"Astromythos" exhibit by CT Artist Jon Sideriadis

The Green Street Arts Center is hosting an opening reception for an exhibit, Astromythos, by the Connecticut artist Jon Sideriadis on August 2, 5-8 pm (in conjunction with Middletown's Gallery Walk series). Sideriadis' compelling, other worldly illustrations will be on display at Green Street from August 2-29 during regular business hours (M-Th. 9-5, F 9-noon).

Sideriadis is an accomplished freelance illustrator and writer, as well as an adjunct faculty member at Hartford Art School at the University of Hartford. The exhibit title, Astromythos, a Greek-like word that Sideriadis has purposefully invented, literally translates to "the star myth," and also serves as the title for a fictional universe that is the setting for an illustrated book that Sideriadis has been developing for the past 13 years. This creatively concocted term combines the words "astronomy" and "mythology," two subjects about which he is intensely passionate. In the tradition of the Epic poets, the fictional world of Astromythos presents an older, more sophisticated mode of storytelling to modern fans of fantasy and science fiction. Heavily influenced by the art of the Byzantium and Illuminated Manuscripts, each of his intricately detailed paintings depicts an allegorical character or a scene from one of the fascinating myths of his magical Astromythos universe. To visitors of this exhibit, each of those alluring characters and startling frames of imagery provides a certain visual feast for the imagination.