One Peck At A Time

                                          

Here is a little story about a Downy woodpecker that landed in a tree above a path not far from home.

A Downy woodpecker lands on a soft spongy fungus growing on a young white barked birch tree. One life piles on top of another, each taking what is needed for growth and survival. The taking cannot be for more than the other can give, as all the lives depend on that truth. Every branch every tree trunk has possibility to the Downy Woodpecker. It is not concerned with success at every try. It keeps pecking holes with the knowledge that it will eventually attain its goal; food. When listening to a woodpecker imagine with every rhythmic strike against the bark the sound of tenacity. Like a never ending metronome click click clicking to the beat of itself. The thin bark of the birch tree does not daunt the Downy woodpecker he will do on that trunk what he has been built to do even if it does not produce optimum results. Why? Because he listens to his instincts that tell him, to keep going. It only takes one tree, one time and one peck to attain what his being so desires. The male Downy is in a feminine cradle—one cannot be without the other if balance is to be achieved. Red—on the woodpecker and around him indicates that desires should be pursued with an instinctual passion.

 

 

 

Working in my studio (continued)

                  

The underlying structure of my work is an exploration of the discourse between nature and artistic expression. The reductive quality serves to set up juxtapositions such as nature and nurture, simple and intelligent, contemplation and observation, action and inaction, sentient and inanimate… Rich colours and textures as well as a sense of playfulness are used to create impactful pieces that evoke a sense of simplicity and calm —”grounding” the viewer in a visceral experience.

Great value is placed on inert intelligence practices that over-interpret and over-analyze the world around us to its detriment. I believe that complex realities are often best articulated in the naiveté of playful representation.   

My works live at the meeting point of the materiality of the art piece, the idea of nature and the interaction of my memories with the constructed imagery.  Exploring the subtle inaccuracies of visual perception as well as being defiantly reactionary to a society that is addicted to amounts is at the core of each piece.  Bigger is better, more is better, more money is better, more food is better, higher grades are better, busier is better… Balance is an idea of particular importance.  When is enough a reality for society, what does that look like? My work is a social statement of opposition where I put more emphasis on balance than on counting amounts.

I ignore personal limitations and enjoy the challenges presented by working with various mediums, disciplines and imagery. This consistent pushing of boundaries allows me to live what I purpose to question and answer in my work.

 

Burrowing No More

 

Regardless of status or stature one must speak out and protect what is right with conviction and ferocity. All beings innately know what is right.

Simply choose the morally just route.  

It is within everyone to do so.

Syncronicity

Do you ever marvel at the similarity of things, inanimate, plant and animal?   Do you ever look at the similarities to the “things” that are attracted and surrounding you on a daily basis?  

It is not by accident that similar beings and objects can be found interacting.  

There is a pattern.  

What is the pattern that surrounds you?

 

 

On the Subject of Art…

 

I recently became fully conscious of the slippery slope that the art community has been descending in the realm of “appropriation art” as a honest form of art.

Honestly, how honest is using the work of another without giving credit.  

Let us not forget to use compassion and empathy in the pursuit of success.  

Artists must operate on a higher moral plain.  Artists must project a higher moral standard in the pursuit of “success” than what is being displayed currently. I recognize that original thought is absurd.  Everything comes from somewhere observed.  But let us not forget that the universe has a great accounting system, and that there is room for all. There is no need to proceed at the expense of others.

Let’s play nice out there!