|
Artist Statement
Being a child of the 50's and 60's, my art education began with the Modernists and Abstract Expressionism. In my teens and collage years it was Pop, Minimal, Conceptual and Performance Art. I found this extremely confusing as did most of my teachers at the time. As a result I spent a lot of time working in the comfortable style of American Impressionism and Post Impressionism. Ignoring the implications of Modernism and the chaos and ruthless commercialism of Post Modernism.
It was almost thirty years later that I finally began to come to some understanding of the cultural as well as personal, implications of Post Modernism . I had been recoiling from what I perceived as a self indulgent, cynical and ultimately self destructive view of what art is and does. As though the Post Modern view of art was anything more than a petulant, almost childish, reaction to humankind's propensity of self destruction as demonstrated by WWI , WWII and the continuing conflicts since. But it is, I realized, just that. This, coupled with the rise of science to the status of a pseudo “religion” and it is almost inevitable the art of the late 20th century would suffer a tremendous malaise.
It was through this framework of understanding the culture of contemporary art that lead me to reconsider the significance of the 20th century Modernists, particularly Picasso, Miro and Kandinsky. I realized that these were the artists that had always moved me. They understood that art was great, noble, and important. That it had the power of emotion to move people. So why not work from that position? Why not be liberated from the nihilism and sad ignorance of this “post modern” dead end.
It is this change at heart that has given me the “free space” to work unconcerned with the currency of changing trends or styles. I am simply an artist. I do my work happily and for everyone.
It is important that I acknowledge the most most significant influence on my philosophy as well as my art has been the spiritual teacher and artist, Adi Da Samraj. And it is with humility and gratitude that I acknowledge this debt to my spiritual master.
“Art must regenerate the sense of well-being. That is its true purpose. When art is really useful, it serves this ultimate process of healing, well-being, higher sympathy, and Spiritual Awakening.”
Adi Da Samraj |
