Current exhibits

This exhibition brings together the work of three visionary artists: Salty Walt McDonald, Djene Toure Lerma, and Kirk Wilken from the Lifetime Tattoo Shop in Denver, CO. Each channel spiritual and creative energies in their unique artistic practices. Like the Hindu Trimurti representing the three aspects of the divine, these artists form a trinity exploring the mysteries of creation, preservation, and transformation through their art work, each tapping into primal and universal forces while remaining deeply personal. ~A.D.

"Sometimes it's a direct channel to the source of absolute truth and creation and the mystery behind the art and the process of uncovering or allowing that mystery to unfold is as important as what it might look like; other times it is just like taking a shit or something you do every day involuntarily..

"The Primitive gets to the essence of the spiritual.

"Art can be like music and affect us profoundly, yet seemingly be meaningless...

To make the Soul vibrate,, the rule of the surprise move,, to make a painting of something that doesn't exist. To listen to the windless wind that blows 4 ways.

"Art is a cosmic vision of Everything and Nothing.” ~Satly Walt, D’jene, and Kirk

About the Artists:

Salty Walt” McDonald

I was born in a small Texas town in 1973, and grew up in Houston. Tattooing found me through juvenile delinquency at age 12. I drew some as a child, but really my introduction/interest in art or creating was fostered and born out of my love for Tattooing; it was rebellious unforgiving and at the time crazy as fuck - just like me (at the time-sometimes still).

I dropped out of school in the 7th grade, and was in and out of institutions for more birthdays than not between the ages of 12 and 21. A longer stretch from 17-20 lead to a spiritual awakening/self realization that is ongoing to this day. I feel like my work is the uncovering of clues I’ve left myself often shrouded in an Existifying symbology that I think I understand sometimes, but mostly I’m just tracing and trusting and drawing and downloading, then hopefully being. A transmitter of something beyond the idea that I started with at the beginning, and something that hopefully keeps me on my toes and not bored. I believe all the creative power in the whole universe was/is inside us just waiting to come out. I reckon tracing designs over and over and over again for years allowed me some muscle memory, and that along with opening and surrendering to – what I can only describe as God – helped with developing a vocabulary or way of thinking or imagining things in my own unique voice, that isn’t mine at all. It’s the voice of the Invisible Helpers.

Djene Toure Lerma

I am Djene Toure Lerma a multicultural Afromexicana, from Guadalajara Jalisco in Mexico, I am living and loving in the magical little rose quartz town of San Miguel de Allende in Guanajuato.

I love to submerge myself and all that comes around me into Ancient Feminine Wisdom Energy, I refer to as Pachamama. In honor of her etheric form, Through my expressions of art, I hope to open a portal of Mystery, Venusian Magic, and Surrender to love, who Is the Devine Mother, She who is The Creator.

Kirk Wilken

As a lifelong artist, a pivotal turn happened when found a Tattoo magazine during his teenage years. His artistic focus shifted and he began studying the various styles of art from within the traditional American, Japanese to Bio-mechanical designs. Tattoo seems to encapsulate anything and everything imaginable. The sacred and the profane, life and death, love and loss. Everything is worshipped on the alter of Tattoo.

Now as a Tattooer of 20 years, he spends his time painting and chasing the perfect Tattoo. For the last decade he has dedicated himself to the mastery of his chosen craft at the prestigious Lifetime Tattoo in Denver Colorado, a modern temple of all things Tattoo. You can find him in the back hunched over his work table putting together the pieces of the puzzle again and again.

VIEW & PURCHASE AVAILABLE WORKS ONLINE

Artists' reception: First Friday October 4th 5–9pm
Part of the South FIRST FRIDAYS ArtWalk SJ.

Exhibition dates: October 4–December 14, 2024

LOCATION & HOURS

Anno Domini // the second coming of Art & Design
366 So. First Street map
San Jose, CA 95113
408.271.5155
www.galleryAD.com

Gallery Hours:
Thursdays & *Fridays Noon–7pm, (*First Fridays 5-9pm)
Saturdays Noon–5pm
Free Admission

Art • Music • Performance • Life

Get Together.


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