This piece is 5' high by 6' wide and will be the culmination of many of my techniques. It will include both oil and acrylic and mixed media. A landscape that touches on my childhood memories as well as adult themes of awakening and the dream state.
Monday, January 10, 2011
'My Father's Field'
This piece is 5' high by 6' wide and will be the culmination of many of my techniques. It will include both oil and acrylic and mixed media. A landscape that touches on my childhood memories as well as adult themes of awakening and the dream state.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Honor Is a Force Unto Itself
I am an artist. I paint. I sculpt. I make things for people to look at. If I do it right, in the looking, something happens to the person that makes them different for looking. When I write or blog; though, I find myself not writing about my work so much, but about the things that make me who I am. I think it is a round about way of talking about my art. Today's story is about a man who embodies honor. Often it probably seems to him, honor for honor's sake. He has lost so much and has experienced pain beyond which we can understand. Of his character, honor is one element which stays with him even when he doesn't know if it matters anymore. It does though. It moves the people around him, like a force of nature.
My friend Al, who I now call brother is a firefighter from NYC. If you haven't met a firefighter from NYC you are missing out on some of the finest character on the planet. Al was supposed to be at work on the day the towers fell. By chance, he was not. When he saw the news on the television his first instinct was to race at over 100 miles per hour down an empty highway to rescue or be with his fallen comrades. There was nearly no one to rescue. He asked me one night while I was working on the Engine 6 sculpture if I could imagine losing 30 of the closest people in the world to me - I simply said no, I could not.
As the faces of the Engine 6 sculpture continued to take shape, and I worked my way down to Paulie's hand, my aged mentor Laszlo Ispanky visited. In an inspired moment I blogged about earlier, Laszlo cut the lifeline into the firefighter's hand. I told that story to Al and he smiled. I could tell it meant a great deal to him. I still didn't know what 'honor' was though. I was learning this by being in his presence.
Four years later, almost to the month. My mentor died after living a full life. His sculptures circle the globe. He has honored actors and sports figures, politicians and world leaders - works collected by a sitting US President, the Pope and more. When he died, though, at such an old age there were few there to honor the man. I was asked to give the eulogy. On my way to the church a thought occurred to me. I thought, he worked on Paulie's hand, I should tell Al I'll be honoring him that morning. I texted Al. In a few minutes he texted me back 'Go slow to give me time to be there.'
I delivered my eulogy, slowly. I thought there was no way Al could make it - being over an hour away. Why would he? How would he? Delivering the words, I kept glancing to the back of the small church - no sign of him. My eulogy ended, the service ended. Laszlo's ashes were being brought out to the waiting limousine. The doors slowly opened. As the sun broke into the chapel I caught its' glint off a white hat. As I moved closer I saw the striking figure of my friend and brother, Al. He was standing there in full dress, saluting the ashes of my fallen mentor as they were carried to the limousine.
Honor is a force unto itself. It transcends a person and it moves and shapes the world. Why was Al there? Because Laszlo sculpted the hand of his fallen brother. This incredible artist who I thought should have the equivalent of a state funeral for all the work he's put into the world had something far better, something I couldn't have conceived of before that day. He had a man of honor, saluting him on his final journey.
My friend Al, who I now call brother is a firefighter from NYC. If you haven't met a firefighter from NYC you are missing out on some of the finest character on the planet. Al was supposed to be at work on the day the towers fell. By chance, he was not. When he saw the news on the television his first instinct was to race at over 100 miles per hour down an empty highway to rescue or be with his fallen comrades. There was nearly no one to rescue. He asked me one night while I was working on the Engine 6 sculpture if I could imagine losing 30 of the closest people in the world to me - I simply said no, I could not.
As the faces of the Engine 6 sculpture continued to take shape, and I worked my way down to Paulie's hand, my aged mentor Laszlo Ispanky visited. In an inspired moment I blogged about earlier, Laszlo cut the lifeline into the firefighter's hand. I told that story to Al and he smiled. I could tell it meant a great deal to him. I still didn't know what 'honor' was though. I was learning this by being in his presence.
Four years later, almost to the month. My mentor died after living a full life. His sculptures circle the globe. He has honored actors and sports figures, politicians and world leaders - works collected by a sitting US President, the Pope and more. When he died, though, at such an old age there were few there to honor the man. I was asked to give the eulogy. On my way to the church a thought occurred to me. I thought, he worked on Paulie's hand, I should tell Al I'll be honoring him that morning. I texted Al. In a few minutes he texted me back 'Go slow to give me time to be there.'
I delivered my eulogy, slowly. I thought there was no way Al could make it - being over an hour away. Why would he? How would he? Delivering the words, I kept glancing to the back of the small church - no sign of him. My eulogy ended, the service ended. Laszlo's ashes were being brought out to the waiting limousine. The doors slowly opened. As the sun broke into the chapel I caught its' glint off a white hat. As I moved closer I saw the striking figure of my friend and brother, Al. He was standing there in full dress, saluting the ashes of my fallen mentor as they were carried to the limousine.
Honor is a force unto itself. It transcends a person and it moves and shapes the world. Why was Al there? Because Laszlo sculpted the hand of his fallen brother. This incredible artist who I thought should have the equivalent of a state funeral for all the work he's put into the world had something far better, something I couldn't have conceived of before that day. He had a man of honor, saluting him on his final journey.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Spanish Dancer
I have blogged about my son before. His efforts out on the 'pitch'. I am certainly proud of him and all his hard work at achieving his dream. Today, though, I learned something about my daughter that brings me to tears.
Emma is a dancer. It is hard to comprehend that sentence if you don't know a dancer. She is fourteen. She has been dancing since four. This year her schedule is six days a week. She has Friday night off, but Monday through Thursday she dances, and Saturday and Sunday 11 am to 6pm. Emma is a dancer.
Last March something very terrible happened to her calf muscle. It locked up. Every time she went on point, a shooting pain radiated up her leg. She struggled to complete her final performance last year, and that was the last she could go up on point. Emma is a dancer, and the tears that followed were many.
She started with a physical therapist last year. Several nights a week she would go and have the knots in her calf rolled out. I'm not sure if I even know how painful that was. Knots the size of a golf ball were almost mercilessly rolled out of her calves, over and over. Every day she would see, could she go up on point today? No. Every day I told her, it's OK love, let your body heal. Listen to your body, it's telling you to slow down, to heal. Every day she worked at it, and several times a week worked with her sports therapist. Emma is a dancer.
Slowly, and with dedication and focus she began to heal. Each day as she came home I would ask her, how did you feel today? Have you gone on point? Just today I learned she was selected for 'Spanish Dancer' in the American Repertory Ballet's Nutcracker at the McCarter Theater in Princeton. This dance is one of the most beautiful I know. I am so proud of my Emma. Did I mention she's a dancer?
Emma is a dancer. It is hard to comprehend that sentence if you don't know a dancer. She is fourteen. She has been dancing since four. This year her schedule is six days a week. She has Friday night off, but Monday through Thursday she dances, and Saturday and Sunday 11 am to 6pm. Emma is a dancer.
Last March something very terrible happened to her calf muscle. It locked up. Every time she went on point, a shooting pain radiated up her leg. She struggled to complete her final performance last year, and that was the last she could go up on point. Emma is a dancer, and the tears that followed were many.
She started with a physical therapist last year. Several nights a week she would go and have the knots in her calf rolled out. I'm not sure if I even know how painful that was. Knots the size of a golf ball were almost mercilessly rolled out of her calves, over and over. Every day she would see, could she go up on point today? No. Every day I told her, it's OK love, let your body heal. Listen to your body, it's telling you to slow down, to heal. Every day she worked at it, and several times a week worked with her sports therapist. Emma is a dancer.
Slowly, and with dedication and focus she began to heal. Each day as she came home I would ask her, how did you feel today? Have you gone on point? Just today I learned she was selected for 'Spanish Dancer' in the American Repertory Ballet's Nutcracker at the McCarter Theater in Princeton. This dance is one of the most beautiful I know. I am so proud of my Emma. Did I mention she's a dancer?
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Two Moments
When I create my art, I draw a lot on my childhood, my science, my love of philosophy and motivational thinking. I believe motivational thinking is not just 'positive' thinking, it is a process of 'right' thinking, over and over again like weeding a garden. I have found, now, that I have the added blessing to be able to draw on my children's experiences, It's a fascinating thing to watch them grow, navigate through life, experience triumph and failure and dreams. Over the course of a few years, my son experienced two moments that really stood out for me, will probably lead to a painting or a sculpture or something, and also in many ways relates to my earlier work.
My son loves soccer. At the age of four he slept with his soccer ball. In all the years I've known him I think I've seen him more with a soccer ball at his feet than without. As he progressed in age, trying out for the team naturally progressed. It got harder and harder as the competition and skills amped up until one year he was not on the 'top' team. He was on team number three. A tough blow to him but I told him, work hard Harry, believe in your dream, that is all. The next year's tryouts came and this time coaches told him and me, oh yes, he'll move up. When he found out he didn't he came home, told me the news while big tears filled his beautiful blue eyes. It took every fiber in my being to tell him, don't worry Harry, work hard, believe in your dreams. As he left the room I couldn't help but feel the same intense disappointment. Finally the third year came, there he was, out on the try-out field competing against all the 'top' players and I saw him from a distance, standing next to the head of the program. A big burly man who was associated with Man U as legend goes. He was leaning next to my son telling him something. Later I asked "What did he tell you Harry?" My son smiled, he said "Harry, you earned the right to be out on this field." That was the first moment.
A second moment came a few days ago. Practice was on, running an hour and a half. After practice, my son stayed to kick the ball. From the age of four he always stayed to kick the ball. I loved to share with him one of my favorite quotes from Napoleon Hill "There is no traffic on the extra mile." My son loves soccer so much, I don't think he even knows when he's playing extra. But this particular day was special. After about 1/2 hour, in the dark, striking at the goal over and over, his coach emerged from the darkness on the side of the field. In his hands he had five soccer jerseys, each, he told Harry, had a story, which he told. One was from the 1980's World Cup Spain, and on and on. He said "Harry, because you're doing the stuff it takes to get to your dream I want you to take one of these shirts." Standing there, watching both son and coach both 'go the extra mile' - watching them both 'take action' to do the things that meant so much to them moved me so much.
What does it take to achieve your dream?
Do you take action on the things that move you?
Are you willing to endure the frustration, the setback, the pain that your dream sometimes demands?
These are things I think about, love, hope to convey in my art.
It's official! The reviews are in for "Black Gold' available now at Lulu.com:
http://tinyurl.com/2bkx9za
What people are saying:
Gorgeous...wow! ~ Fred Betz
I am so moved! It is fabulous! ~ Robin Pedrero
My son loves soccer. At the age of four he slept with his soccer ball. In all the years I've known him I think I've seen him more with a soccer ball at his feet than without. As he progressed in age, trying out for the team naturally progressed. It got harder and harder as the competition and skills amped up until one year he was not on the 'top' team. He was on team number three. A tough blow to him but I told him, work hard Harry, believe in your dream, that is all. The next year's tryouts came and this time coaches told him and me, oh yes, he'll move up. When he found out he didn't he came home, told me the news while big tears filled his beautiful blue eyes. It took every fiber in my being to tell him, don't worry Harry, work hard, believe in your dreams. As he left the room I couldn't help but feel the same intense disappointment. Finally the third year came, there he was, out on the try-out field competing against all the 'top' players and I saw him from a distance, standing next to the head of the program. A big burly man who was associated with Man U as legend goes. He was leaning next to my son telling him something. Later I asked "What did he tell you Harry?" My son smiled, he said "Harry, you earned the right to be out on this field." That was the first moment.
A second moment came a few days ago. Practice was on, running an hour and a half. After practice, my son stayed to kick the ball. From the age of four he always stayed to kick the ball. I loved to share with him one of my favorite quotes from Napoleon Hill "There is no traffic on the extra mile." My son loves soccer so much, I don't think he even knows when he's playing extra. But this particular day was special. After about 1/2 hour, in the dark, striking at the goal over and over, his coach emerged from the darkness on the side of the field. In his hands he had five soccer jerseys, each, he told Harry, had a story, which he told. One was from the 1980's World Cup Spain, and on and on. He said "Harry, because you're doing the stuff it takes to get to your dream I want you to take one of these shirts." Standing there, watching both son and coach both 'go the extra mile' - watching them both 'take action' to do the things that meant so much to them moved me so much.
What does it take to achieve your dream?
Do you take action on the things that move you?
Are you willing to endure the frustration, the setback, the pain that your dream sometimes demands?
These are things I think about, love, hope to convey in my art.
It's official! The reviews are in for "Black Gold' available now at Lulu.com:
http://tinyurl.com/2bkx9za
What people are saying:
Gorgeous...wow! ~ Fred Betz
I am so moved! It is fabulous! ~ Robin Pedrero
Thursday, August 26, 2010
What Can We Do When It Seems Too Much?
Take any event in your life. The BP Oil Spill, Stock Market Crash, or even a flat tire at a wrong time – as if there is ever a right time – and events can seem overwhelming, potentially spiraling out of control Some events seem too big, too mind numbing to even act on or think about. But it’s not just in the thinking, the worrying, wondering that magic is found – it’s in the acting towards the things one finds important in their life. Napoleon Hill had a very special phrase for this – Applied Faith. That phrase in and of itself is not a passive one. It’s very nature implies action on and towards the things in life you feel most driven by. Acting with the full faith and confidence that the universe can and will provide for you the tools you need to accomplish your specific goals, goals you feel most compelled by, most connected to – in short, the things you love.
I am so happy to note that a work of mine just recently landed in Canada to a wonderful collector there. It’s called ‘Ogallala’. This piece was inspired by studying the last great depression which was combined with a tragic dust bowl. After years of struggle and suffering, it occurred to someone to search, and what was found was one of the greatest natural water reserves ever discovered, just beneath their feet. The symbolism of this could not be more powerful to me - in the words of Wattles, that I quoted in an earlier blog post, 'never look at the visible supply. Look always at the limitless riches in formless substance and KNOW...' This piece is meant as a visual reminder that there is ALWAYS a solution - and further, the solution really lies deep within each one of us. If we learn the process of shedding fear and begin to trust a world, a universe really, of unlimited potential - there will always be another Ogallala.
So the question isn’t really what is the magnitude of the problem – the question is are you going to muster up enough faith to apply action to your dreams, desires, goals and dreams. Are you going to take action? Because that is where the magic is.
It's official! The reviews are in for "Black Gold' available now at Lulu.com:
What people are saying:
Gorgeous...wow! ~ Fred Betz
I am so moved! It is fabulous! ~ Robin Pedrero
Well done my friend! ~ Beth Stafford
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Ogallala - Re-Posted for @Sugarwilla
This piece is constructed from concrete, rock, pete moss and semi-precious crystals including amethyst and rose quartz embedded in an expoxy resin which covers the entire work from top to bottom. I estimate it to weigh about thirty pounds. In real life, the concrete area on the top of the piece looks like water at certain angles. The blue area in the center bottom is about two inches thick and simulates the water of Ogallala. This piece was inspired by studying the last great depression which was combined with a tragic dust bowl. After years of struggle and suffering, it occurred to someone to search, and what was found was one of the greatest natural water reserves ever discovered, just beneath their feet. The symbolism of this could not be more powerful to me - in the words of Wattles, that I quoted in an earlier blog post, 'never look at the visible supply. Look always at the limitless riches in formless substance and KNOW...' This piece is meant as a visual reminder that there is ALWAYS a solution - and further, the solution really lies deep within each one of us. If we learn the process of shedding fear and begin to trust a world, a universe really, of unlimited potential - there will always be another Ogallala.
Reviews are in for 'Black Gold' ~ Paintings & Prose
It's official! The reviews are in for "Black Gold' available now at Lulu.com:
http://tinyurl.com/2bkx9za
Thanks so much – here is what some of you have said about'Black Gold"
Rob! Gorgeous...wow! You truly amaze me. I love this bending of your medium into text and image. It's very generous and rich and communicative. And your bringing in your science understanding with your philiosophical relflections and putting the two together with this sort of sensual visual imaginings....it's nice! Like all the parts of you coming together. The parts of you I know. My Father's Kingdom is a kick-ass painting! I wasn't able to really see the first image though on this computer...I need to see it on my mac. But I also really liked the second image. I love that you would tackle such anintensely big and troubling and immediate issue. I want more, Rob! ~ Fred Betz
My student is late or thinks we stopped for two weeks and I jumped at the chance to read and pour into your book. I am so moved! It is fabulous! I feel I need a better writingvocabulary to communicate how wonderful it is! ~ Robin Pedrero
I finally had the chance to read your lovely book. The format is wonderful; the paintings and what they represent are haunting; and the words are lyrical and extremely thought-provoking. Well done, my friend! ~ Beth Stafford
Hey Robert, The first thing you know old Jed is not a millionaire! The 1% of theworld that has 99% of the wealth does not want the rest of us to know the realimpact of the ravaging of the worlds resources. There is a storm coming where ...food, fuel, andcurrency will continue to be the keystones of struggle and the 1% in chargewill not be physically affected by it, not in my lifetime anyway. Nor do Ithink they will be morally affected as they have already sold what little soulsthey had for their continued participation as the masters of their universe.One can only hope they will crumble from the inside out before they suck thewhole thing dry... Wow, all that from your art... NICE!!! ~ Anthony House
People like you who express depth are what move me to the core and MOVE me ~ Thank you for being not only my colleague Robert, but a friend ~ Your work is truly catalytic ~ Thank you ! ~ Sian Lindemann
Thank you everyone – that really moved me so much
A full color version is available at Lulu.com - just follow the link below:
http://tinyurl.com/2bkx9za
http://tinyurl.com/2bkx9za
Thanks so much – here is what some of you have said about'Black Gold"
Rob! Gorgeous...wow! You truly amaze me. I love this bending of your medium into text and image. It's very generous and rich and communicative. And your bringing in your science understanding with your philiosophical relflections and putting the two together with this sort of sensual visual imaginings....it's nice! Like all the parts of you coming together. The parts of you I know. My Father's Kingdom is a kick-ass painting! I wasn't able to really see the first image though on this computer...I need to see it on my mac. But I also really liked the second image. I love that you would tackle such anintensely big and troubling and immediate issue. I want more, Rob! ~ Fred Betz
My student is late or thinks we stopped for two weeks and I jumped at the chance to read and pour into your book. I am so moved! It is fabulous! I feel I need a better writingvocabulary to communicate how wonderful it is! ~ Robin Pedrero
I finally had the chance to read your lovely book. The format is wonderful; the paintings and what they represent are haunting; and the words are lyrical and extremely thought-provoking. Well done, my friend! ~ Beth Stafford
Hey Robert, The first thing you know old Jed is not a millionaire! The 1% of theworld that has 99% of the wealth does not want the rest of us to know the realimpact of the ravaging of the worlds resources. There is a storm coming where ...food, fuel, andcurrency will continue to be the keystones of struggle and the 1% in chargewill not be physically affected by it, not in my lifetime anyway. Nor do Ithink they will be morally affected as they have already sold what little soulsthey had for their continued participation as the masters of their universe.One can only hope they will crumble from the inside out before they suck thewhole thing dry... Wow, all that from your art... NICE!!! ~ Anthony House
People like you who express depth are what move me to the core and MOVE me ~ Thank you for being not only my colleague Robert, but a friend ~ Your work is truly catalytic ~ Thank you ! ~ Sian Lindemann
Thank you everyone – that really moved me so much
A full color version is available at Lulu.com - just follow the link below:
http://tinyurl.com/2bkx9za
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
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