What are you doing?
Here is as pic of the new stuff in my head. I’ve laid them out on the living room rug hoping for inspiration and some mystical intervention. LOL
Tell me what you are doing, or thinking of doing with your art. Any problems? Breakthroughs?
Don Jones
April 11th, 2009 at 9:54 am
Don
I am past problems. I have not even attempted to do any type of artwork for a few years. For a spell I was creating and thinking of projects right and left and then without warning–it just stopped.
Our house is full of my “almost” art, supplies, and items I have found/come across and picked up because I though they were interesting either just as they are or because I had some grand plan to use them in a piece. Not they are used as dust collectors. OK, enough of my sob story.
I too am very pleased with the new face of the Dahl. I find it quite refreshing to see a larger number of more progressive pieces. I do however, still hold traditional art in very high regard. It takes a great amount of talent and technique to create the pieces that we see in our area. We definitely have a wealth of talent in the Black Hills.
Having said that I do believe that there is a definite need to have pieces that are more “progressive” out there for the local population to see. I think that when we are exposed soley to “old world” traditional/acceptable forms of art we become jaded. Meaning that only traditional techniques, media and subject matter are considered “art.” I feel sometimes that it just dulls one’s senses and after awhile people just walk by without really taking notice because it is the same subject matter again and again.
Please understand I am in no way trying to diminish the validity/quality of traditional types of artwork. (Landscapes, wildlife, portraits, etc.) I just think that there is a definite need to shake things up a bit. Granted I would fully expect some people to show disinterest. Some will, without a doubt be shocked and possibly even offended at some pieces. At the very least the works will elicit a response other than, “That’s nice.” For me art should at times be a pleasantry for the eyes and at other times invite me to think.
As an example, some artists of the late nineteenth century/early twentieth broke away from the norm and started various movements soley to contradict and breakaway the norm. At the time they were scorned, scoffed at, and even hated. They stuck to their guns and look at what is said about some of them now. They are considered visionaires, risk takers, etc.
I suppose what I am trying to say during this early Saturday morning rant is that we should appreciate traditional art for what it is. A wonderful and accurate representation of what the subject matter is. What most consider traditional art will always have its place in the world, I feel it needs to. But also please consider other forms if you will. In my opinion these other forms of art are at times far more powerful in portraying emotions and also reflect the current climate of our social/cultural environment.
April 12th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Hi Mo,
Thanks for your wonderful comment. If you like, you can even submit a photo for uploading one of your works or anything. The art scene here is as diverse as the rest of the country but most local venues cater to the market here in the Northern Plains. This only makes sense as it takes a much larger market such as Denver to show exclusively abstract or difficult work for sale. This will change gradually as time and money and education progress.
I have faith!!
Don Jones