We were lucky to catch up with Toni Gallo recently and have shared our conversation below.

Toni, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on was a show I received a grant for called I Can Feel the Truth Somewhere Over There / Here Beyond Further. It was less of a moment and more of a movement.

I had introduced and been meditating and practicing mindfulness and yoga for a while and like many substantial things in life change isn’t instantaneous, there are deep subtleties that build over time. I was applying for a grant. I realized that many of the obstacles that I had in life were due to a lack of presence and this was no different with my art practice. I had always made art and I knew I always would but it didn’t always feel really great. I had anxiety around making work a lot of the time. Basically, because of awareness practices I realized one day when I was working that I had been holding my breath and it hit me like a total diamond of clarity that I had been feeling anxious about studio time because of this. There had become a dread about working, in a sense, and also there would be a dread about not working, but when that happened I realized, all of that anxiety and discomfort was because I was not present and in not being present I was creating a physiological condition that felt really bad. So, in that instant everything changed. Of course, it’s not actually instantaneous because I had been incorporating these practices for years now.

The grant focused on the power of integrating creative practice with awareness practices, for me it was breath focused meditation during my creative practice, which was ultimately super profound. My artwork wildly changed because I had direct access to creativity, to nature.. I was freer. I translated less into the narrow focus of limited language and logical thought and words. A really beautiful feeling emerged and a deep connection to more than just the work, a more cosmic connection occurred. I wanted to share this because it itself would emanate a state of presence. I certainly now feel that how you make something and what that emanates and resonates is a more impactful part of artwork than the actual style,technique or subject matter. People have profound experiences with simple abstract work, a gesture or a simple piece of music or a complex one. I do truly feel it’s in the sincere access to presence and the mystery and intangible quality of creativity. I started working on the project. In this scenario I had the opportunity to show at a very great place and instead of having a year to prepare I ended up with 6 months to prepare. When I started feeling anxious I would remind myself that it was one breath at a time and that people do miraculous things everyday and so could I and I did. I made a body of work I was very proud of. I felt it was liberating and natural for me. With this spirit I was able to prepare for the show, take it a step further elevating this idea of connective collective energy and emanation of this presence. I wanted the paintings to emanate sound. So, I made that happen and that’s a whole other story. I just went for it like the fools card I didn’t know how, I had a little support and a big idea and I’m so glad I did and then I led meditations at the gallery, I basically transformed the space into a meditation and it was a beautiful experience and I really hope that I have more opportunities, notice the potential wherever I’m at in my life and whatever spaces and scenarios to take sincere and meaningful ideas I am channeling and bring them into the material world. So that was a major and pivotal moment for me. I reflect back on it often when I feel stuck or face big obstacles and remember the simplicity of presence being a doorway to a lot of freedom, unburdening and the potential for so much unimaginable experience. The culmination of a lot and a shift in my life was packaged neatly in that experience and it’s kind of a before and after in my art life.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

About myself. The last question says a lot about what I incorporate into my life currently. As far as how I came to be an artist. I always said I wasn’t going to say this and then I got a little older and time bends a little when you get older, but it is very easy for me to say now I was always drawing, painting and interested in art and making things. I was driven to do it. I just didn’t question it and I still don’t.

I’ve always made art, I went to an arts highschool, went to college for art, did some programs after and then yes, started the juggling jobs act. It makes me respect all artists that are giving it a go. You want to give your all to it , but you have to divide your attention and split it like a kaleidoscope and the fact that you can still make decent work and get a little something somewhere is quite frankly incredible. I love artists and I wish things were different for the majority of them. Actually the majority aren’t making anything, because it is a financial burden and unpredictable to make a living as an artist in this society. I have been fortunate where there have been many years where the majority of what I was doing was artwork and my practice is really strong. My particular work is very spiritual.
I believe sharing art is a beautiful exchange and part of my purpose to speak the unique language that I can speak during my life here. I will show up the way that I can because it’s my nature I don’t need it to be anything else.

What is it that I offer and do? On my own I try to feel as free as possible.
Right now nature, the landscape is the most dominant part of my work. It is the metaphor and reflection of the simplicity, of the utter stunning mind blowing look of our land, sky and water in its unadorned nature that really aligns the nervous system and brings you in tune with rhythm and current. People stare at the night sky, out the window, towards the water, because it is so enough that it is profound. It is one of the only places that we will stop and just be without question. So I find it the most inspiring place to start. I also like how patterns connect things and love how we are embodying these figurative shapes so I like to paint that we are of each other, the land defines us and we define the land, we are sharing the same space.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I’m on a journey for complete trust so that I can help others on their journey in the methods that work for them. I do teach awareness practices; yoga and mediation and one of the things that I challenge myself to do is describe what we are doing in the most universal terms so that there is never any wondering if you are doing it “right,” so that you are only concern is turning inward to listen and hear your own unique voice, sound and expression. This is how I make my work an the essence there is universal.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

my relationship with clients and patrons, they become friends and relations . I love people. I’m fascinated and curious by everyone’s unique experience. I’m really inspired and motivated by people . I feel that what is easy for us as individuals, what works for us that grows a richer life and finding our meaning of life isn’t always what works for others and we live in a culture now where not a lot of people trust themselves deeply. Even if you feel like you know something to be true, something that you’ve experienced, if it’s a bit otherworldly or unexplainable it still isn’t outside of yourself unless there is data. We really have to stop that. If your experience is not enough and you don’t trust it, we are all in trouble. One of the things I’m focused on are the obstacles in front of me and I feel a lack of trust is a universal obstacle being experienced and I know I’m not that different from others. We are conforming so much and it is a fear that we can ‘t trust ourselves so we must hand it over, our permission and authority to everyone else. The things that I am working on in my energetic, spiritual life are trust. We all have a unique makeup and I feel like getting with that is my power and the way I do it is most likely different from how you are, but the energy behind that presence is universal. You may or may not want to sit in meditation everyday or do thousands and thousands of hours of yoga in your life, I do and it is how I access a greater expansive level of life and presence.
I think that the most challenging thing that we are all going to face is surrendering to the simplicity, to really surrendering to nature, our nature, we are nature and it requires some things not having to be so arduous. I provide people respite from distraction so there can be a moment of peace. Peace isn’t happy or painless necessarily it’s just being present, where you are not adding anything or taking anything away. There is a feeling of freedom and a lighter load and maybe for a fraction of a second and maybe longer or maybe it inspires something profound, but the energy is emanating like a meditative state. And I can’t say more than that because I don’t have tools to measure it and I don’t need them . People sigh around my work. They relax and sometimes they cry. If i can share a peace break or provide any relief from overwhelm than i am all for it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tonigalloart.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonigalloart/