TO MANY ARTISTS, THE CREATION OF ART ADDRESSES A DEEP NEED TO DEPICT AN IMAGE OF HOPE. FOR ME, CREATING ART ALLOWS ME TO ENTER A ?PLACE? WHERE ART MIXES WITH CONTEMPLATIVE THOUGHTS AND MEMORIES . THE STUDIO BECOMES MY PLACE TO LISTEN, TO SEEK, CONFRONT AND SURRENDER. I ABANDON CONTROL AND ALLOW THE SPIRIT TO CHANNEL THROUGH ME. I HOPE THAT MY WORK PRODUCES A CATHARTIC EXPERIENCE FOR THE VIEWER, ONE THAT LEADS TO SPIRITUAL ENCOUNTERS. SURRENDER CREATES TIME AND SPACE AND LEADS TO THOUGHTS OF HEALING AND RESTORATION. CREATING ART IS MY PORTAL WHERE I CAN IMAGINE AND CREATE WORK BEYOND THE PRESENT MOMENT. THE STUDIO BECOMES MY OWN CONTEMPLATIVE PLACE TO LISTEN, TO SEEK AND CONFRONT WHAT DEBASES BEAUTY. LARRY J. ORTEGA