Selected Artwork by the Teachers, Assistants and Guest Artists of OMNV
Past & Present
Philip Rubinov Jacobson
Professor Phil holds an M.F.A. in Painting & Printmaking, an M.A. in Painting and Sculpture and a Bachelor degree in Studio Arts and Cultural Anthropology. He says he learned nothing about painting at any university and at 19 yrs. old he left the USA to study painting under his mentor, Ernst Fuchs (1930 – 2015), co-founder of the School of Fantastic Realism in Vienna, Austria (not an institution but a style or manner of painting). Their ever evolving friendship would span 42 years.
Rubinov's travels have been extensive, including India, where in 1978 he studied meditation and Kashmir Shaivism with Muktananda Paramahansa, and later wandered naked in India with a group of sadhus. In 1995, the professor founded and directed the New School of Extended Studies at Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado where he served as the Dean from 1991-1997 and taught drawing and techniques of painting. The artist has participated in more than 100 exhibitions around the globe and his books and writings have been read worldwide. He is the author of the now classic; DRINKING LIGHTNING - Art, Creativity, and Transformation from Shambhala Publications and PROMETHEAN FLAMES- Rekindling and Re-visioning the Creative Fire. These first two books are an integral part of a Trilogy on art and consciousness that culminates in a forthcoming monumental tome entitled: Eyes of the Soul - Exploring Inspiration in Art. Prof.Phil and Mantra are currently teaching at a college in the Midwest where he also offers an accredited courses in Mischtechnik Painting.
Mantra Cora
Mantra Cora was born in Gdansk, Poland, relocated to England in 2006 and moved to the USA in 2016 with her husband, Prof Phil and their daughter, Liya. In 2013 Mantra completed her B.A. in the Visual Arts at The University of Salford in England. She has closely studied techniques of painting with Prof. Phil, Ernst Fuchs and De Es Schwertberger and drawing and painting as an Erasmus Exchange Student at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Macerata in Italy. Her Erasmus Exchange program was followed by a 4-month internship at the Phantasten Museum in Vienna, Austria. It was there that she assisted the renowned artist, Ernst Fuchs, on a daily basis. This year, Mantra was accepted for the MFA program at Fort Hays University in Hays, Kansas studying Painting, Ceramics and Video Production. One student per year is accepted for the MFA/Painting program.
Mantra has been co-teaching with Prof Phil since 2012 in their international Old Masters-New Visions painting seminars. At their painting retreats, she also offers a section on Creative & Innovative Grounds that inspire automatic-imagery and a serendipitous process in painting. Her curatorial work has included a major international art exhibition in 2016. That year she organized some 88 artists from around the world for the now historical exhibition that served as a Homage to Ernst Fuchs: entitled "A Legacy of Light". This exhibition took place at Castle Gloggnitz in Austria. Aside from co-creating the exhibition, she edited the publication for the show, orchestrated the publicity and supervised the business aspects and public relations. Her art has been exhibited internationally, including the UK, Italy, Austria, Spain, Switzerland, Luxembourg and the USA.
In 2022 Mantra joined the faculty at Barton Community College where she is teaching Portrait Drawing, Grisaille, Watercolor Painting and building online courses to expand the curriculum. She is also currently developing her business. Known as 'Nexus Muse', it will expand on OMNV and bring artists from around the world with different backgrounds, working in different media to offer workshops in a variety of areas involving artistic expression. This venture will include exhibitions, cultural events and publications.
Selected Artwork by Prof. Phil, Mantra Cora, Assistants and Guest Artists
Over the last 25 years, guest teachers have offered a variety of techniques, methods and expertise that is rarely found elsewhere. Visiting artists add to the creative fire by bringing a unique spark of inspiration to the community and through their dialogue and feedback with both students and the teachers. Over the years OMNV has invited many artists to visit and some to teach alongside Prof Phil and Mantra. This has included luminaries like Prof Ernst Fuchs (1930 - 2015), Michael Fuchs, De Es Schwertberger, Brigid Marlin, Peter Gric, Robert Venosa (1936 - 2011) and Martina Hoffmann, Wolfgang Widmoser and Wolfgang Manner. Visiting artists such as Viktor Safonkin, Daniel Friedemann, Otto Rapp and assistants to Prof Phil over the years have included: Amanda Sage, Cynthia Re' Robbins, Matthias Staber, Kim Evans, Veronica Shremeck, Jody Florman and Kris Kuksi. A sample of some of the Guest artist-teachers' work can be viewed in the show below.
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WOLFGANG WIDMOSER