Cheli Sanabria. Meditative Wood Sculptures of Cheli Sanabria

The minimal and elegant wood sculptures of Cheli Sanabria are almost Zen-like in their simplicity, so it should come as no surprise to learn that Sanabria sees his creative process as a meditative and spiritual journey.

Each piece is a contemplation of the life of St. Joseph the Carpenter and Sanabria’s inner pilgrimage to “clean and expiate” his own soul. The artist treats the surface of the wood with a permanent ink patina, representative of his memories and life experiences, and leaves the knots and cracks of the wood visible as a symbol of the imperfections of human beings. The process of repetitively sanding these stains and cracks away is something he finds spiritually meditative.

Born in Puerto Rico, Sanabria comes from a long line of woodworkers and sculptors. His parents carved statues of saints and his paternal grandfather built musical instruments. He sees his work as reflecting peace after a long inner journey, with each finished piece acting as an allegory of “the spirit in balance after the hard inner healing process.”

Exhibition Dates: July 5, 2014 – July 25, 2014
Reception: Thursday, July 10, 2014, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Gallery Hours: Tues-Sat 11-6
Gallery Location: 530 West 25th St, Chelsea, New York

Event URL: http://www.agora-gallery.com/artistpage/Cheli_Sanabria.aspx

Featured Artists:

Sensorial Sensibilities

Laura Bedard | Ruggiero Bignardi | Stefano Ceretti | Tasos Dimos | Jesse Ensling | Adam Kiger | Tanya Kostina | Charlotte Lisboa | Koki Morimoto | Raymie Rushing | Cheli Sanabria

About the Exhibition

The works in Sensorial Sensibilities reflect a range of considerations, ideas and experiences, as each piece draws on the background, thoughts and memories of its creator. The result is always thought-provoking and even inspiring, as the artists pour their nearest and deepest concerns into their art, encouraging us to engage with those concepts as well.

About Agora Gallery

Agora Gallery is a contemporary fine art gallery located in the heart of Chelsea’s fine art district in New York. Established in 1984, Agora Gallery specializes in connecting art dealers and collectors with national and international artists. The art gallery’s expert consultants are available to assist corporate and private clients in procuring original artwork to meet their organization’s specific needs and budget requirements. With a strong online presence and popular online gallery, ARTmine, coupled with the spacious and elegant physical gallery space, the work of our talented artists, who work in diverse media and styles, can receive the attention it deserves. Over the years Agora Gallery has sponsored and catered to special events aimed at fostering social awareness and promoting the use of art to help those in need.