August 15, 2010
Layers
We attempt to measure existence
surveying primal rhythms
moon and sun, daylight, nightfall
counting never-ending stars
that metamorphose into animals, gods and monsters
forming a virtual season map
holding It like a living thing
placing mechanical gauges upon our thin wrists and bland office walls
only to watch with sharp eyes each small passing second.
High heels clank against the cool marble floor
her heart beating, her breathe steady
an arm sways as if it has thoughts of its own
silver bracelets jingle against a silky, pastel skirt
mirroring soft flowing water
her spicy perfume blurs through the air.
A suited man drops his hard briefcase
it breaks open and papers scatter erratic in the wind
a raw guttural curse snaps from his mouth
his red tie flies up into his distorted face
and his shiny brown shoes stumble.
Moments collected like an immeasurable stack of delicate paper
layered one upon another as they fall
surreal into Einstein bliss
a future & past continuum
oblivious to our deep-rooted desire
to quantify life.
Posted by kay at 03:32 PM | Comments (0)
August 14, 2010
Happy Accident... hopefully worth waiting for.
I become impatient when I am working on a new series of paintings. I have the urge to place one or two of them on display at the gallery (or somewhere else), as I am less excited to keep hanging work I did a year ago. Part of it is that the work I did a year ago is not a good representation of who I am or what I am doing now, as an artist. It would be roughly like writing a letter about current affairs to a friend and then waiting a year to send it… old news.
Also, a new series of work really needs to be seen altogether in one space, to have the proper impact and/or affect. It needs to be fresh and totally new – not yet seen elsewhere in pieces or parts, losing momentum in the process. It is an entire message that would look like it was missing something if only a few pieces were shown… a story missing the plot, sort of speak.
I am sure other visual artists have this issue, but when you are showing on a regular basis in a gallery or some other art space, it does seem to heighten the dilemma, at least for me. I am not one of those artists who can veer off into another direction just to have something new to show. It really takes my whole being – my entire will at that moment, to produce a new piece each and every time. And when I am onto a certain idea or theme, I am really “on” with pure devotion… no going astray, as there really would be no point… it would likely fall flat, showing a thorough lack of passion.
I felt like I needed to explain this, and almost apologize for not showing something new…. yet. But, it is a natural process that takes time and effort to create what I feel is worthy of exhibiting. More and more it becomes a very real extension of who I am and what I wish to say, and clearly the impetus is about my deepest feelings regarding the gravity of serving others.
Many artists realize at some point in their art career, why they even have such a gift. I mean, yeah, it is fun to play and experiment with multiple medias and ideas, but it really comes down to something much more revealing, something that is committed to the artist’s personal reason for being alive. This is the ideal concept for all of us, as we are all here to create from this center of who we are. Call it the “God” within us, or our source of “collective consciousness”, but I believe it is there eternally, waiting for us to open the door.
My focus to create went from nearly zero to sixty and then to the sky is the limit, when I became aware of my personal “mission” in life. Nothing can compare to this feeling of self discovery and revelation that goes way beyond just being about oneself, but more about what we can do to help others in this process of self-awareness and growth. I think this is usually a happy accident.
The desire to communicate something deep-seated, and hopefully eye-opening, is all well and good, but one does hope it somehow reaches those in most need of the message or healing intended. Creating something with this kind of purpose or energy is most rewarding, and what could be more well rounded, harmonious, synchronistic and actually… well… perfect?
I love being an artist.
Posted by kay at 07:23 PM | Comments (0)
July 16, 2010
Oil Spill
Translucent blue-green water
washes over
my feet
white sand pulls
from under
my vision fixed
upon sunlit crystal symmetry
dancing through
rhythmic waves.
The news gnaws
a hole
into my being.
I see the death
of an ocean
dolphins, whales, sea turtles, fish
birds
rotting
in a toxic stew
our Mother’s womb
infertile
Posted by kay at 02:31 PM | Comments (0)