This huge and stunning work, a kind of sacred altar, created from all kinds of scrap and found objects covered in foil, was exhibited years back, I think in the Met, though now it's in the Smithsonian.
It's breathtaking seen in person. I saw it and have never forgotten it, the power and energy. The artist had no "formal" training. What James Hampton had was the great vision and insight of an artist driven by his own force. A visionary artist, he had no interest in the art world, nor in exhibiting for its own sake, and certainly no interest in making his mark in the world. Far from needing encouragement, he never talked about his art.
This fits in with a discussion I've been involved in lately, about art and the, I think groundless, fears that too many tech inventions and content discourage and suffocate new art.
It's similar to the complaints I used to hear from adult students that they'd been put off as kids by teachers or relatives who discouraged them. They signed up in mid life to learn to draw in my classes and did learn. They also repaired some of the damage to their self confidence from comments when they were kids.
I was glad to guide them into finding and enjoying their own art and realizing they didn't need to qualify in some way. But when they looked at the years they'd "wasted" when they could have been making art, maybe even making a life in art, I refrained from comment.
The fact is that you can't stop a real artist. I got plenty of discouragement as a kid from teachers who told me I drew wrong (!), no access to materials, wartime, poor family. Later prevented by school from art classes in favor of ancient Greek classes. It would never have occurred to me to stop making art, anyway, from whatever I could find or hack, whenever I could do it.
I need to make, as much as to breathe or eat. This is situation normal for makers. It's not special nor heroic or anything fancy like that. Writers, dancers, musicians, included.
I wrote tons of stuff outside of school, made up tunes, made clothes for dolls from any old scraps, drew and painted on anything I could find, with anything I could find.
Artist friends agree that we'd do all this on a desert island, with no-one to show it to. Showing and selling just free up space, mental and physical, to work. They're not the point of making art.
So I never think we've missed out on a great artist, musician, writer, dancer, because their early life didn't pave their way. They'd pave their own way, really, if necessary. You can have such a rich and happy life, without any external supports, if you have the maker gene. It's not about getting famous, it's about making what you're supposed to make, or as close as you can get to it.
Very intense here today, must be the heat. Heat index well into three figures.
I did some cooking, making ingredients for various meals. Sauteed baby bella mushrooms and chard, steamed carrots, to be used in various ways.
Lunch was a mushroom chard omelette with carrot side. I think there will be pasties tomorrow with similar ingredients. Different ways of eating the same things! I must make yogurt, too. I use it to make the pastry for pasties.
I did make potato salad using the new batch of mayo, with chives and scallions. Hot weather puts a dent in a person's appetite, important that what you do eat be valuable food. Sez me anyway!
I'm very dogmatic today! Happy day everyone, have your say, because nobody else can have your say.
