what you mean, what they see (or hear)...

A relatively new friend, MCARP, linked to the blog and offered up the following:

"About three years ago, I was at the IAO Not-So-Silent Night auction when I spotted a sculpture back in the alcove. It was a plumb bob (at least I *think* it was a plumb bob) hanging from a short chain, which in turn was attached to a piece of metal extending up from a chunk of concrete. The metal had been bent at a right angle so that it resembled a gallows, with the plumb bob hanging from the end. Pieces of rebar extending from the concrete had been bent at angles all around the plumb bob. At least that's the way I remember it. I immediately identified with it, because it was pretty much me... dangling helplessly from a chain, with a cage of rebar to keep away all the things that might cause me pain. The sculpture was created by Larry P, to whom I was introduced that evening by a mutual friend. I run into Larry all the time these days, either at the Cup or Galileo, often with a sketch pad in his hand..."

Something one hardly ever knows is how your work, or words for that matter, will effect others around you. As artists we create, many times, within just our own thoughts and feelings without much regard for what others may get out of it or how they interpret it (working in the vacuum as Ron F. puts it). We just hope somebody just buys whatever it is so we can move on to something else!

Much of my work is mostly concept based, (as opposed to inspiration based) generated by a thought or feeling and then expressed in physical form. The most recent work has been about inner positives and negatives and the way they are juxtaposed within us. I use a lot of reds and yellows for these opposing emotions used with raw materials such as concrete and rusted steel. The detailing in these pieces are rough to say the least which I can only explain as a direct rebellion to the many years I have spent in the design industry trying to create projects to someone's concept of acceptability or perfection.

I have no real idea as to why some people buy the art they do...it's baffling. I buy art that speaks to me but I must know the artist's thoughts or intent before I commit...curiously I don't remember that anyone has really asked me what something I made means...

Weird thing is while I remember the piece and who purchased it I don't recall what the name of it even was...so he may have got it spot on!