Just as I sat to write this week’s blog, I discovered this image on Instagram. (Thank you National Park Service. Their post went on to describe various parks dedicated to the work of artists, as well as current artist-in-residence programs.) It clarified the ideas I had begun to percolate:
I love the simplicity. A paintbrush. A pen. Images on paper or fabric. The thoughts behind it.
Artists don’t create what’s wonderful or interesting about the world. We work to help other people see it. Or to see it in a new way.
I know I’ve written a good deal already about my current solo show at the Museum of Art DeLand. Forgive me. It’s been such a wonderful experience – almost overwhelming.
A few peeks:
As lovely as the presentation is, I have been most struck by the way attendees are interacting with the work. Each quilt has a small sign beside which I prepared to speak to the origin or meaning of that work, as well as a few words about how it is made.
And people are very engaged with this!
Last Friday evening I presented an artist talk to about fifty people. I went into more depth about my reasons for creating this body of work. I showed some pictures like those I post here on my blog regularly: work in progress, the step-by-step of creating.
I was thrilled by the degree of audience engagement. Artists, take heart and be brave: people really are interested in learning more about artwork. They want to see and know more.
So, for fun, I’ll end this week by showing one of the works in the exhibit. I invite you to take a few moments and look at this work.
Recurring Dream 43” x 43”
Do you see anything surprising?
Do you see the real world depicted in out-of-the-normal ways?
Do you see and then think of things in your own life, past or present?
And, for the makers, can you look and reverse-engineer the process? What different techniques can you identify? What came first? What came next? Can you see the points of construction?
Artmaking is a meaningful endeavor. Artmaking that might help others see something new is a deep joy.
. . . . . .
For all of us: focus each day on the good
that needs to be done in the world.
Be part of doing it.
Thank you for reading. I always enjoy questions and comments.
--Bobbi