Imprints of Spirit: The Art of Pamella Goncalves

“Abstract art is art that does not attempt to represent an accurate depiction of a visual reality but instead uses shapes, colors, forms and gestural marks to achieve its effect.” (Wassily Kandinsky)

Strictly speaking, the word abstract means to separate or withdraw something from something else. The Artist Pam Goncalves does this effortlessly as a conceptual artist for her the idea (or concept) behind the work is more important than the finished art object. Her art makes you ponder, feel and imagine. It pulls at you to understand. Pamella Goncalves was Born in Boston, MA, and raised in West Cambridge, In her own words “my artwork takes a critical view of social, political and cultural issues. In my work, I construct the cultural endurance of the BIPOC people in the United States and beyond. Having engaged with subjects as challenging as Lynching’s, Rituals, and spirituality my vision is always to create work that honors Past, Present, and future.

Pam's themes are widely diverse and she explores texture, materials and abstractism.

“Oftentimes these themes are combined into installations that feature objects such as glass, stones, trees, earth, rust and organic materials. While I use a variety of materials and processes in each project my methodology is consistent. Although there may not always be material similarities between the different projects, they are linked by recurring formal concerns and through the subject matter. The subject matter of each body of work determines the materials and the forms of the work.

Each project often consists of multiple works, often in a range of different media, grouped around specific themes and meanings. From my visions and my spirituality, along with (extensive) research new areas of interest arise and lead to the next body of work.

"Working with textures and natural elements. Power, Spirit and love is my passion. Having been a Community Based Manager, Educator and Mixed Media Artist for over 10 years, I have the understanding of working with people of varied backgrounds, Community Outreach and the Education process in the classroom has always been a part of me. As a self taught artist, I have (over time) gained knowledge of how important it is that the Arts remain a major part of education. I believe it is essential for Self Expression, Self Esteem, Self Awareness and offers a deeper understanding of the importance of Culture while offering people pride in who they are as human beings. I have used art as a tool of uplift and behavior management in the classroom, building leadership skills, in a multiplicity of areas.

For many years I was a working artist in the Lowell area at Western Ave Studios, Co -Founder of the Arts League of Lowell an arts organization with over 500 members in the Merrimack Valley area. I am a Curator, having been a Gallery Director, Exhibitor in Exhibitions in New England and beyond. Having worked on Public Art Projects with Jerry Beck, past Director at the Revolving Museum, Public Art Project with Jim Coates of Chairman of the Art Department at UMass Lowell, and a number of other projects. Also having been featured on “Chronicle” and received grants from Mass Cultural Council and Patrick Morgan Cultural Grant/National Parks Services. I have worked with students in many areas of the arts. I work at cost effect using many recycled and found objects. I believe art should be seen as works of expression and passion no matter who the artist is. Art is like Science, we are surrounded by it no matter where we go.