Please remember, this is only my opinion.
I like the idea of a facility that is open to all painters without rules of any kind.
So the public can go and see all kinds of work.
I picture walls full to the brim with paintings where ever there is room. I don't like the idea of some select group of people sitting in judgment, saying 'yes' to one artist and 'no' to another as to their participation.
The public must have the chance to decide what is good or bad. The community at large must have the chance to find out what they like. I just know that the artists who do representational paintings will far out number those that don't. Most artists paint for themselves, they must, they have no choice, this is who they are. But I know that to some extent they are also painting for their peers; but speaking for my self now, over the years I have asked my self the question, "Do I have a place of value in the community as an artist beyond what it is to me"?
What is the artist's role in this collective?
To me a painting is magic. It reaches into the stuff of this creation and responds to the mystery that is all around us. I choose Realism because it is about making pictures of archetypes.
The Sun is much more than just a big ball of fire. To me it is like the face of god, that which you can not look into. A molecular metaphor, a molecular poem or reflection, symbol or echo of life giving spirit.
If this is so, then what of the rest? What is night-time trying to teach us? What are the molecules trying to say when they become?
And so on, etc. ...
Leonardo said the universe is designed for the eyes more than any other sense.
Painting is a visual language. That can not be described better with words.
If a painting is good you will hear it, smell it, taste it, feel it all around you.
This ancient language is one that the societies of the west, and North America in particular generally lack the skill to read.
Because it is a sublime language.
People walk out there front doors every day and never consider the visual poem all around them.
They take for granted a dandelion growing out of a crack between the sidewalk and the telephone pole.
A cat crawling under their neighbour's fence, the black crow on your doorstep, what is it trying to tell you.
Part of what it means can only be said in paint through the heart of the painter.
Art galleries and exhibitions of art are like schools for the public to learn this visual language.
Painters are the authors who speak with the brush about things that can only be said with a brush.
Because there is much more to an image than its topography in light and shadow, color and form.
A friend of mine once put it to me that going into an art exhibition is like going into a holy place.
And I agree. So the first thing we must do is know what it is to present paintings to the public.
So we can give them a better idea of what they are coming to see.
A building should be found to exhibit the work and this means money.
Most artist have little of that, so a wealthy person or people must be found that will give over funds because they believe in a place for this visual language to flourish.
It could be non-profit in nature so that tax receipts can be offered.
If this formula works, it can be done in city after city and so on.
Most artists will not be of much help here as a painter should paint, but I trust the Brian Yoders of the world to have the great skill to manage this.
Schools for painting can be part of it. And stores that raise revenue by selling books, videos, art supplies, etc. ...
We can call it the ARC Institute for the Arts, etc., etc., etc. ............
Mark
