The bardo, a newly opened gallery-café nestled Downtown, took its first step into Charlottesville’s arts scene and welcomed visitors seeking an afternoon of calm reflection Jan. 31 during its grand opening. The space bridges the line between art and community as its patrons can enjoy coffee, baked goods and carefully curated artwork all at once as they peruse the brightly lit two-story establishment.
Brimming with paintings, sculptures and multimedia works by the internationally renowned painter and sculptor Beatrix Ost, the bardo unfolds on the walls of Downtown’s Glass Building. It houses Ost’s works exclusively, which were curated by actor, author and director Syris King-Klem. The bardo’s collection — designed to be a permanent display — encourages moments of personal contemplation within a shared space. The surrealist paintings and sculptures are rooted in explorations of nature, depicting human figures and modern phenomena in striking, dreamlike outdoor settings.
The name “bardo” itself is translated from Tibetan as the idea of the in-between, encapsulating what King-Klem and Ost hoped to elicit when putting together the gallery-café. Ost said that the bardo breaks the fast pace of everyday schedules and inspires curiosity and openness…