In past artist statements, I have equated my work with an act of translation, attempting “to encapsulate a specific moment or emotion by rephrasing the visceral to the visual”. My goal is to skewer the essence of the original inspiration so that I can share it and connect with others via that idea, either directly or by prompting a feeling or memory so that the piece resonates with them on a personal level. It’s a humbling and often elusive challenge, which I suppose are exactly the qualities that motivate me to keep trying.
©2015 Elizabeth Fram
In that same vein, I am a sucker for a great metaphor. One of the true joys of reading for me is coming across an analogy that is so precise, while also drawing an unexpected parallel, that it stays with me, creating an indelible link between the two elements from then on.
©2015 Elizabeth Fram
This past week I found such a simile in my favorite novel of the summer. Robin Sloan’s Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore is a fun read for anyone who might enjoy a whimsical bridge between the potential of technology and a reverence for ink on the page, with an added touch of mystery and a nod to the power of art.
©2015 Elizabeth Fram
Anyway, For those of you who understand and experience the reality of “flow” as you work, and I’m sure many of you do, I know you will also appreciate this gem from Sloan’s book:
“He works with crazy intensity, feeding hours like dry twigs into the fire, just absolutely consuming them, burning them up.”
The cherry on the cake is that this statement refers to an artist at work. I love it!
Please comment if you have a special metaphor you are willing to share. They are such a wonderful tool for offering insight and finely tuning our individual interpretations of the world around us.
❖
Lacking a good way to illustrate the idea of a metaphor, these detail images of the piece I’ve been working on the past couple of weeks will have to do.
©2015 Elizabeth Fram
Betsy, I love quote and will look for the book. Seems to me the details illustrate well what you are talking about. I’ve been working all morning with photographs of people for one of Liz’s new books and am just stunned by looking into the eyes of them, both those I know through time as well as those I don’t know and who are, in the case of many, long gone.
I hung my show yesterday at VTC and delighted in seeing your work hanging already. They complement each other nicely! Hugs
I totally get what you mean about looking into a subject’s eyes. My father has been delving into family genealogy & has unearthed some wonderful family photos from the 19th C. I find myself looking into those folk’s eyes in an effort to pull them forward/out – wondering about the people they really were underneath all the stiff clothing and stiff expressions.
Will be stopping in to see your work on Sunday!