Suzanne Sbarge 'Vessels' brings subconscious to the front of mind

Enter a space of imagination that fosters both introspective thinking and whimsical creativity with Suzanne Sbarge’s latest solo exhibition, “Vessels,” on view through April 30 at Mariposa Gallery.

Sbarge’s surrealist solo exhibition encompasses two bodies of work that combine abstract painting with collages.

She was inspired by her residency in Oaxaca, Mexico, with 14 other artists that left her feeling inspired by human relationships with nature and animals.

“I usually don’t set out and choose a theme or plan what I am going to do with my work,” Sbarge said. “I’ve been hyper aware the whole time I’ve been here that we’re in the desert and water scarcity is a big issue.”

Sbarge noticed similar water scarcity issues in New Mexico and Mexico, and noticed how people in Oaxaca would practice water conservation in daily habits.

“There’s so many things in daily life in Oaxaca that made me even more aware of the preciousness of water and the dire situation with water shortages both here and in Mexico,” she said.

To translate the issue into art, Sbarge created mixed-media works that illustrated some of the things she saw in Mexico. One piece, “Water Catcher” features a pot used as a water catcher with lips on it, as a woman with a flower pot on her head holds the vessel to catch water.

With a dreamy, fantastical style, Sbarge doesn’t just ask the audience to contemplate her art in her mindset, but to search for meaning within the deeper parts of their own minds.

“My work is all about getting into the space of the imagination, and it has a lot of symbols and a narrative feeling to it,” she said. “People’s own subconscious is brought into this experience because it’s sort of a space of mystery and dreams that I’m creating.”

Speaking of dreams, Sbarge said she has always been in tune with her own dreams and considers the unconscious a very important part of her life, often trying to interpret her dreams and get into the space of the unconscious.

This time, Sbarge has taken to visualizing how certain animals that appear in human dreams have more meaning than people think.

“Animal dreams are very important in a lot of cultures and mythology, and my work really plays with the combination of humans and animals and the natural world,” she said.

Sbarge will also focus on other themes with her exhibition, including human and nature interconnection, and combining fauna and flora to create hybrid creatures.

“Being able to tap into the imagination and have an experience that’s not logical, but that moves you in a way that you can’t explain with your rational mind,” Sbarge added. “That’s really important for envisioning the future.”

You can reach staff writer Nakayla McClelland via email at nmcclelland@abqjournal.com.