Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Life is Still Beautiful


Our fast-paced consumer culture often leads us to discard or neglect that which is flawed or aged. By contrast, the tradition of ‘still life’ composition causes both the artist and the viewer to slow down and appreciate certain objects, often flawed or aged, found in everyday life. In such compositions the artistic Masters used to explore motifs such as life and death, subtle themes meant to evoke contemplation in the viewers and open their eyes to the reality that surrounded them. I mean to do the same.

In this exhibit of still life I am exploring the theme of natural beauty in fragility. Many pieces display objects that are found apart from their original life-sources. The feathers, soft and fragile, have fallen from a bird’s wing; no longer used for flight they now exhibit a graceful beauty all their own. The flowers, dried and cut, have been removed from the earth; no longer reaching for the sun they yet retain much of their allure. Objects like these are often passed by quickly, and their beauty lies undiscovered.

I invite the viewer to appreciate these renderings of natural objects. My hope is that after time spent viewing them; you will walk away with a new admiration for the simple, fragile beauty that surrounds you.

Let us heed the wisdom of the Masters, slowing down and contemplating the everyday, discovering that Life is Still Beautiful.