Benny works in the art-space that my church has for a few artists in residence. Sadly for our community (but a new adventure for Benny), he, his wife, and two twin boys will be leaving to go teach art at Baylor University. I first met Benny when I went to hear his wife sing at a benefit concert.
TOO MUCH TALENT IN ONE FAMILY.
I was so intrigued because the whole time she sang, Benny just sat there and drew her. I was watching a real life artist-muse relationship take place, and I felt like I belonged in 1930’s Paris or something.
As a farewell to these two lovely artists, parents, and now friends, I wanted to share a bit of Benny’s art, mind, and how he focuses so much on the combination of light in this series, as well as a beautiful series of his lovely wife. A perfect combination for my Illumination series!!
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To paint from observation is to highly value appearances, to find oneself captured by them, enamored. What is the draw of appearances? Why do they exert such power?
As light waves traveling from the sun reflect off a cup, into one’s eyes, a person interprets these light sensations into “cup” through one’s history of having held one, through memories of porcelain to lip. Without such past experiences, these retinal events would be bare sensation, detached visual phenomena without interpretation.
As pleasurable as pure sensation may be, one’s ability to see meaningfully, it seems, is dependent on memory of touch and use. Every appearance, then, triggers a rich web of memory. Memory grabs hold of past experiences and infuses them into what is presently seen.
The act of seeing becomes (through memory) a unifying force that gathers in the separated fragments of isolated sensations, giving one a sense of rootedness and stability.
It is exactly this—seeing as binding force—that captivates my attention and makes me wish to paint. Each painting, then, is a struggle to create a metaphor for this powerful reality, for this experienced coherent world.
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What is your earliest memory? Why do you think you remember the details of that event?
When you share your life experiences with others, you are painting a picture for them. In what ways have you seen people paint pictures of relationships, marriage, God etc. that were effective or ineffective? ______________________________
We love Benny and his technology free life…hence why you can’t “follow” him. Sorry, folks!
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