![]() |
Drifting
oil on linen
58 X 67 in. |
Each night, from his poppy-strewn cave in Erebos, near the kingdom of Hades, Hypnos, the son of Nyx, releases the Oneiroi upon the land. These are Sleep's children, the Spirits of Dream, who, depending on which gate they pass through on their exodus from their grotto, bestow images upon those who are slumbering which are either false and without meaning, or that are god-sent and prophetic.
There are many within this tribe of Hypnos, but three have skills far beyond their brother's. There is Phantasos, who is responsible for the inanimate - earth, rock, water, and wood; and there is Icelos, whom man calls Phobetor, who brings forth animals and monsters; and there is Morpheus, whose artistry in counterfeiting men - their voice, their gait, and even their moods - has made him superior among all his brothers. It is Morpheus who is the chief shaper of dreams, and it is he who is responsible for the dreams of heroes and kings.
In The Dream Within a Dream, the new solo show from Pennsylvanian artist Dorian Vallejo, viewers are asked to step into the world of Morpheus, a place of in-between, a place where we must relinquish our control, our consciousness, and submit to our subconscious and the truth of who we are. The show features paintings of innocence - in this case, the Jungian maiden - caught in the delicate balance between the lighter and darker aspects of her persona. Filled with archetypical imagery, from the dangers of the forest to the transformative powers of fire, it is a fascinating exhibit, exquisitely rendered and carefully considered, and not to be missed if possible.
The Dream Within a Dream is currently on view at Sirona Fine Art, a new gallery in southern Florida which opened just this past December. Headed by Timothy Smith, a gallery director with over two decades of experience in New York City, Sirona is an exciting new venue dedicated to bringing high-quality, contemporary, representational art to the greater Miami metro area. Its 8,200 square feet of display space has proved to be a perfect fit for Vallejo, whose 17 paintings range from 40 X 45 inches to 65 X 91 inches (most are at least 5 feet in one direction). In addition to the paintings, the show also includes two dozen of Vallejo's inimitable drawings.
Sirona Fine Art is located at 600 Silks Run, in Hallandale Beach, Florida. For more information, please contact the gallery at 954.454.9494, or visit the gallery's website at
www.sironafineart.com.
The Dream Within A Dream is on view now through March 27th.
