I have never listened to anyone who criticized my taste in space travel, sideshows or gorillas. When this occurs, I pack up my dinosaurs and leave the room.
― Ray Bradbury
Zen and the Art of Writing
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I am in the final stages of preparing work for my show, Into the Common Ground, that opens December 5th at the Kada Gallery in Erie. Final touches on the last few paintings. Framing. Packing. Details, details, details.
It is both my favorite time and least favorite time in the studio. Favorite because if things go as normal, the work peaks right about this time and the show’s personality and feel really shows through. I can now see the work as a group hanging in my mind and witnessing it as it comes together is a wonderful feeling that repels the ever present self-doubts that creep in from time to time– still.
It is my least favorite because of the all important detail work that takes place. This week will be filled with last brush strokes, the smell of varnish and stain in the air and the dust from freshly sanded frames coating my clothing. It’s not that I mind doing this work–it’s exhilarating to see a piece sometimes transform when it is framed. It’s just that mind is moving ahead of my body. I am already seeing in my mind new work inspired by the flurry of the last work from this show but can’t act on it as my body is busy on the details of the show. There’s a weird tension between the relief of being done with a group of work and wanting to keep going that puts me a bit on edge during this time.
The piece above is one of the later pieces from this group. It’s a 12″ by 36″ painting on canvas that I call Out of Line. It is obviously, or so I think, that this is a piece that deals with our singularity as individuals.
For many of us, stepping out of line or expressing our individuality is an uncomfortable thing. We don’t have the comfort and protection of the crowd to hide our flaws, our quirks. But for some, it is just a matter of being. They accept and even celebrate their own flaws and quirks because they make them who they are. And that is as it should be.
Or so I think.
I don’t think I need to go any further on this painting– it speaks very well for itself, thank you.
Redtree Times 