Thursday, September 12, 2013

Thursday Thoughts...

“What could be more interesting, or in the end, more ecstatic, than in those rare moments when you see another person look at something you’ve made, and realize that they got it exactly, that your heart jumped to their heart with nothing in between.” 

Robert Motherwell

Oh my - your heart jumped to their heart with nothing in between. What a moment.

We have both been fortunate this last little while to sell some pieces. Some on-line, some in galleries faraway; some at our Open Studio and some at our recent exhibition.  In these latter two cases, we were present when pieces spoke straight to a person's heart and they had to make the purchase there and then, with not another thought, not a moment's reasoning, not a long, slow deliberation in which they convinced themselves that this was probably what they were thinking they might have been looking for after all...

No these were lightning moments, when bolts of recognition leapt between the piece and the person and the piece had found its home.

I know I have felt like that with work - where it has spoken straight to my heart and I have known immediately that it was right, and that we had somehow found each other.

And of course those moments happen without purchase as well. When people engage longingly with your piece; have an internal conversation with it, reach out to it, it reaches back. And yet for whatever reason they can't be together. This happens in public galleries too where somebody else already owns it and it it is not available for sale, and those moments are still magical.


This is one of those pieces for me - a portion of Rosalie Gascoigne's Feathered Fence. I saw it in Melbourne several years ago - it took my breath away. I knew where she had made this piece - Lake George near Canberra - and I knew the fences; the feel of the fences and the birds...

10 comments:

  1. These are such true thoughts for me - some pieces leap at me from the wall, the bench or the ground and I don't forget them. The connection means they live with me whether I can buy them or not.

    I can't usually say why they speak to me. It is so much more than a recognition of the skill, concept or composition and the work can be ancient or modern, representational or abstract. It is all about a connection of the soul - as you say a lightning moment.

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    1. Lightning moments indeed Charlton - I think we all recognise them, and as you say the pieces stay with you even if you don't take them home. Its inexpressible what makes the connection; but there is an instant recognition I think...

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  2. rosalie remains pretty much my favourite aussie artist.... I still vividly remember an exhibition at AGNSW (oooo it must have be almost 2 decades ago)

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    1. Totally agree Ronnie! It took my breath away and i had to keep pinching myself that i was there, standing in front of her work - it felt like just me and her in a way. Magic.

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  3. Wonderful, wonderful quote, and very interesting piece that chose you immediately.

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    1. The quote is so right isn't it Valerianna? Rosalie's work is wonderful in many ways but to be there with this piece transported me thru time and space and set my mind racing and my heart connecting...

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  4. MAGICAL post and so beautifully worded and OHSOTRUETOTHEHEARTFEELINGS! ;)

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    1. Thanks Wanda! Those heart moments can just grab you and change you...

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  5. That is a magical moment... when artist and viewer connect.. I think that is the ultimate hope for an artist.

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    1. I think so too Donna - those moments are beyond special for an artist.

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I appreciate your thoughts and comments; thanks for taking the time.