being, she is cleansed. She also realizes that she doesn't need to hold these cruel words onto herself for she is transformed and that was old skin.

I was inspired to go ahead with this idea for the theme of metamorphosis due to my own mental struggles and constant transformations of the self from the past and into the present. One of the biggest keys to solving these constant internal issues was acceptance.

Dayton Cerasia -Inner Conflict Plaster and oil paint on wood panel 18” x 18” x 3” $320

I used this piece and the theme of metamorphosis to show the transition of one's mental state from one way of thinking to another, more specifically hate or anger to forgiveness. I used a lot of personal experiences and events that happened in my life as inspiration while creating this piece. I showed this transition non-objectively using contrasting textures and a limited colour palette.

I created a visual/physical representation of this mental transition because it is something that allows people to reflect on how my piece relates to their own personal and emotional experiences. My goal is to let the viewer relate to my piece however they see fit but also understand my own thought process while I was creating it, giving them the option to relate to me as the artist or to the piece on its own.

Weijia Su -Heart Rebirth Acrylic Heavy Gel Matte & Aluminum Foil Tape on Wood Panel 18” x 18” x 3” $240

This piece of art work represents that my artistic journey has been a great change to my life. And this art piece demonstrates how art journeys can change our heart from dark and dullness to show all the shine and colours. Also the expansion of the art is very broad, and it is like sky and universe could be extending unlimitedly and full of possibility. Being an artist is more a personal engaging decision. I believe that no matter if a person with or without authentic aesthetic skills, he or she could still be enthusiastic and inviting as an artist. It leads us to see ourselves a way of being.

Leanne Gaslighting Acrylic on Wood Panel 18” x 18” x 3” $300

Definition of Gaslighting: to manipulate (someone) by psychological means into questioning their own sanity

This is something I have experienced in relationships that turned out to be unhealthy for my mental health. I learned that “Gaslighting” was a term from people who are close to me, I also learned it was a form of mental/emotional abuse. This piece is a representation of how I have felt.

The giant eye in the middle of the girl has left her always criticizing, doubting, and even putting herself down, questioning her own worth, as it has been torn down, more than once. That eye is more than an eye, it is an open wound.

Chris(tabelle) Wang -Saprophyte Acrylic and paint markers on wood panel 30” x 25” x 5” $300

A saprophyte is a plant, fungus, or microorganism that lives on dead or decaying matter, and Saprophyte is a piece about self-renewal. It is a reconciliation between your past and future selves—using and learning from every part of your personal experiences, no matter how painful, to continuously create the rest of your life.

It is inevitable that people will change throughout their lifetimes. I think it is important to remember that nothing in your life is wasted, even when it feels that way. The dead and decaying parts of your past can still be remade into something new; there is always the option to move forward in your own metamorphosis.

Atiyah Azmi -Phoenix Reborn Acrylic and LED Lights on wood panel 18” x 18” x 3” $285

As an artist and an aspiring animator, making the piece Phoenix Reborn took a lot of trial and error. Given the theme metamorphosis, I thought on what that word reminds me of. Birds are my favourite animals, so the obvious answer to me would be to make a painting that uses a bird species. Phoenix’s are mythical birds whom are reborn from their ashes. Changing from ashes to a bird made of fire is a form of metamorphosis, so it fit the subject perfectly.

The design on its own would be far too simple for my liking. In order to find the spark I needed for the shadow box, I decided to make this piece wired by LED lights. Making this piece was an experiment for me, with plenty of trial and error. I hope for people to see the majestic form that Phoenixes have when they view this piece.

Darrin Desforge-Wolfe -Rebirth By Fire Acrylic on Wood Panel 18” x 18” x 3” $175

This piece represents a supernatural metamorphosis, my rebirth by fire. The dark blue figure is the old me. The flame in the background represents the depression and pain I had while in a very dark time in my life. The purple Character is the new me being born from the darkness and pain from the past in the same way as a phoenix is reborn from the ashes to start anew.

No matter how much you may want to go back and change things or wish that things would have never happened then you would not be who you are right now at this very moment. No matter how much pain and suffering you may go through, everything will get better and you will find true happiness

Raven Maducdoc -Façade Oil with heavy gel matte medium on panel 18” x 18” x 3” $250

`Façade` an outward appearance that is maintained to conceal a less pleasant or creditable reality. The title of my piece `Façade` falls into this year's theme, Metamorphosis as this piece represents how my emotions tend to morph on the surface whenever I am around others compared to how my emotions are when I am by myself. The cool tones used centre-left; icy, cold, hollow. These colours depict how I am when I’m around others. What I feel that I need to be in order to be seen as strong-so that I believe I am strong. Holding it in seems easier than letting it out, my eyes open, the small white accent making them water but, my mouth is shut. I choose not to take the opportunities I am given to scream what I feel because keeping a straight face is easier than one of anguish.

As your eyes move to center-right, the warm colours start to become more prominent; subtle, yet ready to erupt. I think more when I am alone, and I feel more. My eyes are shut in the very last stage of metamorphosis. I have felt everything at that point; all the pain, the judgment, the insecurity, but my eyes are shut this time, the white accent that seems as if tears are on the brink of falling, mouth still hasn’t opened. I have broken down this facade but because no one is around to see. Only I know how I truly feel, only I hear the voice in my head that’s screaming. But that face at the very end is still a straight one, a face trying to stay strong so that they may believe they are strong.

The use of the black in this piece was my way of showing how clouded my mind can get even when I am with others and when I am alone. A constant feeling of confusion, criticism, and anguish. Though my facial expressions only show a slight change in this piece, it is the colours used that prominently express the metamorphosis.

R Blick -Flower Bed Acrylic on wood panel 18” x 18” x 3” $245

In my piece I am exploring the more destructive elements of metamorphosis, the loss of one element leading to something new.

‘Flower Bed’ shows metamorphosis through death, for even in the sorrow and loss of life new life is able to flourish. Nourished by what was once alive. The contrasting elements of the beautiful flowers and anguished skeleton was the main reason I chose to create this piece for the gallery.

Hopefully the pleasant summer view keeps the piece from being too morbid. Ultimately, I want this piece to be optimistic, that old sadness can pave the way for new joys.

Aleksandra Rodneva -There Still Will Be Life On Earth Acrylic on wooden panel 18” x 18” x 3” $150

When you think about the metamorphosis that can happen with a person in a real life, not a lot of things come to mind. Change of character, age, look are examples of it. But the strongest and the darkest example is death. This topic is horrific, but it is going all around. Many people are curious about what will happen after their death or nothing will happen at all. Both religion and science are searching for answers. But we already know them, don’t we? Sun will shine, flowers will bloom and seasons will change each other. Life will continue, as it was before our birth. The complicated world, with all its positive and negative sides, will still exist. And it is not a reason to think that one single person doesn’t matter. All things we do affect the world, no matter if its art or ecological activity, raising kids or inventing new things. And even death itself is giving flowers a chance to grow on the remains.

Robert Stephenson -Decisions Regular and glow in the dark acrylic on panel 18” x 18” x 3” $285

The idea of this piece is to show the transformations between day and night. This piece shows me nearing the centre of the two opposing times going into each other as day becomes night and night becomes day.

The reason it is called Decisions is because around the centre of the piece, you will be able to see me, the artist staring between the sun and moon. Almost as if I am trapped in a tough spot in life and a choice needs to be made. It could also be interpreted that staring at the two opposing sides of the image and then in between, represents how a person's mind may be wandering on the path of life or letting their own thoughts be emptied into the mystical weather.

Robert Stephenson -Decisions Regular and glow in the dark acrylic on panel 18” x 18” x 3” $285

(GLOW IN THE DARK image shown)

Carrera Chung -Coda Mixed Media on panel 18” x 18” x 3” $NFS

This painting manages to capture a moment that I have seen in Japan. Working with oil and acrylic on wood panel, and embellishing the compositions with preserved moss, shaping the contrast between the painting and other features.

The painting is split into two parts, the real-life and the sacred precincts. The flying marine life shows delusion, freedom and the unconstrained in our life. The red structure named Torii defines the entrance to the sacred precincts. It gives a peaceful and a sense of mystery. Once you take a step through the Torii, you will experience a particular view inside it, which you never met before.

I would like to convey joy to others through the painting. Furthermore, to remind viewers that imagination is happening all around us, if we are only able to look for it.

Lu, Zhang -Glow Acrylic on wood panel 18” x 18” x 3” $150

“Wherever you are at, you are always glowing.” Give this sentence to all the people who think they are not as good as they think. I used to imagine myself as a ballet dancer since this fit all the expectations of me as a girl. When I first worked with this painting, I picked one image from the photo collection of this model and did this painting with an expressive way which is showing my contradictory interior side.

I realized that I’ve been always inhibiting my heart that to admit that I do care about beauty, body shape, and also my thoughts. “Glow”, this work is the second time I deal with this topic and I appreciate the “metamorphosis” in this process, it makes me realize how I expect to myself and also discover my fragile side.

Sometimes the spotlight on the stage does not always shine on you; sometimes the ballet skirt on your body may not be pure, but you should always have a mirror that is towards you in your heart, and then believe that you are always glowing.

Yu Jun Oh -My Inner Side Mixed media on panel 18” x 18” x 3” NFS

Because of my shyness, I often have a hard time expressing my thoughts and feelings in front of a crowd. So through this painting, I express my desire to not being conscious of the presence of others. Thread woven that covers the head shows my desire to take my invisible shackles off. The black background and flowers give more contrast and emphasis to the painting, delivering my message of My Inner Side.

Anne Kim -You Are More Acrylic on Wood Panel 18” x 18” x 3” $300

This piece is a representation of how we reflect the things that surround us. Whether it be our environments, our experiences, or our emotions; the places we’ve been, the things we’ve gone through or the emotions we feel, these all become a part of us and shape our identity. Despite the difficult things we go through, we can be transformed in the way that we respond and represent ourselves to the world. We can choose to create beauty in brokenness and find peace in imperfection.

Nora Do -Birdy Mixed media on Plexiglas with varied-colour illumination 18” x 18” x 3” $150

BIRDY is inspired by David Spriggs, whose art explores depth, movement, visual systems and surveillance, and the threshold of form and perception.

I broke down the values of the subject and painted them on each plexiglas, then arranged them from light to dark to create depth.

The idea came to me when I was thinking about my childhood. I was little and our town’s power often got shut off for maintenance and we would use candles as a source of light. My brother and I always played around with our shadows and learned many hand tricks to create animal-like shadows. BIRDY represents a phoenix rising from the ashes as a symbol of strength and renewal.

*Gallery note: Illumination is battery-operated LED in a variety of colours, operated by remote control -gallery set at FADE, blue colour shown

Nora Do -Birdy Mixed media on Plexiglas with varied-colour illumination 18” x 18” x 3” $150

LED lights provide colour illumination/gallery set on FADE -white colour shown

Nora Do -Birdy Mixed media on Plexiglas with varied-colour illumination 18” x 18” x 3” $150

LED lights provide colour illumination/gallery set on FADE -yellow colour shown

Sidia Atabales-Schnitzler -Grandma Mixed media on wood panel 18” x 18” x 3” $200

On May 15th, 2017 my grandmother Shirley Schnitzler peacefully passed away. She wanted to be with us in her final days instead of a cold hospital room, and so we did as she wanted. So she and I shared a room in our little apartment.

When you see someone you have known since you were born, someone who has lived through so much, get put into a white bag and wheeled into the back of a van by two men in suits, it’s a weird feeling. As complex as humans are, in the end once your body stops working you’re just zipped up in a bag and that’s it.

Watching my grandmother go through all of this made me truly realize I need to do as much as I can while it’s still possible. I thought well, if that’s what it’s going to come to in the end I might as well work as hard as I can and do whatever I want. Metamorphosis basically means growth, and that experience was a major growing point for me.