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Visiting Artist Series
Hillsborough Community College
Dale Mabry Campus Art Gallery
Tampa, Florida
Saul Balagura
Clinging to Humanity: In Search of Hope
Haunting words and lingering images form the core of an unforgettable
exhibit by Saul Balagura. Since 1994 Saul has been defining his medium. Each
painting is accompanied by a poignant element of poetry. As an empathizer,
and not a victim, Balagura makes full use of his artistic freedom, and
captures the essence of passion in his art forms. The poetry and paintings
exist as a unit with a potentiating effect.
Clinging to Humanity: In Search of Hope will be on exhibit at Hillsborough
Community College, Dale Mabry Campus Art Gallery, March 18 -April 30, 2004
The exhibit is on loan courtesy of the Florida Holocaust Museum. Describing
his work as Expressionist, Balagura begins with an initial concept and
immerses himself emotionally and physically to create a piece that portrays
with depth, this conversion. Each piece begins with an inspiration and
strong insight. For weeks or months he transforms himself to another plane
until he is corroded by the images. In his studio he crystallizes the
concept, until it becomes "unbearably horrendous". Then he unleashes on
paper or canvas the sum of the emotion, to reveal the writing or painting.
Although Balagura's paintings appear simple, there is a very complex
structure and emotional draw to the work.
The two parallel constructs that exist which observers are drawn, are the
art and the message. The depth of the art is captured by the brush strokes,
drips and multiple layers that appear translucent. The message depicts the
personalization of the experience. The observer is invited to view this in
the context of an individual and then relate it to the millions of people
that were affected.
Saul Balagura is both healer and artist. As such, his work captures the
sadness, pain and hope for humanity. Balagura seeks inspiration instead from
his imagination, which he says, "Is far clearer and closer to reality than
what I could see now. Camps have been sanitized and can destroy the source
of my inspiration."
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Shall all the witnesses die?
They better not.
Yet, those that were there
are all but gone.
Some must bear witness
to those that perished
and to those that survived.
Some must go back and look
no matter how painful;
the memories must be kept alive.
- Saul Balagura -
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Clinging to Humanity: In Search of Hope is an
exhibit of paintings and poems of the Holocaust by artist Saul Balagura. The
exhibit is on loan to Hillsborough Community College, Dale Mabry Campus Art
Gallery courtesy of the Florida Holocaust Museum. The events are sponsored
by Dale Mabry Campus Student Government Association.
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