COAL TOWNSHIP - Wasil Bakowicz said he has received quite a homecoming while preparing for his first solo art show at a local gallery.
The Shamokin native opened his exhibit "Wasil" with a reception Friday night at the Northumberland County Council for the Arts and Humanities Fine Arts Gallery, happy to share his experience with family and friends.
"I wanted to tell them 'you have all been a part of this,' and so has the small town of Shamokin," said Bakowicz.
Bakowicz lived in San Franciso for 17 years, where he graduated from San Francisco State University with a Bachelor of Arts. He received his Master of Fine Arts from John F. Kennedy University, Berkeley, Calif., before returning to Shamokin two years ago to care for his mother after she developed lymphoma. Although he had numerous solo art exhibits, this was the first in the town that he grew up in.
"The work is basically about my homecoming," he said. "I went out and had my life experiences, and now I'm coming home to my roots."
The gallery consists of sculptures completed by Bakowicz from 2002 to as recently as last month. Bakowicz said most of his art is done in a series and feature a common element. One of the commonalities from his work on display was the shape of a cross.
"As an altar boy growing up in the small town of Shamokin, I spent a lot of time in church," Bakowicz said. "The Ukrainian Greek Catholic church, with its bright Byzantium gold and high design line took on great meaning for me. The intoxicating other worldliness fragranced with frankincense and myrrh drew me to line. Line gives me a sense of movement, which metaphors the movement of life. I get a sense of logic, my own logic."
Another common element in his artwork comes from patterns Bakowicz found in some of his many sketches that he wanted to make on a grander scale.
"Hopefully, I provoke a question with my work," he said. "It's mysterious, but people can relate to it at a deep level. Individuals will have their own experience and feelings in their heart, not their brains. It's an introspection."
Also featured in the gallery were his heart sculptures that were on display during the Anthracite Heritage Festival of the Arts in May.
"I want people to ask 'Who am I?'" said Bakowicz. "Hopefully they can find within themselves a spirit of love, hope, joy, respect and trust so that they can treat others with such."
The show will run until Aug. 4. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday. More information about Bakowicz can be found at www.wasilasart.com.