from my friend, arban:
I never understand people who can't just let art or music speak for itself. It is the answer and the question and everything else. I think it is nice that people write about music and art, I enjoy reading some of it...but like Frank Zappa said, "Writing about music is like dancing about architecture". If I was a modern dancer/choreographer, I would choreograph a piece called, "Dancing About Architecture". Maybe it has been done?

last quarter, at school (as part of the portfolio class) students had to write an artist's statement. yes, artist's statements are difficult...at least for most of us they are. i have always secretly felt that it was weird that fine artists were the only professional practitioners who have to justify their output in a medium unrelated to their field...for example, are mathmeticians required to make paintings about their proofs & theories? are novelists required to create drawings that explain their stories? the answer is this:

fuck no. they aren't.

having said this, i long ago accepted that writing my artists statement was something i would have to do, even if i didn't exactly warm up to it. at this point in time, i have written SO MUCH it boggles the mind.
i have a statement for my "familiars" images
i have a statement for my "glass images"
i have a different statement for each installation i've ever done.

i don't know that my statements (which are scattered around on my website) would be considered "normal"...but they're right in many ways, and i don't wish to change them.

* * * * *

i received at letter last from the editor and publisher at CameraArts magazine.

he said:

You piece is turning out very nicely. I do have a question, however. The only thing you don’t address in your dialogue is the why behind the images. The steps leading up to your “exposure” to that element are well shown, but not the why of particular images. All I need is a paragraph following the one that ends “it is unattainable in this existence.” Do you understand what I mean? Let me know what you think.

so i replied:
I understand exactly what you mean.

The “why” IS addressed. It is addressed perfectly. The “why” is embedded in the story & in the form/structure of the writing itself. I cannot write anything additional without telling a lie. And so it stays like it is....which is perfect.

As with nearly everything that matters, the question you ask IS UNANSWERABLE in the way you want it answered.
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i don't know what else to say.
seems to me like the more i talk, the less is understood.
so.
i shut up now.