Thursday morning I was fortunate enough to secure one of Kris Graves’s “covid critiques.” He owns and operates +KGP which collaborates with artists to create limited edition publications and archival prints. Kris generously offered up 20-minute online review sessions to subscribers of his mailing list, free of charge, along with two books at cost. It is very encouraging to see the creative ways communities are pulling together. In these uncertain murky waters, acts like this show that we do not have to navigate alone.
During the review we touched on a variety of details; however what stuck out was a conversation about the importance of balance; the balance of a project, of a single image, of creation vs. intent.
In art we are frequently drawn in by things that compensate for what we lack - like a counterbalance. I’ve recently realized that not only am I drawn to these works but have been subconsciously creating work that accomplishes this for years.
Mrs. Jackie, the sitter above, is one of the most Cajun people I’ve met. She is a Tee Mamou Mardi Gras costume maker, historian and author, and on top of that her husband, Mr. Larry, is a Cajun accordion maker. We met a few weeks back when she offered to help me out with materials for another project. At that time, this portrait was secondary and made more as a thank you.
I recently sent this image to friends from the area informing them that their Mardi Gras masks would not protect them from this virus and quickly got a response, “baw how you know.” It is hard to crush the Cajun spirit.
I believe art is a process, not a product. Ultimately the role of that process should result in thought and ideas. For me the focused act of making something is important and will provide spirit and balance; the image is just lagniappe.