Beata Goik

Statement
Light in my work speaks about spiritual aspects of our existence and about divine and mysterious Presence. The textured and organic emergence of the surfaces relates to our earthly physicality and symbolizes our human struggle with life circumstances and with ourselves. Light penetrates through the texture and offers transformation, a sense of peace and belonging. It reminds us of our true destination. These symbolic images refer to my own spiritual and emotional development and also to the inner experiences of people who share with me their life journey.
Both the light and texture in my work are developed through the complex, layered and mixed-media processes which I have experimented with and learned over the years of my artistic activity. I wanted to achieve relief-like appearances to emphasize depth and dimension and to express complexity of the interior.

Bio
My artistic development started over 20 years ago in Poland, through the Commercial Arts College and Sacral Arts College. In 1987, along with my family, I became a political refugee. In Canada we found a good place for our new home. I continued to create and I had numerous exhibitions in Ontario. I also wrote, co-produced and co-directed few multi-media performances, based on visual and performing arts, which involved multicultural artists and audiences. In 1997, along with my family, I moved to the USA, where I resided for nearly five years. While in Colorado I strengthened my education and graduated with Magna Cum Laude from University of Colorado Fine Arts, Studio Art program. I also had successful individual art-shows at the Canaan Gallery in Denver. After my return to Canada, in 2001, I established ArtVeritas Visual Arts Studio in Oakville, where I was teaching art to people of all ages, preparing students for post-secondary art related programs, and created my own artworks. In 2004, I attended York University for the full time Teachers College program and a year later, I earned a bachelor degree in Education, specializing in Visual Arts and Social Sciences. Presently, I teach in international college where I have developed an entire visual arts program for grades 9-12. I also had the opportunity to teach a Visual Arts summer program in Italy to mainly Canadian and American high school students. Throughout the years I have also involved myself in pastoral care services and I worked as the chaplain-on-call for various hospitals.

My journey continues, however, the most significant and inspirational aspect of my life is my family. I am married for twenty five years and I am a mother of two daughters.

If you are interested in my work, you may contact me at: artveritas@hotmail.com