Sunday, December 27, 2009

Reunited - 9/11/01 Memorial

Comprised of two sections of cut I-beam and steel circular base mounted a top a custom piece of black granite.

To my knowledge, as I have been told, the pieces of I-beam are from the remains of the World Trade Center.

Reunited... to imply to joining of the two pieces of which had been previously separated ...to relate to how the tragic event brought the country together ...to relate to how those who perished during the attack have since been reunited to the right hand of God or Deity.

It is a very quiet and solemn piece to behold. Its appears to be in action of uniting, but it is still and paused. The wounds exhibited by the event have not been fixed or are in the processing of healing. The pieces of I-beam were once of each other as can be witnessed by the relation of cut marks along their edges. A majority of the surface, although cleaned, was left intact so as not to erase their history or significance as every mark made and left on the sculpture is a testimonial to its journey.

The Artist Statement

As of late I have been trying to be honest with who I am as an artist. I do not think there is any where else for one to go with their art as most avenues seem to (I think?) have been tapped and exhausted by the artists of the past. Do I see art as one's way to establish some unique perspective of the world to convey a message or make some pointless comment about society? No.

I think America has such a media driven superficiality about it that most people are fooled by the reality it portrays and are unable to see the layers of which it harbors. The world is not a genuine place. It's an ideal. It's lost from us.

I have been trying to re formulate my artist statement for my website and the most current version (12/27/009 1:32pm EST) simply states that, "originality is a myth." I have never seen anyone, past or present, do anything original every art work/movement was stolen from somewhere. And if the same work can be degraded and praised all at the same time what the hell does any of it matter?

I hate artist statements and I think they are one of the worst aspects of being an artist. Is it not enough that you've created a work? I have to now create/write something to go along with it? The original thing is not enough?