The Chakras An Exhibition Presented by Galaudet Gallery
Exhibition Catalog
Contents:
Introductory Essay
The Chakras of The Chakra Collection
The Chakra Collection contains 7 oil paintings; each painting represents one of the 7 chakras found in healing, yogic and meditational disciplines. Artist Vicki Milewski has seen each of the chakras before painting them. These paintings express chakras she has come to understand through practicing meditation and yoga and through life experiences. Yogi B.K.S. Iyengar states that, “The aim of yogic practice is the sight of the soul.” The Chakra Collection took 10 years to complete.
The Chakra Collection paintings have deep layers of over-painting like on Blue Mountains where the original layer has an indigo flower on a red hill, then each layer applied on top brought the flower closer until the painting is as it hangs today. Oil paints dry at lengthy intervals of sometimes years, mirroring the years it takes to comprehend a personal meditation and yoga practice, as each of these paintings dried and a new layer was applied a new understanding of Vicki’s personal practice was also applied. These paintings represent her practice which she calls her “path toward love”.
For 1000’s of years, throughout world history, chakras have been cited in art, instructional materials and on burial items. The 7 chakras are akin to the 7 notes which comprise all of western music and are thought to come from the seven vowels chanted by the Egyptian priests to the seven rays of the rising sun. Ancient Indian texts show 7 chakras of unconsciousness, then 7 more chakras of consciousness and then 7 chakras beyond—the ontological consciousness. The Chakra Collection deals with the 7 chakras of consciousness which lies earth bound in a microcosmic view. The 7 chakras beyond are in a unified macrocosmic view. The chakras are either physical manifestations that are used as a ladder to gain clearer consciousness, or as metaphysical ideas focused upon to gain clear consciousness. India has a long history of seeing chakras, spinning chakras and utilizing chakras. The chakra as a lotus flower with a certain number of petals and color comes from them; however, the number of petals in each chakra actually corresponds to the chakra’s vibration-frequencies and each chakra’s color is individual and found from personal pursuits and yogic practice integrating pranayama (yogic breathing). Indian yogi B.K.S. Iyengar says in his book Light on Yoga:
“As a wind drives smoke and impurities from the atmosphere, pranayama drives away the impurities of the body and the mind. Then, says Patanjali, the DIVINE FIRE within blazes forth in its full glory and the mind becomes fit for concentration and meditation. This takes a long time. By degrees is the darkness banished by the dawn.”
Ancient Indian texts also show that there are between 72,000 and 350,000 nadis in the human body. Nadis are channels for the flow of consciousness. The most important nadis are called the sushumna, ida, and pigala. The nadis are connected through the chakras. Ancient Chinese theories also describe our life force flowing along meridians with the pulse points being charkas which are used for acupuncture and other healing techniques. The word “chakra” is Sanskrit and means spinning wheel since chakras spin clockwise to take in energy and counter-clockwise to release it. Much like electricity, the chakras are like switches releasing and taking in the current. Chakras can also be viewed as our water cycle since water comes down as rain and goes up as evaporation, utilizing the same amount of water that circulates around our world.
Metaphysically, chakras are seen as intersection points along our life force meridians as pictured above. Indian texts place the chakras at specific locations in our bodies (etheric or physical) and along our spinal column radiating outwards through our nervous system; it is also useful to think of each chakra like a flame, there is the flame itself and the energy radiating around it, giving light and warmth. Metaphysically, chakras have been seen as evolutionary steps, moral ascendency, intelligence enlargement, spiritual transcendence, and tools by which energy can be used to produce real and imagined power. Vicki Milewski continues to do chakra research and lectures on her findings with organizations like the American Medical Association, the American Council for Learned Societies, Mensa, The World Health Organization and the Institute of Noetic Sciences as well as being a student of yoga and life.
Physically, knowledge of the placement of chakras helps guide healers who use acupuncture and acupressure, alignment techniques, yoga, meditation and other supports such as surgery. Chakras have also been linked to the Greek caduceus—at first the winged staff of the Greek god Hermes (500 BC) then Roman god Mercury (400 BC)-- and now seen as a symbol of the medical profession as a winged staff with two snakes coiling around it. The snakes are seen as the kundalini (life force) energy rising inside us as we meditate on our chakras; the snakes wind around our spinal column and open up our minds. The wings on the staff are seen as our consciousness which can take flight into new levels of awareness. Chakras can also be found on Egyptian sarcophagus like Akhenaten’s (reign 1353–1336 BC) which show marks inscribed in the outer wooden casing at each pulse point in the body that a charka is known to exist. Even the bodies of the dead were imprinted with symbols located at approximate positions on the body to symbolize the chakras. The area for the Heart Chakra has two keys inscribed on a sarcophagus at the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago.
The Chakra Collection has been exhibited nationally winning many awards and acclaim. Vicki Milewski has also set up sound and olfactory installations which resonate each chakra.
Note: Most of these paintings are owned by museums and private individuals and organizations. Inquires for exhibition and sales can be made to Vicki Milewski at vickimilewski@gmail.com.
Note: There are two crown chakra paintings and a third one is still being created. This triptych will connect this consciousness chakra system shown in The Chakra Collection with the next collection of 7 paintings which will represent the 7 chakras of the ontological consciousness.
Vicki Milewski Contact Information:
vickimilewski@yahoo.com
www.vickimilewski.com
Curator of Galaudet Gallery
