I rarely set out to create a specific image or series but often they later speak to me on some level. In 2013, I began creating a group of photographic abstractions with spherical shapes that revealed themselves and spoke to me in a way that I found to be spiritual. As I contemplated what they meant to me, I interpreted similarities in the shapes and colors to those of African and Native American tribal spirituality and rituals. To be clear, I didn’t set about creating tribal art and wasn’t influenced by masks, sculptures and tribal objects like Picasso, Miro, Klee, Giacometti and other Modernist and Abstract artists were in some of their works, as described by Robert Goldwater in Primitivism in Modern Art (2013) and explored by a major MOMA exhibition in 1984. Instead, I discovered a coincidental resemblance to tribal spirituality and rituals after I had created the artwork.
In both African and Native American cultures, some dance rituals are performed to achieve a state of consciousness for communicating with nature and another world. The illusion of rhythmic motion in these works exemplify in some ways the intense vibrations of the dances that are believed to give rise to a deeper dimension, a spiritual awareness and connection with ancestors, spirits, and nature.
Grass Dance, archival pigment inks on cotton rag paper, 20” x 30” (50.8 x 76.2 cm); Edition of 5: AP 1
© 2014 Steven Silverstein. All rights reserved.
In the Native American culture, although there is not one religion or belief, spirituality generally means that the spiritual and supernatural world are both real and permeable to move between them, a journey. For many, souls pass into a spirit world where they can communicate with the living through dreams or medicine men and women who contact spirits. For others there is the belief that Wakan-Tanka, a sacred mystery, exists in everything - people, animals, plants and other objects.
This is similar to diverse African indigenous beliefs before Christian and Islamic colonization. To a great extent, religion can’t be separated from every day living - spirituality is woven into everything. Most believe that souls continue to live and influence the fortunes of the living, playing an active role in the community. Many traditional African societies also believe that nature spirits are associated with trees, rivers, lakes and mountains. Rhythmic, energetic ritual dance is used to communicate with spirits and higher power, as well as celebrating rites of passage.
Rain Dance, archival pigment inks on cotton rag paper, 26” x 23” (66 x 58.4 cm); Edition of 5: AP 1
© 2014 Steven Silverstein. All rights reserved.
I believe these images are transcending metaphorically into a realm of tribal spirituality as well as transcending photography. Their watercolor-like textures are more painting than photograph, although they were created in-camera. I have printed them on cotton rag paper with hand torn edges to further amplify their painterly quality and connection to natural resources.
Two of the images above (and another not shown here) will be exhibited:
April 16 - May 16, 2021
Opening Reception April 17
Janssen Artspace Gallery
255 e. Tahquitz Canyon Way
Downtown Palm Springs
Pandemic hours: Thurs & Fri 12-5, Sat 12-6, Sun 12-3
Or by appointment