October 12, 2013 – COLLIDING WORLDS, an ART DOCUMENTARY in a 30-minute format, brings COLOR BLIND — The Art of Charles Bibbs and Lon Michels
Charles Bibbs is an accomplished fine artist, entrepreneur and philanthropist. His work combines African American and Native American cultural themes to make powerful cross cultural statements. The work is full of texture, color and movement but each remain characteristically and recognizably Bibbs. “My most important goal is to make profound aesthetic statements, that are ethnically rooted, and at the same time arouse spiritual emotions within us.”
The elongation and larger than life appearance of Charles’ work comes from his way of approaching his work, “A lot of artists paint from different vantage points in reality. Same paint from the top looking down, others from straight on. I have a tendency to paint as if I’m looking up. That has always been my viewpoint on life — from the bottom up.”
With a nod to his ethnic heritage, Charles creates work that is meant to inspire. He has become a role model for the African — American community as well as his community at large. Charles has also founded a number of organizations and businesses to help in the growth of African American artistic expression such as: Art 2000, Art on Tour, Images Magazine and the Inland Empire Music and Arts Foundation.
“I want them to realize that each piece of art is about them. It’s about the deep inner feelings of one person being pictured in a way that touches you,” Charles stated. His work may be found at www.theworldart.com.
Lon Michels approaches art as a combination of light, energy and color. The work is often large and layered with imagery over imagery and within imagery. The smallest detail reveals a skill that hides even deeper meaning. Lon’s eyesight was lost to him for two years. During that time Lon re-evaluated his work and his life.
” Blindness was terrifying. In the first days of loosing my sight, sleep was strange. I did not know if I had slept for one hour or all night. I could not tell night from day.” The experience heightened Lon’s senses and elevated his art to another level. With his sight returned, Lon went on to earn an MFA at University of Wisconsin at Madison.
Philanthropic at heart, Lon’s hand painted gowns and coats encrusted with Swarovski crystals have helped raise funds for many charitable groups. Lon and Todd plan to continue that tradition in Palm Springs. A portion of sales from their opening will go to several different charities to be chosen by the patrons.
The Lon Michaels Gallery is located at 1061 N. Palm Canyon in Palm Springs CA. For more about Lon visit www.lonmichelsart.com
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