Guest Artist - Craig Petersburg
"Til Valhalla"
Craig Petersburg - Artist Statement
My artwork has expressed the fluidity of the medium, allowing the paint to often find its own way around the paper or canvas. Gravity cannot be denied.
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Since early childhood, the mystical quality of ancient and tribal art has driven many of the symbols found in my paintings.
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Because most of my work is abstract, it has been referred to as “Non-Objective Biomorphic Symbolism,” not only as to ancient symbols, but also my inspiration found in nature.
I have simultaneously researched the study of color displaying this interest in intricate grids of regimented color families. The color itself and its ordered placement create an emotional conversation with the observer.
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After my near death experience, it took some time before I regained my life as a visual artist. Gradually, I began creating pieces talking about my time outside my human body. They often depicted deep space with clusters of light, the clusters of other beings also making a similar journey.
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This led to the eventual discovery of images including nine clusters in ascending layers of three. They symbolized the nine steps in enlightenment; the lower three were those still connected to your body here on earth, the next three above represented those who are on a spiritual path to understand the cosmos, and the highest three are those who are on the true path to enlightenment.
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The large triptych displayed here at Mind, Body & Spirit is entitled “Til Valhalla,” which concerns specifically the ancient Norse civilization and their beliefs depicted on symbolism and runes. The paintings are centered on Odin’s symbol, the three horns, with his two ravens on either side. There are numerous runes included throughout the paintings shown as both rune symbols and star constellations. A booklet is available in the shop to further explain the meaning and placement of the runes and symbols.
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I also recently painted images pertaining to the quantum mechanics theory of particle entanglement. This theory explains how two particles, no matter how far apart in the universe, will react in unison to a stimulus on either of the individual particles. The paintings are diptychs of similar design connected by tentacles of pure energy, much like our individual energies may be shared for healing.
Craig Petersburg - Biography
Craig was born in Madison, WI and grew up in Golden Valley, MN.
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He received a BSA in Art Education from UWS-Stout, Menomonie, WI.
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After graduation, he moved to Duderstadt, Germany where he taught Visual Art and Design in the Gymnasium fur Jungen und Madchen, and later moved to London, England to teach in the Harold Hill secondary School.
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Returning to the U.S., Craig opened an art gallery and design studio in Minneapolis, MN.
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He earned an MFA in Studio Arts, specializing in Painting from UWS-Superior, WI.
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Moving to Florida, he continued his career as Manager of the Education Department at the Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, FL.
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While in Florida, Craig suffered a heart attack and flatlined in a local hospital. Unable to revive him, he was rushed to a heart center to undergo emergency surgery to save his life. When he awoke in ICU, he did not understand what had transpired and suffered amnesia, not recognizing his wife.
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When he died, he experienced what it is to pass over and then return to his body.
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Since this life-altering experience, Craig has found new meaning to his life declaring we are spiritual beings housed within a human body during this lifetime. He found direction in helping and counseling others in need, and continues to assist others and guide hospice patients through the life-death transition.
Studying numerous religions, he has recognized the common thread running throughout them but believes in the One transcending all beliefs.
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Craig has written an autobiographical fiction trilogy inspired by his near death experience, “The Mr. C. Memoir Trilogy, Life after Life.” The trilogy examines the near-death experience, government corruption, human flaws, artificial intelligence, the healing of planet earth, colonizing other planets and moons, elevating our consciousness to a higher level and, finally, evolving to enlightenment. The ultimate mantra spoken to the world by a young, soft-spoken girl became: “We are all similar, and we are all one.”
We have copies of Craig's books for sale at the shop.
