Friday, May 8, 2009

The only difference between me and the Surrealists is that I am a Surrealist. - Salvador DalĂ­


It's been a long time since my last confession. Sometimes I am afraid to write what I think about - putting it in writing gives the thoughts a concreteness that the spoken or unspoken word doesn't carry. Plus, what I think about is more navel gazing than deep or interesting. Roy's blog - check it out if you haven't: roytography.blogspot.com - is always very interesting, not "and now I am doing this" like mine tends to be. Not that it matters, I suppose, I am not writing for publication or accolades.

This is my newest painting, "je sais maintenant" (I know now). It is 4' x 5', acrylic on canvas. Yes, it is another self portrait, and yes, my hair was that red. I learned some hard lessons when I was 18 (about the time of the photo I used) which makes me think of lessons that my 18 year old son will have to learn. Hopefully, not the hard way, but knowing any teenager, it will be. Knowing him, definitely. He is brilliant, but emotionally like any other human. I sometimes think that as intelligence increases, so does sensitivity. Not in a puppy, crying sort of way - but to feeling pain - or even to knowing all the (predominantly bad) possibilities in life. Knowledge is not always power, sometimes it is full of paralyzing realities. Luckily, for me, I met Roy - who is and always has been, my saving grace. It is because of him I didn't curl up into a fetal position and stay there when I was 18, and because of him that I laugh abundantly now. I do know now, but it doesn't hold any power over me anymore.

Sunday, January 11, 2009

The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance. - Aristotle


These pics were taken (by Roy, of course) in the AIM studio, in Building 10 at the Lorton Arts Workhouse. I was just finishing my mixed media piece "Inside My Head".

The outside (of my head) draws from Mexican Dia de los Muertos Imagery. The side panels being photos (again, Roy) of Dia de los Muertos skulls and the front and back with my skull inserted and done up in that style (back panel).

Inside, the same phrase is repeated over and over in different languages "Inside my head are jumbled wires. Somehow, my heart beats, I breathe, I see. Somehow, I am me." Amidst this phrase, my jumbled-wire brain sits in it's multi-colored glory; looking as messy as possible, while still keeping a brainy appearance.

All this was painted and collaged over a "Punch" cigar box, complete with a warning, that in the end, I decided to paint over, despite finding it hilariously appropriate. If only we all came with a warning sticker. Caution: this is Miss Worst-Case-Scenario girl who may damage your patience level if exposed to for more than 24 hours. Pointing out which jumbled wires aren't firing correctly would keep the public making an informed decision whether or not to interact with each other. Ahhh - but where's the fun in that?