Violating the Studio
So here's my rant...
I'm in the studio, in the zone, painting with a sense of freedom and joy.
A voice behind me blurts out, "Realism or Abstract."
Pardon?
"Realism or abstract --- or what do you call this stuff you're doing?"
So my first thought is, why doesn't she use her eyes instead of jumping to labels? All of my paintings have representational structures... but always a twist, a tension. So then I'm about to respond, when she interupts:
" 'Twas now' --- you shouldn't put words in the painting. It ruins it."
I try to explain, but she motors on --
"The viewer should be able to turn the painting upside down, or sideways,... a painting should work from every side. And the words ruin it. I see hands in there. The spirit of the painting --- I know you're blind to it. You've probably never looked at your painting beyond the "blueprint". I'm an abstract painter, and don't use a blueprint. I see the spirit in the painting. For instance, this one with the tunnel and river... there is a horse back here (she says, pointing to a large purple area of darker tone, behind the trees) this horse is the spirit of the painting.
So, she is going on and on, standing in the actual place of creation. How dare she impose one way of reading work (and an inane way at that) upon everything I've done? She should learn to listen to the work, and respond to how IT wants to be read. The cues, in the piece, suggest what interpretive modes might work. But listening is not her forte -- she barges on:
"Have you ever discovered what artist you are a reincarnation of? It can be very enlightening.... "
In my gentle way, I kept looking for a bridge to begin real communication. Instead, I should have jolted her out of her narcisism.
This bleak interaction poisoned my studio for a little time. This is one of the dangers of a public studio. But, thankfully, I refound my rhythm (until the guy came by to show me the paintings he made out of caulking).