Rebirth Into the Light

Rebirth Into The Light is inspired by Claude Monet’s late life paintings known as The Water Lilies, a permanent exhibition at the Musée de' l’Orangerie in Paris, France. The Water Lilies series is a circular installation of Monet’s large-scale paintings created in Giverny Gardens. The paintings surround and immerse viewers in a colorful expanse of water, botanics, greenery and sky. Walking from left to right, viewers experience four paintings in the first gallery which recreate morning, sunrise and afternoon. The four paintings in the second gallery recreate afternoon, sunset and dusk skillfully expressing the beginning of light and the end of darkness.

Similar to Monet’s Water Lily series in the Orangerie, Rebirth Into The Light is an invitation for viewers to immerse themselves into the splendor of nature; an awakened spring. The sweeping colorful skies, glorious mountains, limitless constellations, tranquil waters and vibrant florals are experienced and expressed through painting, textiles and installation. Engaging all of the senses, Rebirth Into The Light is a calling to step back into the light of the garden; reawakening the senses to a new hope, to visions of new possibilities for the future.

Viewers experience the space by slowly walking from left to right; discovering DeSaro’s paintings with the changing light of morning, afternoon and evening. Viewers are invited to pause and sit throughout the space to encounter moments within the “Bell Works Garden'' The landscape includes a textile installation in the center of the space, and sculptures by Sarah Meyohas which are spread throughout, encased using the salvaged modular steel walls from Bell Labs. Meyohas integrates an infinity mirror as an infinite call and response where the boundaries of time and space seem unending.

In Rebirth Into The Light DeSaro shares her personal encounters with the magnificence of nature through visual language, inviting others into an experience of their own. Franki collaborated with Paola Zamudio, the Creative Director and Lead Designer of Bell Works, to curate the pieces displayed, along with the overall vision of the space. Paola said, “There is something special about having this exhibition featured here at Bell Works, where there is an abundance of light, shadow, color. We want to bring people together, to feel a sense of positivity, and to leave inspired.” Paola set out to create a space, in collaboration with Franki, that gives our community a chance to gather and celebrate this new light, new life.