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Mara Sfara: Telling Stories Through Sculpture
By: Lucas Swift
In the world of sculpture, Mara Sfara stands out as a unique artist. When approaching a mold, she doesn't try to shoehorn in statements about society or layer in preachy messages; she is only concerned with the ability of her work to evoke emotion.
Mara, whose art is featured at the Eckert Fine Art Gallery in Millerton New York, is no stranger to the world of fine art having presented her work across the states and even abroad, showcasing in such places as Spain and Argentina. Really, the whole spectrum of the arts seems to enthrall her. She graduated from the University of Rochester studying English and Film, taking on Fine Arts as the focus for her Masters. While painting became the main interest of her career, she has never forgotten fine literature or great movies and often allows their influence to bleed into her works and shape her style of thinking.
Yet Mara's recent exhibit was a bit of a departure for her. She returned to a medium from her past, sculpture, for the first time in twenty years and she is approaching it in an unconventional way. Mara has gone for an aesthetic that focuses on the emotional, the whimsical, and the expressive over the realistic. "I was looking around at a lot of the other work being done and I wanted to add a different perspective with my work," said Mara.
Wanting to break from the monotony, Mara made her statues fun and exaggerated. "Each is a spirited character with a charming twist," she explains, with the individual statues focusing on the expression a specific emotion that conveys the story of the various characters. Sometimes these sculptures take cutely surreal turns in order to do this, like the man with surprise painted over his face because his penis transformed into a fish. Other characters are actually based on the tales from ancient Greece that Mara read in college in another call back to her past.
However, Mara didn't pull from Greek myths because they are classic staples of the Western tradition but because they held something special for her. Mara doesn't think up convoluted meanings and then work backwards when sculpting. Instead she focuses on something pure, relatable, and universal; preferring to concern herself with the feelings of the everyday person and that sets her art apart, freedom from the pretense that too many artists fall victim to. "I see my sculptures as stories," she explains. "Each carries its own tale, like chapters in a novel."
Mara doesn't aim to lecture or depress her audience, only to give her audience something magical whether they use it to laugh, to forget, or just to simply feel. Because as she put it, "If I wanted to be depressed then I would just watch the news."
Perfecting the Business of Art
By B.L. Turek
When Houston-based Anat Ronen is hired to paint one of her signature murals, she leaves her ego at home. That is to say, she's less concerned with expressing herself artistically and more interested in meeting the client's needs.
"While listening to his or her requests and background information, I come up with several different ideas and we start from there," she explains.
This kind of strategic approach is rare in the art world, and it's no wonder as Ronen comes from a business background.
"People always told me that there's no money in art," says Ronen, "and I believed them."
As a result she worked in an office setting for twenty-three years, designing presentations and documents for firms. However, after nearly a quarter of a century answering to various employers, Ronen saw the bigger picture - literally. Painting murals in homes and for businesses was her heart's desire. Boldly walking away from the security of a 9 to 5 job, she stepped into the world of freelancing to become her own boss.
A couple of ads on Craigslist landed her some initial assignments, and from there, the proof was in the pudding. Many of Ronen's clients sought her out after seeing her detailed, elaborate murals begin to crop up around the Houston area, advertising not only the businesses who had hired her, but Ronen herself. To date, satisfied customers include Neiman Marcus, Dr. Pepper, the West Oaks Mall, and the West I-10 Volunteer Fire Department, to name a few.
Originally from Israel, Ronen values the incredible opportunities she has found in the U.S., especially being able to utilize her creativity for a living.
"Making a mural is actually very hard work," admits Ronen, "but it's satisfying and fun."
Ronen's skills as a muralist are entirely self-taught, proving that drive and dedication are often enough to bring one's dreams to fruition. Her designs are 100% original, shunning the use of templates in favor of personalizing each and every design concept to ensure that the client's vision is fully realized.
"I am not hiding the fact that this is not a large firm," she states. "I work alone or with my husband."
Ronen designs on the computer, as well as on paper and canvas, plywood, walls, pavement and any other surface imaginable. Her preferred medium is a paintbrush/acrylic paint combination, but she also utilizes spray cans, airbrush, pastels and oils. She is completely unafraid to try new methods if it is a means to making her client happy.
So what is her secret to success?
"Just be open-minded and listen," she says. "And, if you have questions, ask them. You may not get the answers you were looking for, but you'll still find out something you wouldn't have learned otherwise. Also...never say no!"
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