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Art is a Language - Part 2

Why do some works of art have the ability to bring us to tears while other works go unnoticed?  Why am I drawn to some artworks while you are attracted to others?  What makes truly great art is its ability to communicate on some level with viewers.  For communication to take place, both the artist and the viewer need to engage in the conversation.  Communication is not one sided. The artist needs to have something to say.  The viewer also needs to have something to say.  ‘Listening’ is likewise important in good communication.  I will define listening as an attempt to understand and gain deeper insights through observation and study. 

Today we will discuss the viewers’ side of artistic communication.  Next week we will discuss what an artist’s role is in the communication process.

First, I would like to illustrate a point.  Let’s try an experiment.  Dear reader, close your eyes. . . ok, now open them (ha, your eyes weren’t closed were they?!).  Actually, read the next paragraph and then close your eyes for a few minutes.

Think about your favorite place in the world.  Is it the beach?  Your childhood home?  Your grandparents’ farm?  The park where you fell in love?  Wherever it is, think about that place.  Try to picture it in your mind.  Try to go there for a few minutes. 

. . . are your eyes closed?

Now that you’ve thought of someplace, I want you to write down a description of the place.  Go on, write.  What does the place look like?  What smells are there?  What colors do you see?  What sounds?  What are you doing?  What season is it?  And most importantly, why do you love that place?

Now read what you wrote.  Is there any mention of the number of grass blades or leaves on the trees?  Is there any mention of any superficial detail?  My guess is, ‘No’.  You remember only the essential elements that are tied to your emotional memories of the place.  The reason you love the place is because of fond memories there.  There is certainly some element of emotional attachment. 

Art is a Language - Part 1

Dear Art Connoisseur,

Several years ago, I was in Scottsdale, Arizona visiting art galleries.  There were many paintings which I enjoyed looking at and several that I liked quite a lot.  There were also many paintings that I didn’t care for and some that I down right disliked.  I am sure that there were many that I didn’t even notice.  Of the hundreds, possibly thousands of paintings that I saw on that trip, there is only one that I remember - and it still haunts me.

With my first glimpse of that painting, I was captivated.  I stood there across the room just staring.  I couldn’t move if I wanted to - but I didn’t want to.  I felt something.  I felt a profound connection to the scene. 

It was not a grand or majestic scene.  It was not one that shouts for attention.  The painting, about 30 x 40 or so, was mostly sky.  Only about an inch or two of the bottom was dedicated to the ground plane - and being in shadow, commanded little attention.  It served only as a reference for scale and place.  The sky, however, was captivating.  A large thunderhead was billowing in the evening sky, illuminated by the sun.  I could almost smell the rain, I could almost feel the wind.  I must have studied that painting for 30 to 40 minutes (both up close and at a distance).

It has probably been 6 to 8 years since I saw that painting, but I still remember how it made me feel.  I know that I don’t remember all the details, but I remember the important elements.

On another occasion, I discovered a bronze entitled “Sustaining the Prophet” by Ben Hammond.  Again it was not so much the subject, but rather the interpretation and handling of the subject.  It was a biblical story of Moses holding up his arms while the Israelites were at battle.  If he lowered his arms, the Israelites would lose the battle, but while his arms were upheld, they would prevail.  To help sustain him, Aaron and Hur supported his arms.  In the bronze you could feel the tremendous weight and fatigue - the extremely heavy burden.  It was a powerful image.  I have thought of that bronze for several years - hoping to one day acquire one. 

I also remember vividly a charcoal drawing by a grad student while I was at Utah State University.  Entitled “The Dirge,” the charcoal was a very powerful depiction of a funeral procession.  You could feel the sorrow and pain.  You could sense the loss and mourning.  Yet the drawing was quite vague - almost dreamlike.  There was little, if any detail.  It was mostly shapes and gestures.  It has been over 10 years since I saw that drawing, but I still remember how it moved me. 

Art is a language that can communicate on a deep level with others.  Those pieces which communicated to me may not communicate to others.  Likewise, much of the artwork that I overlook may touch others deeply.  In the next issue of my newsletter, we will explore why and how art speaks to us - and why it may not.  If you have any insights, comments, or questions on this topic, please post a comment.

Best Wishes,

Keith Bond

 Copyright, 2007, Keith Bond