April/May/June

2006

Exploring Art In Austria

Two summers ago I was invited to teach at an arts conference in Austria (I fully embraced the rich cultural history that surrounded me as shown in the photo above). The experience of living and working with other artists and students from around the world was deeply enriching. The opportunity forced me to hone my thoughts into a cohesive yet adaptable program capable of engaging participants with varied backgrounds. The result was a workshop that focused on experiencing the natural world from a new perspective in which art would be created from and within the surrounding landscape. It was a very interesting process that has continued to inform the way I look at the world and create works in my studio. Click here to see examples of the Land Art Project.

This July I will be rejoining the conference as an instructor and an exhibitor of my recent works on paper. I am honored to have the opportunity to share my work with this dynamic community of international artists and thinkers.

My workshop will focus on cultivating the personal expression of emotions, reactions and ideas by "reinterpreting" familiar images. I believe that once an artist has a firm understanding of a form or image it becomes an effective conduit for the expression of deeper and more complex ideas and emotions.

I've been busy recently with preparations for upcoming gallery shows and subsequent travels. Recent drawings and paintings are being directly influenced by the hand-blown glass rondels, which have been featured in my past two exhibitions. The circular form is still figuring prominently in much of my current work. I spoke a bit about my interest in the circle in my last newsletter. Click here to read the article.

The photograph featured above shows a stone circle, which was created during a Land Art Seminar that I taught during my last visit to Austria. For me, the circular form in nature creates a visual sensation of completeness, and security. The beauty of the rough stones (freshly exhumed from the earth) in juxtaposition to the watecoloresque sky and lush foliage creates a complex textural visual experience. As I have mentioned in earlier writings, I am most interested in creating a well-developed and visually engaging artwork based on my experiences with nature rather than an image that simply mimics nature. My sketchbooks and photographs are great references for me as I continue to develop my studio works, which seek the same vitality as the images created in the great outdoors. I don't paint, draw, or sculpt without spending ample time cultivating through the rich memories and sensations that I have gathered during my interactions with the natural world around me. There are no exceptions in my current projects.

Summer Event Feature

Squire Broel at MAC

August 4th, 5pm - 8pm

Squire Broel will be at Spokane's Museum of Arts and Culture in the MAC Orientation Gallery. This event is part of their "Get to Know MAC on First Fridays". The museum is located at 2316 W. First Avenue in Spokane, Washington. For more information please contact the Museum of Arts and Culture by phone (509) 456-3931 or visit their web site www.northwestmuseum.org.

On a recent flight back to the Walla Walla Valley I started making notations in my sketchbook about the circular agricultural fields below. First I made quick sketches. Then I started writing questions. How many times had I flown over those same fields? Why have they never struck me with such an impact before? What is it about this trip that has opened my eyes to them? What else do I not see?

I'm sure there are so many things like that in my life. Even though I try to live intentionally and "see" all that is around me I can still miss something as large as hundreds of acres of crop circles. The fields were familiar to me and I do remember them from previous trips, but they never piqued my interest. So what changed? What I have settled on is "awareness." My awareness was heightened by my interest. In this case I was interested in the circular form. So, that particular flight provided me with the perfect opportunity to "see" with fresh eyes what had always been there. That experience has led me to conclude that much of what we perceive is based on our interest and perspective. We see what we want to see.

As I continue to develop works that reference the circle I am much more keenly aware of that form's existence everywhere around me. At the same time, I am also aware that I must be missing other dynamic elements that exist quite near to me because of my intense, narrow focus. I'm not sure there's enough time to see all that surrounds me – yet I will continually endeavor to live intentionally!

It is important to me to sift through the history of art, and to learn about the artists who have paved paths for me. The following quotes are by artists whom you'll recognize by name. Their words are inspirational to me.

"Art does not solve problems but makes us aware of their existence. It opens our eyes to see and our brain to imagine." - Magdalena Abakanowicz

"Art is a kind of innate drive that seizes a human being and makes him its instrument. To perform this difficult office it is sometimes necessary for him to sacrifice happiness and everything that makes life worth living for the ordinary human being" - Carl Jung

"Every great work of art has two faces, one toward its own time and one toward the future, toward eternity." - Daniel Barenboim

Descending to Barren Ground

acrylic on canvas

12" x 9", 2005

Field. Flower. Target

The painting, Descending to Barren Ground, is an amalgam, which references concepts, ideas and passions that I have been recently exploring. It exudes an interesting tension because it lives precariously on the line of complete and incomplete. There is a familiarity to it that recalls images from art history, Native American ornamentation, military symbolism and floral abstraction.

The piece was created during a time of inner struggle and questioning about humanity's existence, my country's role in both the modern and historical world, and the underlying similarities shared by humanity and seemingly simple flowers.

American culture is moving at such an intense rate that I have to wonder how much longer we can sustain any semblance of stability and wholeness. It will take a concerted effort on the part of all individuals to ascertain what is best for the overall population and health of our globe. I do at times feel overwhelmed by these thoughts, but am reminded by the blossoming flowers that there is hope for a new season. Every flower fades and descends to barren ground but it is not the end.