I don't often get to hear someone say their agenda for tomorrow includes taking photographs of a dominatrix tying up her girlfriend. Somehow that just isn't conversation that comes up in my circle of friends. Not often, anyway. In Steve's circle of friends, however, I have heard that comment. Granted it was only once. At an art show opening. And, admittedly, it didn't exactly thrust me into the plot line to Fifty Shades of Grey, but I must say, it delighted and amused me nevertheless. Were I not married to a visual artist, I'd probably never be in on this type of conversation.
There are other advantages to hanging out with the visual artist community. Perhaps my favorite, even more than evesdropping on conversations about snapping photos of sadomasochism in action, is watching people appreciate Steve's art. His impressionist paintings are highly evocative and seem to have fairly broad appeal. Unless, of course, you're my mother. She frequently asks if he ever considers putting faces on the people he paints. Having never been much of a deep thinker, she prefers to have things spelled out for her. I've suggested he keep a ready supply of happy face stickers around for when she asks to see his paintings.
My mother notwithstanding, when Steve first started showing his paintings publicly it was interesting to watch people respond to them. I've actually seen people brought to tears because of the intense feelings evoked by a painting. Often viewers connect with a specific location they believe is depicted in the watery, ethereal mix of color.
Once he was asked if a painting was created on a certain street corner in Paris. Another time a person was sure they were looking at a painting of Venice. At first people would ask and Steve would tell them it was painted in downtown Denver, or maybe it was simply something that came from his head.* But this response would disappoint those who really wanted the painting to be of Paris, or Venice, or Rome. For some reason they had a significant investment in knowing that the painting was from the place they wanted it to be from. One man actually told Steve he was wrong, and that he knew the exact street corner in Paris where it had been painted. That would be fine if Steve had ever been to Paris. But he hasn't.
It quickly became obvious that some people who were viewing Steve's art had reasons why it was important for the painting to be of something specific and personal to them. I have admired the graceful way Steve has altered his response. Now when people say, "Where is this?" Steve gently responds with, "Where would you like for it to be?"
Sure, he is the artist and he could demand that he knows location of the painting (I painted it, I should know what it is about, damnit!), but he doesn't do that. He lets it be about the viewer, not about the artist. There is something so lovely in his response and in the way he uses his talent to make people feel happy. Or peaceful. Or romantic. Or whatever emotion they need to feel. He sets aside his pride. If someone looking at a painting needs for it to be of Venice, then it should be of Venice.
So many things in life are like that. Sometime we really need something to be what we want it to be, regardless of what it really is.
The current political climate feels that way to me. With such deep and emotional divisions, each camp seems to feel certain that 'their' candidate is the only hope for America. Except neither candidate is the only hope for America. There never has been only one hope for America in the form of a president. And there never will be. Simplistically put, one candidate addresses one set of issues. The other another set of issues. It all depends on what you want the hope for America to be.
Sometimes I listen to people argue and think that what they really want is to put a happy face sticker on the candidate of their choice without ever having to think deeply about the issues or understand the validity of the opposite position. We seem to forget that in the United States we have a system of checks and balances, not a dictatorship. Whomever is elected president has only so much influence.
When discussing the upcomming election, maybe we should move our egos out of the way and simply ask, "What would you like the hope for America to be?"
Listen generously. Exercise your right to vote. And leave your whips and chains in the art studios where they belong.
*This comment reminds me of a passage in Jane Eyre where Mr. Rochester is examining Jane's drawings.
R: "Where did you get your copies?"
J:"Out of my head."
R:"That head I see now on your shoulders?"
J:"Yes, sir."
R:"Has it other furniture of the same kind within?"
J:"I should think it may have: I should hope — better."
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