Second Nature

A new piece of work will be shown at the Tivoli NY Artist Co-op for their next show titled 'Second Nature'.  My good friend and artist Gretchen Kelly who is a member of this co-op invited me to participate as a guest artist.  I am intrigued by the concept of 'Second Nature' and am happy to be included.  The show opens tomorrow evening from 6-8pm, please do come if your in the area!  Below is my statement for the work.

Dawn Breeze, 2012

Second Nature, originally Latin secundum naturam, "according to nature".

I am coming in to my accordance with nature; I am coming in to my authentic and original nature as a person and as an artist.  I am coming in to my innate self through my second nature, through my artistic process. What is this?  What does this becoming look like?

Oneness.  My artwork is a communion with nature; it is a collaboration that is not a depiction of nature but rather a shared experience with nature that culminates with a creation.  However, I consider the art to begin at the same point of ending in a constant state of transformation and flux.  My art is my experience of life and my art practice is my second nature.

To watch ‘Daydream’ in process go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEqYBVpve00

 “We must learn to reawaken and keep ourselves awake, not by mechanical aids, but by an infinite expectation of the dawn…It is something to be able to paint a particular picture, or to carve a statue, and so to make a few objects beautiful, but it is far more glorious to carve and paint the very atmosphere and medium through which we look, which morally we can do. To affect the quality of the day, that is the highest of the arts.”-Henry David Thoreau Walden

Work in process

This painting was the one you saw me working on outside a couple weeks ago with a big furry brown spider.  Its finished now.  It's aprox 4.5' x 5'

I went to an exciting workshop yesterday at Double Edge Theater.  It was a two hour "intensive" open training session, which basically meant a physical training session with the theater ensemble.  I had no idea what to expect, I wanted to participate in a physical art and wanted to try something that would be uncomfortable and a stretch for my body and mind.  It was a success in both those categories!  Basically it was an intense physical and psychological "follow the leader" moving and improvising with about 50 people in a barn.  FUN!
I also went because I have been developing a piece in my mind since November that has started to look more like a dance performance with multiple people in it.....something for the future:)

One of the things a member asked me was if I was a dancer and my answer was , "NO, but I did dance for 14 years of my life."  He responded: "Sounds like your a dancer then."  I wondered why I said no?  Is it because in order for me to be a "dancer" I need to be a ballet dancer, or dance 5 days a week, or be on a playbill?  Hmmm......It took me until I was 27yrs old to say I was an artist, it's funny how hesitant I am to claim all of me and all that I love to do. 

I took artist Gretchen Kelly to see the installation it was almost a black and white day.

I am working again in the studio (and out of the studio too!)  I think I am on to something all though I'm not sure what that is yet, and everything seems a bit awkward, which I believe is a good sign.  I thought I would share some pictures of work in process...this may change a lot still, right now its breathing and I will check it out tomorrow....

This is aprox. 4.5feet  x 7.5feet

Detail