Artist Statement

I’m not a painter…

In spite of the fact that you are viewing many of my works, which are primarily created using oil paints, I don’t consider myself a painter. I think of myself as a communicator, like a speechwriter, newspaper reporter, orator, or even in some aspects, a politician. I compose my ideas and try to present them in a manner that others can experience the way I feel while creating the composition. But where a speechwriter or reporter uses words to ply their trade, I am an artist, therefore I use the language of imagery to state my feelings and opinions. This imagery may vary from photography, to painting with realism, to figurative abstract, or even involve elements of found-object collage and assemblage. It may also vary from simple emotions like joy and contentment to more complex feelings such as fear, love and sadness. It is the process of communicating my ideas that is important more than the media used. In fact, it is the creative process of the communication that is important to me. While I am working on a piece, I am emotionally tied to it to the point of distraction. It becomes the sole focus of what I am doing. However, when I bring a piece to completion, the emotional attachment dissolves. I don’t feel the post partum effect that some artists talk about as much as I feel as though I’ve committed a captured moment of my essence and released it to the ether. The way a spoken word floats ever outward into space.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Dismay


Something happened today that I don't fully understand...

Over the past weekend, I installed several of my paintings at a local gallery that was kind enough to invite me to be a guest artist. Today, I received a call from the gallery manager. Apologizing profusely, she informed me that she had to remove the above painting from the display. She said that the management of the mall had received several complaints about this work. She didn't know the exact nature of the complaint but since the mall has graciously donated the space to the gallery, she felt compelled to remove it ( I understand her reasons completely). The only issues listed in the prospectus and gallery rules concern nudity or violence. Neither of which are present in this work. In fact, I would consider this work pretty far down the list of possibly controversial paintings in this installation. I took special care and did a great deal of research for this painting in the attempt to make it politically neutral. Just based on fact and image as presented by the subject without taking a personal stance. I am baffled. Especially since the complaints seem to have come from several sources.

I am asking that anyone who may know why someone would be vehemently against the display of this painting, please comment here and let me know. Or email me directly at weirdmuse (at) gmail.com . Thank you.


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2 comments:

emanuel said...

I loved that painting when I saw it at the Sideshow, but I didn't think it was politically neutral, and I'm not sure I understand why you would want it to be. It sucks that they made you take it down.

April 17, 2008 at 3:40 PM
Anonymous said...

whats the point of art if someone without a spine sees fit to censor it...particularly in the case of this painting. ludicrous.

May 13, 2008 at 10:55 AM

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