Last friday I took the train to Portland for my group show at Guardino Gallery. I visited several other businesses along Alberta St. in the hour before my opening. Throughout the evening I saw multiple pieces of art that excited and inspired me. As is always the case when I see work I admire I begin to imagine how I might integrate those desirable aspects into my own process. This always feels like thin ice. No artist wants to be a copy cat, a forger...
On the other hand art galleries are potential hot spots for non verbal communication. Its thrilling when some person I’ve never met reaches out through their artwork and sends a little shock wave of understanding through me, the viewer. Of course I want to pass that message on. I want to touch someone else without them ever meeting me. The challenge, the magic is taking the message I received and making it my own before passing it along.