ARTIST'S STATEMENT

I'm having a hard time writing an artist's statement, so this will be the place where I continually mangle it.

 

I think the "function" of art, like music, is primarily to produce an emotion. I don't buy into the notion that a work of art must start with a concept or an idea.

 

Here's my manifesto: "CONCEPT IS NOT ENOUGH!"

 

Ideas may convey information, but emotion confers meaning. Emotion, tied with information, provides 'value', which critics all too often confuse with 'content'. My intent is to go further, and produce a mood. If I done that, I've create a world for you to explore. Mood is much more important than mere concept, and that's something that goes way, way beyond conveying information.

 

But if you insist upon my art having conceptual meaning, then try this out...

 

I'm an existentialist. That means I feel there is no intrinsic meaning in the universe other than what we imprint upon it. This does not mean we create our own reality. (Reality is what happens when you don't expect it). What I mean by creating meaning is I value what I share with all other human beings. I love family, cherish friendships, cultivate enemies, appreciate and also dislike differences, fear unknowns, am comforted by routines, lulled by pastoral scenes, blue skies, green grass, bodies of water, roused by explosions and natural disasters, etc, etc. Hm. Notice how all these things are really more about sensations than ideals? Feelings, rather than ideas? Oh well...

 

MY BIO

I am a (currently) unpaid sculptor. Actually, I have been paid for some stuff.

 

I grew up in Northwest Indiana, and enjoyed a pleasant childhood and only mildly distressing adolescence. I became a fairly neurotic adult with only the usual amount of stress.

 

You know, the average pampered, priviledged American.

 

I work primarily in bronze. I first cast metal when I was 13 years old in junior high shop class, and have been fascinated with it ever since. I also cast glass, weld and fabricate metals, and work with wood.

 

I used to blow glass, but decided there is more than enough mediocre blownware out there...

 

I am descended from hardy Viking stock on both sides of the family. I recently turned 51. I have the body of a 22-year-old. I keep it in my closet.

 

Some people say I look a lot like JK Simmons. I say, he looks at lot like me.

 

I have a degree in mathematics. I've never used it. I can still figure out all those higher math and physics problems, though. I just have to do a quick refresh with all my old textbooks. Not much call for it, really. But like everything else I do, I try to keep in shape.

 

My interests are varied and many. Rather than list them all, suffice to say that I am intensely curious about almost everything.

 

I believe three "laws" are actual universal principles -

 

1) Murphy's Law: "Everything that can go wrong, will go wrong"

2) Evan's Law: "Once someone is in a position of power to help us out, they're no longer one of us"

3) Sturgeon's Law: "Ninety percent of what you make is pure crap"