Personal Revelations at the Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton New Jersey

December 3, 2005

I dropped off two photos of the Peace Form sculpture that is located across from the UN, at the Grounds for Sculpture at around 11 am today; with the hope they will be selected for an upcoming juried photography exhibit. Now, I am sitting in their cafe having some coffee and a brownie. This is the first time I have been here and I am already enchanted. It is windy and cold out, but I still want to try and get some photos here.

I am reminded of the sculpture garden at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin II in Arizona – it was much smaller and all the work of one person, but it ignited in me something I can't define, a longing to be where art is created, displayed and enjoyed. I remember I just wanted to sit there among the works... Of course it was a lot warmer there too!

I am watching the steady stream of photographers coming in to enter their work. Interestingly, most of those bringing in work are of a certain age bracket — that bracket that I have also entered this year. I find myself wondering if what has happened with these people is the same thing that has happened to me — a reawakening or renewal of interests and pursuits that perhaps had to be put aside earlier in order to take care of the necessities of life. I find comfort in this, knowing that I am perhaps among many “late—bloomers.” Previously, I had been mourning the time lost, but now I can see that it is more appropriate to know, and believe with all my heart, that this is the right time in my life for this — that had I tried this earlier I would perhaps have not had the eye that I have now— would not have had the appreciation for things of beauty, creativity and patience. It isn't to say that suddenly I have had some insight into modern art— it still mystifies me — but yet, now, I have an appreciation for form and composition that I didn't have before. I am no longer looking at that large, metal abstraction as just so much recycled trash (although I admit, I still see that on occasion) but now, I have a different eye, a different sensibility— is it an artist's eye? A photographer's eye? No I look beyond the "what the heck is that" reaction, looking deeper for shape form and color, and most importantly, the play of light and shadow. I am seeing that even those objects that are realistic representations tell a different story throughout the day as light, shadow and weather constantly shift and change. In fact, I am beginning to feel sorry for the pieces I have seen kept indoors— at least here in this building they are flooded with the light from massive windows — but what about those locked forever in windowless museums— subjected to only the steady, hard, shadow less glare of perfect museum lighting. How wonderful would it be to have an indoor room that simulated sunlight and different hours of the day — cloudiness, windiness — all those factors which make outdoor sculpture into living and breathing creatures. Certainly I am not the first to think of it. For all I know, it may be the most basic theory taught in art school. But for me, a person who has come to art sheerly through personal experience and self—taught means of expression, it is a revelation akin to those experienced by Old Testament prophets. And I see the definite connection to photography — the photographer capturing that fleeting interplay of light. Sure, we still need the standard, centered, “here is the sculpture” photo for the guidebooks — but what art could be created just by studying one outdoor sculpture for a day— a week — a year! (I am sure this has been done and somewhere someone is just rolling their eyes at me). But, to use an old cliché, if the real experience of art is truly the journey and not the destination — I have just turned down a different road, and no matter how well—worn the pathway, it is new to me. And I am going to move slowly and take lots of pictures.

here are some of them:DigitalDreams.dotPhoto.com - Welcome!