To what end?

Typically, when I go missing from the blogosphere it is for a very small handful of reasons: Life's in the shitter for that period and I resist sharing the worse; I'm in the shitter for an extended period; or, I'm working on something else that requires a bit of editorial attention and therefore my compositional energy. This week was mostly the latter.

The guy putting up my work in NYC next month needed verbiage. This is what I wrote Monday:

 

Nine years ago Spot left a respectable career as an artist in Chicago to farm organic vegetables and make art in the relative seclusion of rural Oregon. As one might imagine, much of farm labor is repetitive and tedious; yet, while this can be soul-crushing for some, a watchful, inspired eye and an over-active imagination can rise to and above the challenge to find a certain beauty, for a carrot, a basil leaf or eggplant has a purpose and place in the otherwise solitary and monotonous drudgery of Spot’s work day. Add to this that as he mowed pasture and crawled along the rows pulling weeds, he heard three voices in his head: an English gentleman who was rather condescending in his tone; an elderly African American with a bone to pick; and, a kinder, middle-aged woman. He listened, and although they were clear in their feelings, their words were unintelligible. To understand, he sought meaning on their level.

Spot brought all of this back to his studio as video, photography, sculpture and small paintings. Regarding the paintings, Spot has written: “Many of the marks I make are suggestive of letters of the alphabet, words, phrases, and even essays or correspondence. Like speaking in tongues but with a pen or brush, the decisions are made as one would write in cursive, and almost reflexively. (I have recently discovered that this type of work is called Asemic writing, meaning that it has no specific semantic content.) As many of these paintings and drawings are done on a horizontal aspect, they have developed a distinct landscape feel. Provisionally titled “For a Lack of Words,” the “writing” in this series call to mind such things as leaves falling from a tree or rows of crops in a field. This is, I like to think, Nature calling out for me to return to it, but in a subconscious language I can never fully understand.”

Over the last few years, this work has started to be seen, first in art exhibits with agricultural themes, then in Portland, Oregon’s alternative space (location deleted). This June, Spot will be exhibiting a multimedia installation (location, etc. deleted) in Salem, Massachusetts. The small paintings on paper in 'A' represent a small fraction of Spot’s most recent work.

Now, the above is a first draft, or close to it, and as is the practice around here, the copy gets kicked upstairs to the editorial department wherein suggestions and changes are made, which usually means that the final draft has little resemblance to the earlier attempt.

 

In 2003, Spot withdrew from the Chicago art scene to live and work on an organic farm with his spouse in the foothills of Oregon’s Cascade Range. Even though he has always felt a strong affinity to the land, Spot never purposefully made art that referenced nature. Nonetheless, as a farmer toiling long days in the fields, the natural world infiltrated his work.

In the series of paintings “Wa Not, Wh Not” showcased in A, Spot’s text-inspired method of painting shows a shift from his previous calligraphic experiments to a pastoral context. Spot elucidates, “I started as a writer, so many of the marks I make are suggestive of letters, words, or even essays. This method is more reflexive and abstract, much like speaking in tongues with a pen or brush. As many of the current paintings are done with a strong horizontal aspect, they have a distinct landscape feel. The ‘writing’ then calls to mind such things as falling leaves and fencerows, yet with a free-form approach that speaks to the ever-changing landscape, whether at our hand or by nature’s design.”

Spot’s work includes sculpture, installation, photography, and video. He has exhibited at (a longish list). In Oregon, he has exhibited statewide with Oregon State University, received an honorarium from the city of Salem’s Mayoral art series, and shown photography and video at the distinguished alternative space (location deleted)in Portland. This June, Spot will be presenting an installation of sculpture, video, and photography titled (info deleted) in Salem, Massachusetts. 

Even here, which represents the fourth or fifth draft, much has been added, only to be taken away as superfluous or tangential. And perhaps it's no surprise that much of the final version has been lifted from earlier artist's statements, cover letters, etc. After all, this is information that has withstood numerous earlier editing sessions.  

Now, I do not intend to disparage my editor, even though the journey to what is eventually sent out is not without some tense discussions. Nor am I looking for validation for the earlier draft, even though I think there are some tasty bits that form a story. As I turn to you, dear reader, what I suppose I hope you derive from this is some additional insight into this journey we have been on all these years.

And, as always, thank you for going along for the ride.