ARTIST’S STATEMENT

“I consider the state of my life in my being an awesome mystery. A splendor of profound intensity, depth, heights, births, dissolutions, growth, standstill, creation, integration, a philosopher stone crucible, where gold is fused to take multiform shapes. I regard the state of creative consciousness or high inspirational as normal for me, not an “altered state” or neurotic compensation for abnormal activities. I consider my life on this earth a challenging terrible, awesome and meaningful adventure. My state of being is a way of life that includes a particular way of looking at the world. In certain periods I am an accelerated mood, absorbed in whatever idea or dream I have, intellect, intuition and emotion working together full blast, tracing a luminous path in my firmament, like the tail of a comet. In all this, my self enjoys themselves, except in time of sorrow and inevitable pain. At times I feel as a creative power, a vision is after me and I allowed myself to be found, at other times I feel I am destined to journey into uncharted land, chasing mythological animal, galloping ahead in a mental distance, impossible to catch up but determined to. Then a strange creature will stop just long enough for me to grasp a hold; invites me to ride if I dare…. and off I go. I consider this art revelation, labor of love, pastime, hard work, religion, truth seeking, all at once. Then when “She” appears, everything changes; I step aside, the door opens and the magic being comes into perform all by herself in the creature arena of mt mind. For I have caught the “inspiration.” It is here in the open it speaks, it takes form. I don’t like to call her a Spirit, or explain this essence in the usual stereotype interpretation. She is a different kind of species, whether mental, creature or spiritual. She is a bringer of gifts and visions. They come from whatever she is as a part from what I am or consider myself to be. In a way I feel a product of she, not I of her – though I am an indispensable intermediary, she need s me as much as I need her. She and I merge in my life and work. She does not turn into me, but I may partially become her, becoming more in certain way than I usually am. Letting her mystery imprint its messages in my psyche. She may be an essence connecting my creaturehood with a spirithood that is not understood today as it was perhaps in the mysteries of the Goddess of Antiquities. I am aware of my being inside of what She is, basking in her exuberance, energy and wisdom. Whatever her reality elsewhere, during her appearance she is alive and immediate. I say this creature inspired state is natural to me, that is, happening spontaneously, without being induced, without strain. I believe this “essence,” (that I call the “Lady of the Resplendent Light”) is a power that through revelation of various kinds provide basic knowledge of visionary and mystical nature that can be translated in any creative forms of individual and cultural system.”

PROFILE

Conchita Amata, artist, teacher, alchemist, lecturer, cantadora (storyteller), has been working with dreams, visualization, and image making for many years. A graduate of the Fine Art Institute of Venice, Italy, and the Otis Institute of Los Angeles, California, she had helped individuals to discover and get in touch with the creative self. She had guided experimental workshops, introducing mythologies of the world and the creative potential of the psyche. She has been published in “Psychology Today” and various feminist journals. Her work had been exhibited on several galleries and coffee shops in the San Diego area and throughout Italy. She also produced several murals throughout San Diego.