09 Jul “BECOMING” to be featured at Bridgeport Art Center in curated exhibition “Color Songs”: July 17th – Sept 4, 2026
Greetings Friends!
There is some very exciting news from the studio to announce! Two of my original oil paintings accompanied by poetry, “BECOMING” and “CICADA SONG”, have been selected by internationally esteemed juror, artist, and educator, Dr. Yaounde Olu to be featured in a curated exhibition celebrating the intersection of musical and visual art forms entitled “COLOR SONGS: MUSICIANS AS VISUAL ARTISTS” to be held in the 4th Floor Gallery at The Bridgeport Art Center. The opening reception will take place on July 17th, 2026 at 7 pm, and the exhibition will be on display until September 4th, 2026. I am immensely proud of these deeply personal works and delighted to exhibit them alongside my talented colleagues in the Chicago area whose mutual pursuit of visual art and music draws inspiration and influence from both disciplines. As a Soprano working from my newly established Chicagoland based studio, Staff & Palette, I frequently see the strength I find in songs showing up in my paintings and poetry in unexpected ways as it did in both “BECOMING” , highlighted in this blog, and “CICADA SONG”, pieces that work together in concert for this exhibition.
“BECOMING”
Painting and Poem by Rina Lucas
30 x 30 Oil on Gallery Wrapped Canvas
For Sale – $3500
“BECOMING”
Painting and Poem by Rina Lucas
So much of who we are
Is acquired
Along each experience
Exuding evidence
Of who we have always been
And dare to become,
Building big dreams
On small steps
Unfolding
From foundational faith
That we are…
And we are enough,
In this moment
Of precise perfection
There is not one more thing
We must do
To be
Who we are,
We just are
And what we are is enough,
As our bodies grow and change
As our essence evolves with age
As we struggle against the barriers
That keep us tightly folded within ourselves
In this stillness
Still
We are enough,
One day those dark walls of our own creation
Walls to protect
Walls to allow
Walls to accept
Walls to prepare
Walls to fight against so we can be stronger
Will burst,
Suddenly
We will know who we are
And who we have been all along,
In the quiet of the chrysalis
We begin to remember ourselves anew
And it gives us courage to break free,
We have always been strong
We have always been beautiful
We have always been brave
We have always been worthy of wings
To soar
On songs of hope
Becoming
Who we have always been
And always were meant to be.
“BECOMING” was most recently featured in an original multimedia show “BECOMING: LESSONS FROM SPRING” held at Artsy Heart in Glenview, Illinois in May 2025.
“BECOMING: LESSONS FROM SPRING – OFFICIAL VIDEO RELEASE 2025
“BECOMING” was also on exhibit for “SEASONS: FROM SEA TO SUMMIT”, a multimedia performance and solo exhibition held at THE FLOYD CENTER FOR THE ARTS in Floyd, VA in June 2022:
“Seasons: From Sea to Summit” – Official Premiere – August 27th, 2022
“Seasons: From Sea to Summit” 2022 Multimedia Exhibit – Falcon Gallery Walk-Through
“BECOMING” was invited for exhibition in the juried 18th Annual New Work Exhibit also held at THE FLOYD CENTER FOR THE ARTS in Floyd, VA in October 2021:
And in August 2021, “BECOMING” was selected for publication in Artistonish Magazine, an international juried periodical:
“Becoming” Included in Global Publication – Artistonish Magazine – August 2021
“CICADA SONG”
Painting and Poem by Rina Lucas
16×12 Framed Oil on Canvas
For Sale – $750
From
HOLLY’S GARDEN CHICAGO
An Oil Series depicting scenes and themes from the sacred garden of remembrance named for our first Collie and comprised of plantings carefully brought with us from Virginia to Charleston, SC and now lovingly tended here in Chicago, IL
“Cicada Song” is inspired by actual events but is also a powerful metaphor for how the culture of abuse crushes spirits, silences voices, and severs relationships. The antidote to this is found in the strength of our songs that, like the Cicada’s, persevere to survive and speak truth transforming the world along with us as we have the courage to change into the most authentic version of ourselves.
“CICADA SONG”
Holly’s Garden Chicago
Painting and Poem by Rina Lucas
I stood with a fair haired child
Many summers ago,
She spoke with a voice like mine…
People told me
She favored me,
But on this day
She was frightened
Screaming and crying
Terrified
And I knew that feeling well,
In this instance
The scary sensations came from
Being overwhelmed
By creeping things
Chirping Cicadas
Emerging from their seventeen year slumber
Underground
To meet the sun and one another
For a short while,
But these strange creatures
Seemed like monsters
To a small girl
Who had never observed them before,
She needed experienced eyes
To help her see herself
In these insects
As fellow living beings
With a precious purpose
And a voice…
“Sweet Angel
Don’t be afraid!
These little animals
Are our friends,”
I carefully picked one up
To show her
And he began to sing,
“See?
He’s singing!
Just like me!
That’s what they do!
They rest for a long time
Remaining quiet
Under the surface,
And when they wake
They break free from their shell
Becoming totally new
And all they want to do is
Share their songs,
They look unusual to us
But they are gentle
And even beautiful in their way,
If we take a minute
To hear their voice
We see it is like ours,”
Her face lit up
With understanding
And natural empathy,
She was smiling
Seeing past the alien visage
And the leggy limbs
To the sleek silvery wings
And proud vocals,
Hearing the combined songs
From many locusts
Singing in the trees
Along with this one
In my hand,
Her fear was gone
Her eyes like mine
Filled with wonder
My heart brimming over
With songs of my own
I set the fragile bug
Back where I found him,
But suddenly there were
Loud footsteps
A large shadow loomed
Blocking the light of the sun
He was there…
The one who looked like
Both of us,
Before I knew it
His heavy boot
Came crushing down
On the helpless life
In anger
In disgust
In hatred of much
He did not understand…
For the inexplicable pleasure
Of hurting something
That could not
Fight back…
There on the ground
Lay in pieces
The broken body
Of the blameless Cicada
Whose song had been silenced
For no reason at all…
And innocent eyes once filled with joy
Turned dark with tears
Confused
Searching mine
But I had no words of comfort
To give her
Or myself…
That was several seasons ago
In a time when I too
Felt the Cicada’s anguish
Under a forceful foot,
I cannot bring back the song
I heard on that day
Nor the childlike fascination
That replaced fear
On the face
Of that little girl I always remember
And love…
But as I recline among the arbors
In this new place
Bursting with new life
And new songs
From brave Cicadas
Whose essence survived
And sojourned on
From that day
To this one
I find my own voice and spirit
Lifted
In harmony with the tenacious truth
Of their masterful melody
The very key to their
Survival…
“Sing on little ones all
Who have been pressed down
Let your voice ring out
As powerful medicine
The arias of those
Who have overcome.”
“CICADA SONG” most recently was on exhibit at BottlesUP! in Chicago, Illinois for a solo multimedia exhibition featuring my paintings and poetry entitled “LUCAS LIFE IN CHICAGO – AN EXHIBIT AT BOTTLES UP!” in June 2026:
“Lucas Life in Chicago – An Exhibit at Bottles Up!” – With Opening Reception June 5th, 2026
“CICADA SONG” was also featured in “BECOMING: LESSONS FROM SPRING” held at Artsy Heart in Glenview, Illinois in May 2025:
“Becoming: Lessons From Spring” First Friday Event – Artsy Heart – May 2
“BECOMING: LESSONS FROM SPRING – OFFICIAL VIDEO RELEASE 2025
And “CICADA SONG” made its debut in multimedia show “HONORING AUTUMN AT SUMMER’S END” also at Artsy Heart in September 2024:
Artist Bio
Soprano Rina Lucas is known for her powerful instrument, effortless range, and musical versatility. Comfortable in multiple genres, she has performed as a soloist with the Charleston Symphony, with the Lowcountry Voices, during the televised Spotlight Awards, in her own multimedia Piccolo Spoleto productions in SC alongside pianist and composer Arshak Sirunyan, and in her original virtual and live shows at The Moss Center and the Floyd Center for the Arts in VA. In addition to her accomplishments as a vocalist, Rina is also a gifted poet and visual artist working in oils. All of her paintings, rich and diverse in subject and style, are accompanied by poetry and signed in Hebrew as a nod to her roots. She has been featured in numerous juried exhibitions along the East Coast, here in Chicago, and beyond. Her interdisciplinary work has also been recognized by Artistonish Magazine, Classical Singer Music Magazine, Medici International Music Competition, Music International Grand Prix, National Association of Teachers of Singing, and TERAVARNA. With a Bachelor of Science from James Madison University and a Master of Physical Therapy from Gannon University, Rina’s path to performance has been nontraditional, having turned to the arts full time in 2012 after a career as a Physical Therapist. Since that time, she has developed her talents with several excellent mentors including: Professors of Voice – Sandra Barnhardt, Patricia Clevenger, Dr. Jill Terhaar Lewis, and Ariana Wyatt, Artists – Michael Farrar, Z.L. Feng, Jonathan Green, and Terry Lyon, as well as the former Poet Laureate of Charleston, SC, Marcus Amaker. She owns Staff & Palette, her studio for paint, poetry, and voice in the Greater Chicago area where she has recently relocated with her husband John and their beloved pups, Ariel and Eli.
Many thanks for sharing this preview of my contribution to the exhibit with me! I look forward to seeing you at the opening reception!
Rina Lucas
Staff & Palette
For more information about this unique exhibit, please see the link below:
Color Songs: Musicians as Visual Artists
Opening Reception – July 17, 2026 at 7 pm
The Bridgeport Art Center
1200 W 35th Street
Chicago, Illinois
60609