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I would like the thank my family, friends and students for coming to the opening reception at the Kinston Community Council for the Arts. I had a great time seeing not only my family and friends, but a few students who I have not seen in quite a long time. I posted my artist statement in a few posts back, but just in case you didn’t catch it here it again (the images will make much more sense after you read the artist statement).

Artist Statement for Everyday Gifts:

This is about the most literal body of work I have ever done. It is what it is. Simple. Straightforward. Personal. Documentary. One of the roles of the artist is to document the people, places, objects and events of their surroundings. That is what I have done with “Everyday Gifts.” It isn’t a statement about how I feel about the current state of the Union, what my stance is on global warming, or even what I feel about the effects of car exhaust on the ozone layer. It is a glimpse into how I am feeling right now. At a time when I am feeling generally quite negative about the world, I worked on a creating a body of work contrary to that. I am giving thanks for what I have in this world. The following works surround areas of my life in which I am thanking God for those small things or moments I appreciate throughout my everyday life. In particular, giving thanks concerning my family, my home, my work and my physical surroundings. This body of work is not shrouded by secrecy that often comes from the mind of an eccentric artist from which you must dig and dig for meaning. It is reachable and relatable. I do not consider it ground breaking in the white wall museum sense. I do however, hope that the viewers, by looking at my everyday chunks, may reflect on whatever chunks of their life for which they may give thanks too.

This process was simple. I made a list of things for which I am thankful, then made images surrounding that list. After completing the list I observed that these things are not expensive, worldly possessions, but revolve rather around natural objects, personal symbols and simple acts of kindness from those I care about. These works are about my family who have filled my everyday life, objects that inspire and fuel my everyday life, and places that I experience or have experienced and have made an impression one way or another.

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I also included an interactive piece that allowed viewers to write down their everyday gifts. Some of those images are posted near the end.

(The images included of the work are the digital versions before transferring them to wood or clay.)

This is Shannon’s contribution to the wall of Everyday Gifts. Yes, that is me. Shannon informed me that I am wearing a dress in his drawing. I haven’t worn a dress since 1992..okay, since last year.

This is my Bree’s (my niece)  contribution:

And, Ty’s contribution…well he is 2 so his Mom helped, but I love his drawing. My sister Jill said that on the way home he said: “I want to do that again.” He was talking about the art show. How sweet is he.