DEBRA HOLT
Gallery One: "CATHARTIC”, Recent Installation & Metallic Prints
 
Catharsis: n. an experience or feeling of spiritual release and purification brought about by an intense emotional experience. The purging of emotions or relieving of emotional tensions, especially through certain kinds of art, such as tragedy or music.

In Drama, the emotion of catharsis is one of a spiritual cleansing experienced by an audience after witnessing a tragedy. It is this very emotion that artist Debra Holt aims to inspire with Cathartic at Abba Fine Art through the end of October. 

Cathartic focuses on Hope, Renewal, & Moving Forward, encouraging the public to move on and rebuild while remembering at the same time “May We Never Forget”.  After visiting New York City this year, Holt was inspired to add a new hopeful element to the 911 Revisited Installation located in Gallery Two.  The new exhibit Cathartic is dedicated to the victims’ families, survivors, firefighters, police officers and to the nation to experience hope and healing, to rebuild and move forward.

Holt’s artistic statement with Cathartic, takes the visitor back to that day, not only to serve as a reminder of the destruction and to honor the acts of heroism and kindness committed on that day, but also to serve as encouragement for rebuilding. Like the show’s title implies, Cathartic aims to alleviate the world of its own emotional tension through art, in order to make room for a more positive reconstruction, both in the physical site of the World Trade Center as well as within ourselves.  The installation “Silent September” pays tribute to the victums.  “It’s Time – Rebuild” images encourage growth, moving forward and rebuilding.  The metallic prints offer messages of spiritual hope, cleansing, renewal, letting go, and moving forward.

Jasmine Kastel added to the interactive aspect of the installation at the reception with the one time performance "The Cleansing".  Art performer, Kastel, physically cleansed the floor with her hair. Hair holds memory, pain and trauma and the performance was about purging, letting go and starting anew.

To view the artist bio: http://www.abbafineart.com/artist_bio.htm

For further information about this exhibition or for a private viewing, please contact the gallery at (305) 576-4278 or via email.