INFLUENCE/MENTOR you've never met?

This was an interesting topic that was the center of our conversation at our last dinner gathering. Unfortunately for me I wasn't able to attend. I can imagine from the dynamic group of individuals, a very insightful evening of discussion took place last Sunday. I will have to get the Reader's Digest version the next time we get together.

The topic for the evening was, to come prepared to discuss, who was an major influence or mentor in your life that you have never met. For me as an visual artist, that influence would have to be the band Alice Cooper. Music in general has influenced my visual imagery more than any other type of art or artist but none more that Alice Cooper. From early song's such as "Caught in a Dream", "Billion Dollar Babies", "I Love the Dead", and Muscle of Love to mid career songs such as "From the Inside", "Nurse Rozetta", and "Millie and Billie"; the band always challenged the status quo both lyrically and musically. The fancy die-cut flaps on numerous album cover jackets pushed the envelope on design and photography.

Today, my fine art photography reflects a lot of those musical and lyrical influences of the late 60's and the 1970's. Music continues to be both a great motivator and stimulus for creativity for my fine art images. If you would like to see some of my earlier work then check out the Doll Narrative Series gallery at my website.

This briefly describes one of my main influences as an artist. I'd love to hear who has been an influence/mentor in your life?

Untitled (Description)

I am guilty of doing this with past artwork myself. You see it often on a painting, photograph, 3D art piece; "Untitled", followed by a description of the artwork in parentheses? After a while you ask yourself, why didn't the artist just name the piece the description that they used to explain it's content?

I have been criticized in past shows by art critics that my titles say too much. That because of the title, I don't leave enough room for the viewer to make up their own mind, conclusion, or interpretation, of the art being viewed. Do you write a novel or short story and leave it "Untitled"? Isn't the main goal of an artist to communicate?

So what are your thoughts as an artist or as a patron of the arts? Do you like the work to be titled, untitled, just provide a literal description of the piece, or provide a title that pushes you toward the artists intent?

Old man, newsman, street vendor; how would you title this photograph?

Mid-Life Crisis

I've been listening a lot to John Mellencamp's new CD, Life Death Love and Freedom. The content of this CD speaks to me of late. Very reflective of all that the title evokes. I don't speak of the term "crisis", in my title, as a troubled time but as a "turning point". A place and time in ones life where you are literally at a crossroads with those who are in your circle of life. Your life experiences are shared with those who have come before you and have experience much more life than you and with those who are coming up behind you. You are truly at the Mid-Point.

With in the last few weeks death has been a much too common thread in my life. Although indirectly, it has certainly been with in the seven degree's of separation. It certainly makes you reflect on your own mortality and those around you. Makes you begin to assess your own life journey of where you've been and where you still want to go. Hopefully my journey will become less about me and more about those around me. As an artist, I don't know how successful that goal will be for me? For, every fine art image I create, I am saying look at me, look what I did! Maybe artists are kids who never grow-up or at least try and pretend they don't have to grow up?

Verse from "Longest Days" John Mellencamp

It seems like once upon a time ago
I was where I was supposed to be
My vision was true and my heart was too
There was no end to what I could dream
I walked like a hero into the setting sun
Everyone called out my name
Death to me was just a mystery
I was too busy raisin up Cain