The Wall was vast between US AND THEM, so I implored them to SPEAK TO ME- to please KEEP TALKING.

They said that they had A MOMENTARY LAPSE OF REASON and couldn’t TAKE IT BACK, but they no longer wanted to be ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL of the status quo, and COMFORTABLY NUMB.

I said that we are all LEARNING TO FLY here, and we can let the sleeping DOGS OF WAR lie in the beds they have made, for THE SHOW MUST GO ON!

I reassured them that although we may be POLES APART and LOST FOR WORDS at times, left wondering “IS THERE ANYBODY OUT THERE who understands?”,

 I have HIGH HOPES that THE HAPPIEST DAYS OF OUR LIVES are yet to come; OUTSIDE THE WALL, and on the other side of SORROW.

-AURIEL

This three-part tribute to the iconic band Pink Floyd is also dedicated to my father, Rick, who introduced me to them at a young age, along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath. Their music has taken on several different meanings as I have grown. Even the Dark Side of the Moon album, which is being tributed here, seems fitting for Ozzy (of Black Sabbath)’s recent passing. A man worthy of his tribute, shortly.

Themes of loss and rebirth, war and peace, time, grief, mistakes, acceptance, and hope permeate the lyrics, mood, and visuals. They also mirror my life and the different chapters I have had with people in them, and how they have changed us forever.

Pink Floyd has always been a way for me to connect with my father since childhood, through the strained times where we couldn't find words, and towards the good memories that will last a lifetime. This was the gift we were given and the one we gave back to each other.

To solidify this sentiment, I decided to give the canvas piece to him for his birthday, so there is a specialness to this photo, as he did not know it yet, but he was not just supporting me at one of my group shows; he was previewing his own gift as a symbolic "thank you" from the little kid in me that never forgot his contributions or him, even when we lived in different forms of understanding that felt like different worlds entirely, it was not a dead end.

That is the power of music, of art, and expression. They give a voice to the complexity of feelings and experiences when everything else fails in comparison, when life circumstances change, and with them, us, and how we relate. But if we are lucky, we can find a bridge, a portal, and touch hearts in a single moment and a kind gesture. This was ours.

So naturally, when presented with the opportunity to showcase these pieces locally and internationally (for the Ultra Hive CD), I couldn't pass it up. These things need to be shared, for we are not an island unto ourselves, especially in times of division. We need to be reminded that we are not alone, and that we can come together in understanding and empathy over confusion and apathy.

For Ultra Hive 3, the "A GREAT DAY FOR FREEDOM" CD traveled along with over 120 other artists' work in the hands of Nathan Cartwright, artist and curator for this show, starting in mid-May of 2025 in Osaka, Japan. From there, it went to Tokyo, Japan, Los Angeles, CA, Oakland, CA, and finally Taipei, Taiwan, in mid-September. Scroll through the slideshow above, if you haven't already, to see highlights and learn more about the events and the galleries that hosted this traveling exhibit.

The canvas piece itself was featured in The Hive Gallery's Sound Transfigured and Ultra Hive 3 show as a crossover piece, which was fitting, as it received its own little slice of wall space for July 2025.

Another essential element in these pieces (and most of my work), besides sharing their message, is the way the materials used convey symbolism, such as sacred geometry and alchemy. At least half contain previously started pieces, recycled gifts, and supplies, along with a blend of new and old to create something familiar yet novel. At first glance, it may seem like a crowded collage, but in actuality, it is more of a kaleidoscope in freeze frame.

I used a variety of techniques and wet and dry mediums for these pieces: Graphite pencils and sticks, acrylic paints, model kit accents, metallic cardstock, canvas, epoxy, hot glue, and a lot of patience. Creating layers in the CD case was an added challenge, but fun nonetheless.

The prose consisted of a message about repair through common ground, the challenges and humility required for genuine empathy, and what that entails. I incorporated tracks from all four albums into half of the prose and highlighted them in all caps to serve as a "track list" visual for those who care to dive deeper.

It took months to create both of them, and months for the message to be shared in places I cannot physically be; yet, by proxy, I was. This is what art can do and the gift of the times in which we live. Even in hardship and division, we can find a way to connect. Quite fitting.

I will be participating in next year's Ultra Hive 4, and I look forward to sharing another message through my creative voice in a language that transcends any foreign tongue: art.