A Chance for a re-think of my
own life.
I started carving probably at the same time my
sister Jenny was starting to suffer from Cancer, a cancer which finally
ended her courageous fight a few years back leaving me confused and
my family shocked. And for the first time in my life showed me dramatically
that life has a start and finish.
I like the idea of producing something that has
a long term life, something that will last beyond my own mortal body.
I guess the traditional view on this involves the belief in the everlasting
God and Jesus, or the fulfillment of children, grandchildren and the
passing of genes to future generations.
I'm probably thinking out of my intellectual capacity
now but recent events have started to make me question things, which
must be good I suppose. Why do bad things happen? Why did my sister
die before we had a chance to show each other what we can do? Why is
my father confused? Why do I not grieve for my mother? What do people
think of my sculpture? Is it important?
It was my mother who rekindled my interest in
art and eventually sculpture, we would have long late night conversations
on the importance of the early Renaissance, smoking cigarettes and
discussing how Renoir and Mattisse were masters at their chosen medium.
Always amazed at my Mum's knowledge, but my artistic ignorance usually
resulted in concentrating on the one item I know and love (Sculpture
of a dancer in a tutu - by Degas).
So far I have "played" with the art
and I've been experimenting with concepts and different materials,
my early works I would consider a pure experimentation (al2 - al7)
My later work is starting to have more meaning and I'm hoping this
will flow into this latest work which is the first commission I have
been asked to do.
My work can be seen on the VMA web sitewww.venon-mill-artists.co.uk where
I have a studio.
But what of the art I have been asked to create.
It's an important process for me to go through, I feel I need to do
it right, I feel I need to do the subject justice, In feel I need to
understand the subject a whole lot more than my forgotten catholic
training ever gave me. So I ask my most recent catholic acquaintance;
Annie Donnelley is probably one of the most remarkable woman I know,
I've never seen a happier women, her strong catholic convictions but
understandable concerns at the teaching of the faith have suggested
I'm not alone in being confused at the traditional teaching of the
church. She is my brothers' new mother in-law and doesn't fit the mold.
After the wedding I must have discussed this commission with her in
depth which I don't remember for less than a week later I received
a parcel of Mother and Child reference material.
Which is now opening my eyes.
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