Broken Open: The Art & Awakening of Nicholas Cardell Gore

Contributed

Local visual artist Nicholas Cardell Gore sits down with DaVona Pacley to discuss the work presented in his first solo exhibition, his inspiration, his history, and his multi-disciplinary creative vision for the future.

Culminating with autumn's reflective and introspective energy, Nicholas Cardell Gore's inaugural solo exhibition Give Me My Flowers showcased "an artistic interpretation of elegant floral compositions, displaying vibrant colors and utilizing stylized forms to capture the delicate moments in nature's beautiful blossoms."

On opening night, Gore, an Erie native, Navy veteran, and mixed media artist, stood beside his beloved mother, Mary Johnson, a retired Army and Navy veteran. His heart overflowed with joy as he shared his new creations with his partner, family, community members, and, especially his mother.

While admiring Gore's artwork, standing next to the painting "If It Was Ever Hard To Love You," a wave of emotion came over me. The colors, imagery, and textures evoked deep feelings of grief, joy, happiness, and sorrow. Inspired by the depth and complexity of his work, I felt compelled to learn more about the inspiration behind it and his journey.

Gore's journey back home to Erie was driven by personal tragedy and loss: from ending a 10-year marriage to the passing of his cousin in January 2023 and then his aunt, the mother of his cousin in October. "I was going through it. Divorce, death … I've lost people in the military but I didn't really grieve or allow myself to grieve," Gore states. He did what a lot of guys do — he bottled up his emotions, trying to live up to the "men are supposed to be tough" trope. But that frame of mind had him reflecting on what was truly important in his life. These events marked a turning point, pushing him to reevaluate his priorities and future. "I felt like I was being broken open at the end of last year and the beginning of this year." Gore shares a line from a poem, "I am not broken, I am free," elaborating that it's not a sign of weakness but a sign of personal freedom.

During his last visit with his cousin in the hospital, Gore mentioned feeling conflicted about a decision to either accept a job opportunity in Chicago with an organization dedicated to housing veterans or to pursue a career in art. He had recently completed a commissioned portrait piece for former Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, who is transitioning from the public to the private sector. At the ceremony, Gore, exhilarated by the experience, recognized that he wanted to continue doing work that he was passionate about and that would make a positive impact on the community. Gore recalled that this was how he wanted to feel: "I want to do my work and be appreciated for it." This conversation with his cousin would be the catalyst that led Gore back home and to immersing himself into his art.

Artist Nicholas Cardell Gore with his mother at his most recent show Give Me My Flowers  at Glass Growers Gallery.  (Contributed photo)

As an only child raised by a working military mother, he spent a lot of his formative years playing sports, drawing, reading books, and bonding with his cousins and friends. From an early age, he showed a deep interest in art, inspired by the natural world and his surroundings. His main influence was Bob Ross, whose philosophy of "painting what you see, and what you want to see in the world" deeply impacted Gore's approach. Another influence was music, especially soul, jazz, funk, R&B, and culture across the African diaspora, including the way people live and express themselves in the Deep South.

Gore, a self-taught artist, chose media — acrylics, watercolor, and oil pastels — that allow him to capture the energy and vibrancy of his subjects. His work often reflects the richness of Black culture, blending bold colors with textured layers and accents. His process is intuitive, often beginning with soulful music, a candle, burning incense, and a clear mind to set the tone.

In Erie, while growth is happening, our community is grappling with racial and socioeconomic disparities. And Gore is demure, aware of the privilege he had since being embraced by the community, but also mindful of the challenges he might encounter as a Black artist. When he arrived in Erie in March 2023, he brought with him a portfolio of completed artworks and experience in community engagement. Eager to integrate into the artistic community and community at large along with his desire to express his art through more storytelling, this intention came to fruition.

Last summer, Gore received the opportunity to showcase his work at Glass Growers Gallery.  Excitedly, Gore communicated his desire for enhanced storytelling, notably with a focus on cultural narratives — however the clients and space prefer traditional art forms such as landscapes, portraits, nature and Erie based imagery — but in the end the brief exhibition spurred Gore to create an exhibit that would appeal to this audience.

Give Me My Flowers embodies many layers of meaning for Gore. On a foundational level, it expresses his desire for not just recognition and appreciation of his artistic endeavors while he is still alive to receive and cherish it. This sentiment sheds light on acknowledging and valuing artists, especially Black artists for their contributions; and how they want to express their creativity in the present.

In addition, the exhibit signifies the complex emotional perspective Gore navigated during this transformative phase of his life. It signifies his journey through grief, the courage to embark on new beginnings, and the profound experience of "breaking open" — shedding societal expectations and embracing his authentic self as artist and human being. In essence, Give Me My Flowers symbolizes Gore's resilience, vulnerability, and the blossoming of his artistic expression amidst life's complexities.

Gore's journey reflects a commitment to self-discovery, reinvention, newfound love, and cultural expression. Following his life-changing decision to return home, Gore now focuses on creating art that resonates with personal and cultural significance as well as experiences that bring him wholehearted joy. Through his art, Gore seeks to capture the beauty, strength, and resilience of his community, leaving a lasting impact on those who view his work. Although he desires one thing for our artistic community: "I wish more artists in Erie were more curious and supported other artists outside their direct field. I enjoy theater, music, poetry, literature and dance as much as painting; these art forms give me inspiration for my work … and sometimes I just want to support other people's work."

The digital gallery of "Give Me My Flowers" can be viewed online at glassgrowersgallery.com.

Nicholas Cardell Gore can be found at nicholascardellgore.com

DaVona Pacley (she/they) is the founder of Flow Freely, a holistic wellness business offering inclusive doula support, Reiki, and meditation services, and also serves as a public relations associate for Journey to a Trauma Informed Life. She can be reached at davona@flowfreely.space