The City of West Hollywood invites the public to the opening reception for ‘Journey of the Bearded Tarot’, an art exhibit featuring the artwork if Doug Hammett. The reception is happening on October 25th, 7-9 pm at the West Hollywood Library, 625 N San Vicente Blvd., in West Hollywood. Admission is free, however RSVP is required.
The exhibit will run from October 25th, to January 14th (closed holidays and on October 31st, for Halloween).
Take part in the “Journey of the Bearded Tarot”. The images in the deck serve as momentary guides, giving the participant a new perspective on the past, present, and future, revealing hidden gems that might normally remain hidden from view. The West Hollywood Library is the perfect vessel to take this “Journey of the Bearded Tarot” for it is a place that honors the art of story. The show is comprised of original paintings, giclea prints, and laser cut wall reliefs that are displayed in a linear fashion to reveal the hidden narratives within Hammett’s tarot deck.
The traditional Tarot deck is a collection of 78 illustrated cards, speculated to have originated in the 15th century. On a surface level, the decks were used as playing cards for mere entertainment. Yet under closer inspection, the illustrations reveal a profound archetypal language, speaking to a universal story of the humankind’s heroic journey to find meaning in this complex universe. Although hundreds of decks have been re-imagined by different artists over the years, the meaning of the individual cards remain consistent. 22 cards comprise the Major Arcana (Big Secret) and 56 cards the Minor Arcana (Little Secret). Unique to the “Tarot of the Bearded Journey” the cards can be laid out in a linear fashion (as seen in the book), revealing several hidden journeys through both Major and Minor Arcana. The Major Arcana portrays the phases of one’s life from early innocence and societal rearing, through phases of outer independence and initiation that eventually returns to an inner spiritual maturation; a heroic journey through Mind, Body and Spirit. The Minor Arcana depicts a more detailed initiation through the four elements: Water, Air, Fire and Earth. The traditional four suits Tarot deck, Cups, Swords, Wands, and Coins directly relate to these elements as well as seasons and psychological types.
(Water/Winter/Cups/Emotion)
(Air/Spring/Swords/Intellect)
(Fire/Summer/Wands/Intuition)
(Earth/Fall/Coins/Physical)
Doug Hammett has been an artist for 35 years, working primarily in painting, sculpture, theater, and music. He has an MFA from Art Center College of Design, and a BFA from the University of Redlands. He serves as a director for Art 105, based in Old Town Pasadena and the Arts District of LA, a center for exploring art, music, and theater. To view his latest series of works and links to the tarot deck including past works go to www.doughammett.gallery.
For more information on the exhibit, visit: https://www.weho.org/community/arts-and-culture/journey-of-the-bearded-tarot
