 "The Opposite of Indifference" (2021 No.4, state 10), oil on canvas, 54x51 inches, {"The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it's indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it's indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it's indifference. Because of indifference one dies before one actually dies. To be in the window and watch people being sent to concentration camps or being attacked in the street and do nothing, that's being dead. His or her neighbor are of no consequence. Their hidden or visible anguish is of no interest. Indifference reduces the Other to an Abstraction." - Elie Wiesel, "US News & World Report" (27 October 1986)}  Drawing 06·12·2021, pencil on paper, 20x16 inches Here I exhibit two works, two steps as I acknowledge centering a composition is necessary to demand viewer attention. The drawing uses negative space more fully than positive space. Is it fully successful? Does it capture your attention? You be the judge. I call it an ardent step in the right direction!
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 "The Opposite of Indifference" (2021 No.4, state 09), oil on canvas, 54x51 inches, {"The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it's indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it's indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it's indifference. Because of indifference one dies before one actually dies. To be in the window and watch people being sent to concentration camps or being attacked in the street and do nothing, that's being dead. His or her neighbor are of no consequence. Their hidden or visible anguish is of no interest. Indifference reduces the Other to an Abstraction." - Elie Wiesel, "US News & World Report" (27 October 1986)}  Drawing 06·11·2021, pencil on paper, 20x16 inches I know it when I see it. These two works, a painting and a drawing, are true steps on my true road. No, I do not know where I am going. Yes, I do recognize a true step when I see it. And yes, my work is to recognize a false step before I am tempted to leave my tire path. Following the true road is constant work... one brainstorm after another, recognizing true, recognizing false, following true, discarding false.
 Drawing 06·09·2021, pencil on paper, 16x20 inches The most important thing I leaned in making this drawing: I do not favor horizontal compositions. I prefer vertical formats, as did Francis Bacon, Richard Diebenkorn, Joan Miró, and Mark Rothko. Philip Guston preferred horizontal formats. Interesting; this implies a need to ponder.  Drawing 06·08·2021, pencil on paper, 20x16 inches  "The Opposite of Indifference" (2021 No.4, state 08), oil on canvas, 54x51 inches, {"The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it's indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it's indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it's indifference. Because of indifference one dies before one actually dies. To be in the window and watch people being sent to concentration camps or being attacked in the street and do nothing, that's being dead. His or her neighbor are of no consequence. Their hidden or visible anguish is of no interest. Indifference reduces the Other to an Abstraction." - Elie Wiesel, "US News & World Report" (27 October 1986)} Feeling and touching is a silent activity. Today I will be silent🤫
 Drawing 06·05·2021, pencil on paper, 20x16 inches Mark and find... that is the methodology of search and find. Paying attention to the marks is the necessity that leads to finding point zero. Point zero is the zero sum. It is the endpoint which speaks finality; there is nowhere else to go.
 Drawing 06·04·2021, pencil on paper, 20x16 inches  "The Opposite of Indifference" (2021 No.4, state 07), oil on canvas, 54x51 inches, {"The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it's indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it's indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it's indifference. Because of indifference one dies before one actually dies. To be in the window and watch people being sent to concentration camps or being attacked in the street and do nothing, that's being dead. His or her neighbor are of no consequence. Their hidden or visible anguish is of no interest. Indifference reduces the Other to an Abstraction." - Elie Wiesel, "US News & World Report" (27 October 1986)} There is a central core to be found. Seeking truth is my journey. Here are a couple more steps in my trek. In these works you can see a kernel of truth being unwrapped. It is peeking out. The kernel is winking in pleasure, asking you to recognize... I am here!
 "Gonna Speak to the Crowd" (2021 No.5, state 3), oil on canvas, 62¾x57⅜ inches, {"I'm gonna spare the defeated — I'm gonna speak to the crowd. I'm gonna spare the defeated, boys, I'm going to speak to the crowd. I am goin' to teach peace to the conquered. I'm gonna tame the proud." - Bob Dylan, "Lonesome Day Blues" (2001)} The same thing that saves people's backs from suffering pain is necessary in good paintings. If design is strongly centered the possible pain of confusion gets swept away by clarity of engagement. This is happening in "Gonna Speak to the Crowd", which is aptly titled. I am working hard to make this one speak directly to my crowd of viewers. No more futzing around for robust form and space, which can be confusing because ardent searches are ripe with confusion. I am going for center, for engagement through centrist clarity.
 Drawing 06·02·2021, pencil on paper, 20x16 inches This is not intended to be a finished drawing; just a step toward developing my centeredness.
 Drawing 06·01·2021, pencil on paper, 20x16 inches Perhaps the main job of art-making, also viewing art, is to center us. This can be done with calm introspection, Piet Mondrian comes to mind. Or, it can be done with rambunctious bravado, and flair, such as the work and life of Vincent Van Gogh. I am in the latter camp. I enjoy enthusiasm, and energetic interaction, in the process that is my art-making. I want the. viewers of my art to feel the same. However, centering is becoming more important, more imperative. For years I misunderstood my own needs. My intent got distorted, it became removed from the reality of working toward a controlled center. Centering is required for the human spirt to thrive. Centering is as exhibition of mindfulness and human dignity. Yesterday's drawing recognizes this. All my work going forward will recognize the human quest for center.
 "The Opposite of Indifference" (2021 No.4, state 06), oil on canvas, 50x54 inches, {"The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it's indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it's indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it's indifference. Because of indifference one dies before one actually dies. To be in the window and watch people being sent to concentration camps or being attacked in the street and do nothing, that's being dead. His or her neighbor are of no consequence. Their hidden or visible anguish is of no interest. Indifference reduces the Other to an Abstraction." - Elie Wiesel, "US News & World Report" (27 October 1986)}  Drawing 05·30·2021, pencil on paper, 20x16 inches Doggedly I am in pursuit. Pursuit of the "what" is not clear, nor should it be. I will know it when I see it (if I ever see it). These steps I take are ones in self-knowledge. Goodness and purity are felt, never fully seen in my own work. I know they exist. I have seen them in other artists' work. My belief in myself, the possibility of my being successful, is relentless. I am sure this is the way John Coltrane felt. I keep going back to do more work because I know a little tweak will get me closer to full realization that is my own depth.
Yesterday's work, the drawing and painting, were good, solid steps. I felt ground, but that ground has a little squish to it. |
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June 2021
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