Ms. Cosmopolite: May 2009

Friday, May 29, 2009

My Petite Bullet Blossoms

Although I have declared myself ageless, Ms. Cosmopolite still adores birthday presents! In May I celebrated my birth as I do most every year by acquiring a new piece of art. I had been coveting the work of Nancy Baker Cahill since February when I saw her art at the charity event FreshStART that benefits Para Los Niños. There were probably hundreds of works presented that night and I buzzed around the gallery space searching for my favourite. To my surprise, every piece I choose was a) by Nancy Cahill Baker and b) already sold! Undeterred, I contacted Nancy directly after the event to see more of her work and was immediately drawn to her Bullet Blossoms Series. At first sight, I wanted to touch these delicate and fierce works on paper that felt both cheery and slightly serious.

It took me a few minutes to incorporate the title of the series, Bullet Blossoms, into my psyche and for a spilt second I jumped back. It dawned on me that the beautiful, vibrant painted poppies I was admiring were created with bullets! Bullets that kill, maim, and destroy so many lives in the world! Honestly, I was not sure how to feel about a symbol of violence transformed into something so utterly beautiful. But the work got me THINKING and FEELING, so I knew I was on to something very special.

Aesthetically I was completely awed by the work, but wanted to explore my feelings around the artistic process. I read Nancy’s artist statement and spent time talking to her and in the process learned more about my own view on guns.

So you are probably wondering how a slight, young, pretty lady ended up creating fabulous art at the shooting range? Already a working artist, Nancy visited a shooting range with her father in 2007 and found the experience of operating a gun nerve racking and jarring, yet rather empowering. She was aware of the inherent danger around her, but also her increased sense of confidence. After the first experience, Nancy decided knowledge is power and started gun training with a professional. Just being a woman in the male dominated shooting range alerted her to issues of safety and trust (even as she endured some nasty behaviour). Since she was not interested in shooting targets of the human form, Nancy started painting her own targets of botanical objects. Eventually, this led to painting poppies both for their ripe and swollen features and their relation to the drug trade in Afghanistan. Her goal was not to erase the ugliness of violence, but to heal and transform it into something beautiful and productive. This work is, in my mind, truly performance art. Working with specialty paper, Nancy shoots the piece with a 9mm handgun (45 Kimber), standing about 10 yards away to insure accuracy. The “exit wounds” create 3 dimensional sculptures that form the poppies and allow for varying paintings.

I asked Nancy to create a petite version of the Bullet Blossoms and then frame it in a walnut shadow box to allow room for the 3D aspects of the work. It now hangs in my bedroom and I am touched by both its beauty and message daily.
One of the interesting things about viewing Bullet Blossoms is the realization that the viewer is on the receiving end of the bullet. Looking at the work, I don’t think I have ever been in the line of fire of art in quite the same way... I, like many women, am intimidated and uncomfortable with guns and have never touched one. I abhor violence and war, and have expressed my views many times to lawmakers, politicians, and community leaders. Yet, I am not naïve to the fact that our society is being militarized in many aspects, and as a result our safety and privacy are in jeopardy. Just this week the issue of allowing guns in State parks was debated, and some are advocating for students to carry guns on University campuses. This all begs the question, do I stay fearful and uneducated about gun usage or do I bite the bullet? Curious to hear your thoughts on this important subject.

In the meantime, explore the world of Nancy Cahill Baker at www.nancybakercahill.com/.

Until next time,

Ms Cosmopolite

This entry posted by CAFAM Web Master @ 3:55 PM 0 Comments

The Great Debate

I received a curious call the other day from an art curator and museum director I had not previously known. His voice sounded urgent and excited - his words rolled at a brisk pace as his emotions elevated. Enthusiastically, he told me about an artist visit he just concluded, saying that it was the “most mesmerizing and surprising experience of his 30 year art career”. As I listened to this stranger describe an electrifying experience of seeing art that clearly moved him, I started to wonder why he had chosen to share it with me. Truthfully, I even started to zone out as he kept repeating his near religious experience until he got to the punch line, “I would give the artist an exhibit in a heartbeat but I don’t show FOLK ART.” I smiled to myself and politely asked him what exactly he thought “folk art” was. He rattled off a rather stale description using terms such as “untrained”, “primitive”, “naïve”, “cultural artifact”, blah, blah, blah.

Normally I don’t shy away from a good debate, but discussing what is high, low, good, or bad art is an empty exercise. My definition of good art is very simple -- it is art that moves my soul, inspires me to feel or think, and fills me with pure delight. I know the exact feeling of coming into contact with it and experience an instant high when I see it. Sadly, it seems the more “educated” one is on the subject of art, the more disconnected he/she is from the creative impulse that inspires great art. I joyfully spend every dollar I can on art and enjoy my collection daily - my art is part of my life. I personally prefer art created in the context of community or connected to tradition and ritual. Plastic pop art sculptures “fabricated” by machines may get millions at Sothebys, but leave me unmoved. They say that you are what you collect, and I guess that’s the real story. I am a folk… who are you?

Now for those of you wondering, “what exactly is Folk Art?” Here’s one view:

At CAFAM we view the term “folk art” in a contemporary and dynamic light that is not limited to one frame. We consider all art made in a cultural and social context as part of our domain. Our stance encompasses a wide breath of art and ideas ranging from Polynesian body tattoos that mark a tribe, whether traditional or urban, to the modern interpretation of ancient cave paintings from India that offer political commentary about a post-9/11 world, to a photojournalist’s observations of the complexity of contemporary Iranian society.

Folk art offers cultural insights not readily seen in other art forms since it is created with an awareness of, and a connection to tradition and community. The process of creating folk art is a varied and dynamic one the builds on traditional methods or ideas, but also includes individual creativity and contemporary influences. This artistic merger of social order and individual creativity offers incredible insight into global and local values and beliefs. Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of folk art is how sublimely it reveals human similarities amongst diverse cultures.

No song, no performance, no act of creation can be properly understood apart from the culture or subculture in which it is found and of which it is a part; nor should any ‘work of art’ be looked on as a thing in itself apart from the continuum of creation-consumption.

- Edward D. Ives

Until next time,

Ms. Cosmopolite

This entry posted by CAFAM Web Master @ 5:30 PM 0 Comments

Friday, May 29, 2009

My Petite Bullet Blossoms

Friday, May 1, 2009

The Great Debate