Christina Varga

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact: Christina Varga - 845.679.4005 - press@vargagallery.com

"VARGA Triptych of Buddha, Jesus & Mohammed at the American Visionary Art Museum in museum's 13th-mega exhibition ALL FAITHS BEAUTIFUL opening to the public this Saturday, October 6th"

The American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore, Maryland presents it's 13th mega-exhibition "ALL FAITHS BEAUTIFUL: From Atheism to Zoroastrianism, Respect for Diversity of Belief" opening to the public on Saturday, October 6th and running through September 2008. ALL FAITHS BEAUTIFUL consists of over 500 highly personal works of art on the subject of belief with a special emphasis on those who honor the beauty in faiths other than their own. The triptych of Buddha, Jesus and Mohammed by Woodstock artist Christina Varga will be recognized nationally at the American Visionary Art Museum as part of this exhibit.

The exhibition includes artists from a great diversity of belief traditions as well as those "rogue religionists" who have invented their very own. The exhibit is an invitation to the public of all ages to deepen their own exploration of personal, idiosyncratic, and traditional belief. Varga's triptych depicts religious figureheads Buddha, Jesus and Mohammed(pbuh). It explores the roots of religion in intricately detailed brushstrokes and mosaic work. Comprised of oil paints, hand-cut wood mosaics, sand and varnish, the work resonates of Varga's own Eastern European roots and Byzantine iconography. The work was three years in the making and completed in 2001. Varga calls the style of the work "Neo-Byzantine" and her intent was to depict the fountainheads of the world's major religions on common ground in a cohesive visual style. The life-sized depictions are 72 inches tall and 26 inches wide, painted on doors and double-sided with mosaic renditions of the eight-spoked Dharma Wheel, the Star of David and the Crescent Moon.

Hand-cut wood mosaic of Crescent Moon, Star of David and Dharma Wheel

The American Visionary Art Museum (AVAM) is located in the Federal Hill neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland. It has been designated by Congress as America's national museum and repository for self-taught art. Christina Varga, a self-taught visionary artist from Woodstock, New York owns and runs the VARGA Gallery and represents regional and international self-taught, outsider and visionary artists. Varga is attending the events and opening party with Aurora, one of the visionary artists represented by the VARGA Gallery. Aurora paints sacred geometry and the latticework of the universal mind. She is also the inventor of the "Flying Rainbow Lasagna", an impossible shape with only one side.

"Flying Rainbow Lasagna" prototype copyright Aurora Streger

Anatomy of an Angel by Aurora

The press event and opening schedule is as follows:

Wednesday • October 3, 2007 • 10AM:
"ALL FAITHS BEAUTIFUL" PRESS PREVIEW
Members of the media:
Please join American Visionary Art Museum Founder & Director Rebecca Hoffberger
for a special preview of our 13th thematic mega-exhibition.
Questions and RSVP: Pete Hilsee (pete@avam.org).

Friday • October 5 • 7PM: ALL FAITHS BEAUTIFUL PREVIEW PARTY!
The American Visionary Art Museum previews its newest exhibition!
Light fare, beverages, mingling and, of course, astonishing works of self-taught artistry.
Artists and Museum Members FREE; non-members $10 (Become a member today!)
Call the museum for information: 410.244.1900.

Saturday • October 6, 2007 • 10AM: ALL FAITHS BEAUTIFUL OPENS TO THE PUBLIC
"ALL FAITHS BEAUTIFUL: From Atheism to Zoroastrianism, Respect for Diversity of Belief"
opens to the public on Saturday, October 6, 2007 and runs through August 31, 2008.

VARGA Triptych of Buddha, Jesus and Mohammed on display at the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine

For more information about Christina Varga's work, the triptych and the VARGA Gallery please call 845.679.4005, email gallery@vargagallery.com or visit http://www.VARGAgallery.com. For more information about the American Visionary Art Museum or to RSVP for the events please email Pete Hilsee at pete@avam.org or call 410.244.1900.

Photo American Visionary Art Museum by Dan Meyers

Wednesday • October 3, 2007 • 10AM:
"ALL FAITHS BEAUTIFUL" PRESS PREVIEW
Members of the media:
Please join American Visionary Art Museum Founder & Director Rebecca Hoffberger
for a special preview of our 13th thematic mega-exhibition.
Questions and RSVP: Pete Hilsee (pete@avam.org).

Friday • October 5 • 7PM: ALL FAITHS BEAUTIFUL PREVIEW PARTY!
The American Visionary Art Museum previews its newest exhibition!
Light fare, beverages, mingling and, of course, astonishing works of self-taught artistry.
Artists and Museum Members FREE; non-members $10 (Become a member today!).
Call the museum for information: 410.244.1900.

Saturday • October 6, 2007 • 10AM: ALL FAITHS BEAUTIFUL OPENS TO THE PUBLIC
“ALL FAITHS BEAUTIFUL: From Atheism to Zoroastrianism, Respect for Diversity of Belief”
opens to the public on Saturday, October 6, 2007 and runs through August 31, 2008.
ALL FAITHS BEAUTIFUL consists of 500+ highly personal works of art on the subject of belief
with a special emphasis on those who honor the beauty in faiths other than their own.
The exhibition includes artists from a great diversity of belief traditions as well as those
“rogue religionists” who have invented their very own! ALL FAITHS is an invitation to the public
of all ages to deepen their own exploration of personal, idiosyncratic, and traditional belief.

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