I’m working on this piece for an upcoming show at Thinkspace Gallery in Culver City, CA…It’s got a whole lot going into it that I don’t think will translate, but as with all my work, I’m more curious to hear what others think about it…(Obviously its not finished, but when it is, he’ll have a big red gift type bow around his neck…)
Repurpose
Posted by Jen on May 17, 2012
Cathedral of Flight
Posted by Kelly on May 13, 2012
Art Mystery
Posted by chad on May 8, 2012
hello.
Posted by Jen on May 7, 2012
Tame for the Time Being
Posted by Kirt Hardcastle on May 7, 2012
Title
Posted by Sarah on Apr 14, 2012
New Painting – 3/9/12
Posted by chad on Mar 9, 2012
Work in Progress
Posted by Lauren on Apr 13, 2012
New Painting – 1/21/12
Posted by chad on Jan 21, 2012
Art Mystery
Posted by chad on May 8, 2012
Moldmaking…
Posted by Darla on Feb 22, 2012
Perch
Posted by Sarah on Feb 18, 2012
New Painting – 1/14/12
Posted by chad on Jan 14, 2012
Work in Progress – 2/26/2012
Posted by Lauren on Feb 27, 2012
The last day of summer
Posted by Kylie on Apr 13, 2012
Congratulations on the show. When you say it won’t translate, you mean the viewer isn’t going to understand it’s meaning? My question is, do you understand it’s meaning? Do you ever provide text to explain pieces? Is the red bow a clue? enough of a clue?
Chad, there is always my initial idea/s behind the work…a thought or experience…which I then distill down to an idea that is more universal, or something that anyone could relate to. This particular piece was inspired by 3 separate things: 1. a wounded stray cat I feed for a friend when she’s away, 2. crackheads in my neighborhood and how I think they are like zombies (slow walk, vacant stare, usually falling apart…) and 3. a marketing campaign that Philadelphia is doing (with love xoxo Philadelphia). My specific thoughts on it are that this is what my section of the city has to offer…something scary wrapped in a slick marketing campaign. I also have an irrational fear of zombies (its true. I hate ‘em!) so I know thats playing into this somehow as well. So I guess, yes, I understand its meaning to me, but am still working on how this applies to everyone else. And I generally choose not to include text. I’d rather someone tell me what they got from it first and then, if they are interested, telling them my idea after. And the red bow is the juxtaposition…the cute that balances out the dark…balancing these two things is important to me because I feel like it a) makes my work more approachable and b) creates a kind of soft spot in someone’s heart for the animal, making them relate to it more easily. If it were just a scary zombie cat, then thats all it is. But the bow gets people to question it…to wonder why and to start to try and figure it out…Does that all make sense? I am rambling a bit here…
Yeah, I think that is a good answer Darla, those weren’t really answerable questions I threw out there. I think every artist struggles with how much to give away and how much to hide. I agree that the bow will set it off.
But. The real question is… Do you believe in the fast zombie? or the slow zombie?
Ah! I hate zombies of all kinds but I am hoping its the slow ones that are “real” because atleast then I’d have a chance of surviving. Eeeep!
I think the red bow around the neck will make the piece. Like he’s supposed to be a thoughtful gift for someone but obviously his own entity and doesn’t want to belong to anyone.
I’m the same way with my work. Much more interested in hearing what other people see it in or think about it.
Oh Emily! I like your thoughts on it…thanks!
I agree completey. The red bow says it all to me. I too prefer less text or clues to meaning in art.
can’t wait to see this fnished ; )
Thanks Kelly!
You really capture that duality–the terrible and poignant in the zombie’s fate–in the animal’s posture, which is both menacing and cringing, almost vulnerable. I think this piece is extraordinary so far, with or without the bow (though I appreciate your reasoning).