Art Happens. John Dewey once said that the experience of art is different for the artist and the audience. In short, the idea is that you use your own values to both make and judge art, but do not ask others to use those same values. So, I ask you to take a look at the painting posted here, and tell me not only what you think, but why you think that way? For those of you who are interested, this painting can be seen at The Don Brown Gallery of Fine Arts in DeWitt, MI throughout May (starting May 6th). Entries to this blog will focus on the ways in which art and politics/social justice (potentially) intersect.
April 15, 2007 at 4:09 pm
I saw myself. The piece was split at an angle with one half flowing with colour and the other half touching colour but almost hesitating to flow. I saw smooth flow on one side kind of mixed with a bit of orderly chaos but still it seemed progressive. And then the other side was orderly but it appearing to go in one very narrow direction. There was room for colour but not much and it stopped just as abruptly as it started.
Its strange because it reminds me of a piece I did recently. I remember what I felt as I did the strokes to the side that moved. I remember closing my eyes and swirling with it. I just called the piece Ripples because I couldn’t think of anything else to call it. What someone else might see in that piece may be totally opposite of what I felt at the time of painting it. for me it was an emotional piece, for others it may just be pretty colours moving on a page. I have a feeling how they see it has to do with how they see themselves and how they see the world.
I like the idea of your blog.
Austin of Sundrip
April 15, 2007 at 4:27 pm
Thanks…this is the kind of insight and discussion the world needs more of…more art, less arguing…
April 25, 2007 at 8:35 pm
I don’t know what I think about the painting but I can tell you what I feel about it…I feel as though I want to “go to” the place of bright and smooth swirl…It feels as if that “wall” on the side is like a curtian taking my eyeupward because of the angle of the line. And I believe it’s the contrast of intense light and dark at the top of the piece that gives it a real feeling of depth. I don’t know if the wall or curtain is opening or closing. I feel a sense of conflict between the left and right sides of the piece. This is one of my favorte of your works.
April 25, 2007 at 9:07 pm
John:
Thanks…I think the opening or closing of the curtain or wall is dependent on your frame of mind, as well as what you think lies beyond…a closed mind would see it closing (or need it closed), while an open mind would want to run right through it to see what possibilities are on the other side…
Toby