The past slips from our grasp. It leaves us only scattered things. The bond that united them eludes us. Our imagination usually fills in the void by making use of preconceived theories…Archaeology, then, does not supply us with certitudes, but rather with vague hypotheses. And in the shade of these hypotheses some artists are content to dream, considering them less as scientific facts than as sources of inspiration.
-Igor Stravinsky, Poetics of Music in the Form – Six Lessons
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This is a new Archaeology painting that is included in Part of the Pattern, my solo show at the Principle Gallery which opens Friday, June 3. It is titled Archaeology: The Golden Age Beyond and is an 18″ by 24″ canvas. It is the first new true Archaeology piece that I’ve done in several years and this piece really seems to connect with the original group of this work for me in its narrative element and dramatic effect.
I absolutely love the thought that the great composer Igor Stravinsky shares above. It seems to fit so well with what I was thinking when I was working on this particular Archaeology painting. Each bit of detritus seems separate and unconnected with the next yet my mind was always trying to see what the hidden connection between them might be or how they came together in a larger narrative.
It’s that interesting area between what is fact and what is its truth. We may determine fact but we can’t always know context and connection. An item may not hold the same meaning in every circumstance.
But we can imagine and create a narrative that seems to make sense of fact and, in many cases, may come close to the reality.
Perhaps archaeology is as much an art form as it is a science. Or an artist is sometimes a sort of archaeologist.
Hmm, let me think about that.
Anyway, I hope you’ll come out to the Principle Gallery on Friday evening. The opening reception begins at 6:30 PM at the Alexandria gallery on historic King Street. I look forward to seeing you there.
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ONLY A FEW DAYS REMAIN TO GET IN ON YOUR CHANCE TO WIN THIS PAINTING!
“Enraptured” is a 30″ by 40″ Painting valued at $5000
Redtree Times 