Dale Kreiter searched for ways to express himself through poetry and writing. At the same time, he was also searching for faith. The two paths crossed only after many years, converging in a show at Shepard Hall Gallery called “A Wisdom Journey.” There’s a book in the works, too.
About 60 images from the book will be on display at the gallery. The exhibition is made up of six main works and several enlarged images of the intricate details, which are framed and available for purchase for $10, with proceeds to benefit the library.
Three of the illustrations—Tree of Life, The Serpent of Light, and 32 Paths of Wisdom—focus on Kabbalah, with detailed graphics and explanations. Another piece, The Birth of Sacred Geometry, is a study in Platonic solids and offers explanations of mathematical shapes in life. The Masks of Faith analyzes the foundations of mythology and religions, while Dragon of Consciousness details the five levels of consciousness humanity is born into and rises through. Mandalarama is a personal spirit mandala, and La Vida focuses on mankind’s temporary residence on Earth.
Kreiter began studying Kabbalah in his 20s. He said he was losing his faith and was in search of answers. He began studying religions and found that most had a common thread: They were all discovering the same thing, only, because of cultural differences, it was interpreted differently by different people.
His studies have prompted nearly all of his work. Kreiter said he’s always been a writer and a poet, and when he created his poetry, he liked to use connected illustrations. Then other poets began asking him to illustrate their writing.
“Pretty soon, I was doing more illustrations, and I didn’t like that,” Kreiter said.
He went back to writing and doing his own illustrations for his interpretations of his studies. He worked as a library technician and librarian in the reference department of the Santa Maria Public Library for 13 years and retired in 2009, when he was able to devote his full efforts to his writing and art, he said. He’s currently working on an “illuminated manuscript,” a style of book that’s handwritten and decorated with elaborate designs or miniature pictures that was popular in medieval times. Kreiter’s book will be in an 11-by-14-inch format, with nearly half of it made up of illustrations. The other half will be text. The book is largely the result of his search for his lost faith.
“I don’t know if I’ve found it yet,” he admitted. “I’ve found all sorts of paths to follow, so the book is about my path to finding and hopefully reclaiming the faith I once had.”
Kreiter expects the book will take him at least another five years to finish, maybe more.
“But all I have is time now, and I’m finally doing what I love,” he said.
Most of the illustrations that will go into the book will be on display at the “A Wisdom Journey” exhibition.
Kreiter said that even though everyone has his or her own interpretation of religious doctrine, everyone will feel some sort of emotion about his work.
“You’re not going to walk away not being touched by it all,” he said.
Arts Editor Shelly Cone is searching for more stories. Contact her at scone@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Jul 21-28, 2011.