two hundred ninety-four

It is time to let slumber befall the current artwork darlings and get on with the next project. In order for that to happen we must summon the souls of the recently created and let ‘em shine in a bit of the light. Spectral Wings is my latest painting series to see the light of day. These deep layered pockets of life were created throughout the challenging span of 2020-2021. Many were suffering from many things. The suffering did not escape me either – ahem, the painful growth. Whatever. Positive vibes. Spin on. And so like the good little artist that I am, I laced up my paint brushes and got to work channeling all the negative into vibrant, colorful perseverance. 

 

thumbnails in the studio sketchbook

For those too short on time for all the tiny wefts and weaves of this story, several of these artworks see the light of day in a Winston-Salem group show Sept. – Oct. 2023. Go see the show and come get yer free reception snacks on Tuesday, September 26th from 5p-7p. And here is the link to all the artwork via my website. If yer not full of yawn and ready to chew on a bit more on this yarn, here is the Spectral Wings artist statement: 

 

We are wearing sleeved emotions in layers of life wrapped in worn fabric and colorful yarns — keeping us in stitches. In the moment before the moment we fly, our soul is seen breathing light into our wings. This is life cycle and the threaded patched points. 

 

And so this body of work, true to its intention got layered up and then covered up. I’m draggin’ my tale a bit because there’s more to the story.  There is always more to the story.

 

In the fall of 2021 we learned that our landlord planned to not renew our lease. Legal and shitty for we were also struggling with the declining health of Eva’s mother as she battled cancer over in New Zealand amid their pandemic scare. Layers of life I tell you. The year of 2021 we got engaged, said good-bye to Eva’s mother, and had to not only find a place to live, but also move (the last three tasks within the last three months of the year & our lease). The trifecta was clamoring for a trump -- so, I had a studio sale. Several pieces from Spectral Wings including Mother Of found a new home to lovely patrons. Fitting. The patrons said I may hold on to these pieces through the end of my upcoming solo show. That’s number one and two of 12 Spectral Wings paintings and we haven’t even had a show yet.*

 

Mother Of

 Spectral Wings was created in part to fill a request for a solo show that never happened. It took about a year to paint this series – I remember hustling in the cold to get the frames made in the end of 2021 prior to moving. In early 2022 the solo show was cancelled two weeks prior to install. This is due to the venue Camino’s renovation project. Ah, but then they offered me another solo exhibit! Ah – but by then I earned representation by Visual Index, a Winston-Salem Gallery. Ah! -- and they won’t let me show in another space. Ah – but I then brokered the deal of having the Visual Index artists (including me) show in Camino for a three-month exhibit in 2023 (an event that will continue annually). So. Much. Good. From the labor and patching. And not giving up. 

 

Selections from Spectral Wings finally got to see the light of day in 2023. One painting got to breathe a bit of spring air during a lovely outdoor art fest on the SECCA campus in April (see blog entry two hundred ninety-two). Several made their way into private collections courtesy of Visual Index. It is my understanding Jalen Dalton, a North Carolina NFL player, or at least a person with the same name on the sales invoice, is the owner of one the paintings.

 

 

on a/perture's big screen

And then several Spectral Wings garnered favor as part of the a/perture Cinema’s 2023 Picture Card Series.  They got illuminated and blown up on the big screen in May this year.  Here’s a link to that video short.  It is these paintings that finally make their way into the gallery exhibition context for a fall 2023 show at the Milton Rhodes Gallery in downtown WS.  I’m excited to see these labor of love pieces shining on the white wall hanging with other talented NC artists, all glowing-like for the first time since they were framed in 2021.  They certainly took their time getting there.

Many scrapes and cuts and bruises and the color gets deeper as the layers of patches pile up.  Life imitates art and Spectral Wings is an exceptional no-exception to this rule.  Sometimes it just takes a bit more time, (two years?) to peel back the layers and get some light on the story facets.

 

 

 

 

 *As of this writing we’re at six homes for 12 of the paintings. More to come for sure. The funny thing about that is the last body of work, Looking Up was exhibited five times in North Carolina and not a one found a home. But that’s another mouthful to hear.

two hundred ninety-three

Old bottles.  New paint.

 "It should be gnarly.  Skin, sinew, boiled carcasses -- ROADKILL," was the reply (something to that effect) exhaled by Skintape co-mingling with cigarette smoke outside the downtown art studios.  The December air punched for a bit more.  The puffs, the ideas, the caffeine, the comradery.  Fresh and crisp was this brainstorm as the body heat slowly leaked out.  It went something like that when the four of us started to search for a common theme among our eclectic interests for the upcoming art show.

Skintape, aka Caleb McLaurin bends discarded electronics.  Jake Brewer has this trove of a fallow farm ripe with decaying animals and auto parts.  John Murphy uses scrap textiles to make celebrated stupid sock creatures.  And I was getting agitatedly inspired from ever present discarded items -- cans, bottles, clothing, and animals strewn along the roadway shoulder.  A storm was brewing and we were gonna have one banger of an exhibition in 2020 at the NC Arts Incubator Gallery over in Siler City, NC.  Kinetic roadkill with lights and sound; dead skin moving, trash becoming art; and layers of many insignificant things becoming a collective, collaborative elevated notion.

Completed spirit animals on found objects.

A banger did indeed hit.  While we were exploring Jake's ideas that it is the humans driving through the homes of animals that create roadkill and humans trashing the animal homes with litter, a disease was brewing.  We began making prototypes and intertwining creative practices.  John had us drawing creatures over fabric patterns.  Jake and Caleb were exploring how to cast bones and make forms to enshroud electronics.  I collected and prepared bottles and cans from the ditches along the road and we passed them around adding a scribble or two.  We picked up discarded shirts and planned to print art on them.  Double bagged roadkill was shoveled, sealed, and stored awaiting the next chapter.  Incubating this sick idea and choosing to follow our passions even as the pandemic spread and seemingly touched everything.

When spirit animals collide.

As life started shuttering in place, we learned from Michael Feezer, the new Incubator director that the gallery most likely will remain open for the slated show in August 2020 if proper distancing procedures were followed.  He stated, and we wholeheartedly agreed, "because pandemics need art too."  We decided the roadkill motif didn't fit anymore, but these dead animals transitioning to a spiritual place positively resonated with some of us.

Jake and Caleb bowed out, knowing roadkill kinetic bent awesomeness is destined for a future unleashing.  John and I plowed forward and planted seeds of spirit with a healthy dose of refreshing quirk and titled it all ETHEREAL.  A new plan formed and we had hopeful stars in our eyes amid this uncertain, shuttered, new reality.

ETHEREAL on exhibit complete with tin stars.

The show came together beautifully -- up-cycled plush creatures co-mingled with found objects -- and stars!  The rather large Incubator space and gallery had plenty of room for a masked, socially distanced attendance.  John and I also hosted a zoom walk through complete with pancakes one Saturday morning.  Parallel to the concept we made the most from what is a super challenging experience for humans.  Art prevailed and we found a way to find and focus on the positive.  This was our response to the pandemic.  Yes there were many, many ways that focused on the virus as a means of getting through the pandemic. Ours was sharing art destined to move your soul and fill your heart with light.  John's creations are incredible, equaled only by his insanely apt name titles.  I carried the signature concept of layering with empty beer bottles now containing spirit animal effigies.  -- and also made one-of-a-kind shirts featuring John's show title graphic and stars.  An ETHEREAL time for sure.

The up-cycled bottle & can spirit animals find

Bee Bear with a twist

another opportunity in the light.  On Saturday, April 29th, 2023 from 10a -- 5p the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art's front lawn turns into a colorful
collection of the creative.  The FUSE Makers Market descends once again filled with one-of-a-kind objects made by hand by artisans from all over.  It's a good mix of great art objects -- with stories attached a plenty.  Perfect for these spirit animals to dust off their wings, and fly again with a new twist & knot for you.  Come see them in the flesh.

       

two hundred ninety-two

Every Colour In Me, Detail

 "That is VERY good art," said the wee one, grasping his mother's hand and standing barely taller than the artwork propped up against the market table leg.  From behind the table upon the low stool perch with akin vantage of the tyke's I remember his eyes better than his comment.  They just looked right through with such fierce honesty.  Like they hadn't ever been blinded by inappropriate incandescent bulbs burning into our experience all things illuminated as life happens.

 The piece he commented on is called "Every Colour In Me" and was one of several original paintings seeing their first light of public display.  True to its namesake the painting is a patchwork of life layers seen as impressionistic ag fields surrounding a weathered, sweatered, slightly bent gent who smiles tall.  The booth was colorful too.  Right smart with a backdrop blanket gifted from Guatemala; recycled ETHEREAL stars glowing in the tent dapple; and of course multiple moments of mirth curated to showcase all things Les III with the Metal Mavens as part of their inaugural FUSE Makers Market onsite at the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art (SECCA) in Winston-Salem.

Mark!

It was a full day.  Full of smiles in sunlight; curious folks asking to learn more about art they behold; and those familiar with the creative sayers and slayers who remain quiet.  Some stalkishly quiet.  People from my past; folks in my present; new fans making introductions and acquisitions.  It takes all kinds to make a successful market.  When the art is on display for public consideration it is the public that has their say.  The connections made are real -- folks asking about black walnut ink and folks who lean in to hear about the roadkill spirit animals on recycled bottles.  Others inspired, reach out.  They say hello and tell me what they see as do the students learning more about tools of the trade and self expression as a career.  Thank you caffeine gods.  Thank you Krispy-Kreme.  Thank you Metal Mavens.  Thank you SECCA.  Thank you life partner.  And thank you, Mark -- lending support as a husband of one of the organizers.  And he along with other support folks walk around this event helping with heavy loads; giving the makers needed breaks; and keeping the morale high -- he earned a star in my book.

Among the swirl and rush and dusting of pollen the moment arrives.  The youth sees my art and stops to perceive all the life colour.  After his comment, the next beat is my question "What do you see?"  The little fella replies, "he has hearts in his eyes."

"That's because all he sees is love."