Join us at the Goldmark Cultural Center’s Ruth Andres Gallery on Sunday, 4/7, at 6.30pm for the closing reception of “Above It All”, a solo exhibition of new paintings by Goldmark artist Alicia Tubbs. Free admission and parking.
The exhibition is on display through 4/7.
About the Exhibition
The series depicts colorful hot air balloons on the ground or in the sky. For the purpose of this series, hot air balloons are symbolic and point to the fire within each of us. When we tune in to the still, small voice within these personal aspirations reveal themselves.
As a hot air balloon rises, floating higher and higher it becomes unmistakably visible. Those on the ground who have the privilege of being eye witnesses are filled with awe and wonder. It is truly a spectacle to behold. Imagine looking up and seeing one balloon, then another, and another. It’s magical enough to awaken child-like wonder. Just as a child is excited by seeing a colorful balloon hovering high in the sky, so too are those around us awakened to similar possibilities when we live out our passions.
Now imagine you are hundreds of feet over the ground, above it all. It’s exhilarating! The perspective from here is stunning. The view is magnificent. It’s like riding on a cloud, gently flying with the wind. Even so, this ride is not without risk. The only propeller is the fire within pushing against delicate fabric with just the right amount of pressure. There are no brakes on this aircraft. There is no net to catch you should something fail. Choosing to defy gravity in this way takes courage. You decide it’s worth the risk. The symbolic ties of riding a hot air balloon are clearly connected to the rewards and risks of bravely living out the dreams in your heart.
The advantages far outweigh the risks in following the purposeful pursuits that fan the flame within you. Not only do you get to live the life that you were made to live, but you become an inspiration for others to also live “Above It All”.
About the Artist
ALICIA TUBBS is a full-time professional artist living in Plano, TX. Alicia is a natural born creative and her desire to create started at a very young age. “Looking back, I obviously excelled in the arts at school, but my grandmothers were the most creative individuals I could relate to. We shared an instinctive love for the arts. One grandmother wrote poetry, designed jewelry, and crocheted and the other excelled at the piano, sang and painted. Realizing that an aptitude for creativity is part of my generational inheritance, I’ve fully embraced my commitment as a contemporary artist.”
But Alicia’s artistic story is a bit different than most artists. Alicia's art career began later in life. It wasn't until she was gifted a watercolor set, by her daughter, on her fifty-first birthday that she reignited her love for painting. From that day forward she has devoted herself to developing her creative skills as a painter and learning all she can about the business of art.
Alicia is a storyteller at heart and interpreting her visual tales, through her paintings, brings her great joy. These inspirations stem from Alicia’s symbolic imagination representing secret realms filled with magnificent depths of femininity and beauty. Alicia’s painting are captivating, and her compositions are executed with intent and motive.
“My subjects are linked together through precise and distinctive placements. I purposely fill the atmosphere with visual fragrances that linger in the air and connect with viewers as they personally identify with the unfolding narratives.”
Alicia enjoys spending countless hours in her bright studio. It overlooks a wooded creek filled with bird feeders.
It's not uncommon for Alicia to spot a coyote, bobcat, or a cardinal from her second story studio windows. Nature is one of the most significant inspirations to Alicia. When she’s ready to apply her compositions to canvas, a variety of materials are used. For example – acrylic paint, spray paint, and water-soluble crayons make up the first few layers, then rich oil paints are used to complete the final layer before varnishing.
Alicia and her husband are empty nesters who have four children and seven grandchildren. They are native Texans who share a dream of moving to the mountains of Colorado.
“I am an artist; God made me who I am! I want my paintings to be seen and shared with the world!”
