StrangeAlchemist
June 4th, 2005, 03:25 AM
:jawdrop:
I just got back from the artist's reception at an art show in San Jose called "Black Iraq", featuring the paintings and drawings of Mr. Barron Storey. For anyone in Northern California, I highly, highly recommend checking out this show while it is up. If you have the ability to see the work, DO NOT pass it up, put it off, or convince yourself you might go later. He has not had a show in over 10 years, so this is a rare opportunity. It would be a crying shame to miss out on this one, trust me.
http://artsopolis.com/?app=eventDetail&id=9474
With the images fresh in my head it is difficult to describe how incredibly humbled I feel as an artist right now. For those who know Barron's work, the level of skill, and intensity of feeling in his pieces alone is enough to knock the ego down several pegs. What makes my experience just now all the more humbling is the absolute humility and good will of the man himself. While I go to a good number of gallery shows featuring great work, I can honestly say I have NEVER seen such a collection of knock out, drop dead, powerful work all in one show, much less all by one person. I honestly found some of the work to be on par with some of my all time favorite museum pieces.
I am proud to say that I am now the owner of an original 10x20 painting by Barron. It is absolutely, 100% mind-blowing that someone like me was able to afford the work of such an exceptional artist. And yet, here I am thanks to the unbelievably gracious actions of someone who I consider among the finest living artists in the world. Barron Storey had not only done us the favor of displaying his fantastic work for anyone who wants to see it, he actually made it affordable enough for the average art student to acquire it. There are dozens of incredibly thankful young artists and collectors such as myself who have been able to do what we almost never can: afford the work we admire most. It is amazing... just amazing.
All in all it was a thunderclap lesson in humility for me. It is all but impossible to go around being cocky and brash, narcissistic and egotistical about art on any level when someone light years beyond me is so giving. It is an eye opener and a much needed reminder of why we are all making art in the first place: because there is something we believe to be important and we have the need to communicate it... I have the urge to continue to babble on about all this, but right now I think I need to just go meditate on what I have seen.
I will be going back to the show soon to absorb more (the amount and intensity of the imagery was literally enough to cause over stimulation). If anyone has an interest in checking it out let me know and perhaps we could cruise down together. I really believe strongly in the power of this work (if you couldn't tell by my gushing) and it would be fun to go see it again with some of the artists who hang on the boards. Either way, see it if you get the chance. If you're anything like me your mind will be blown.
I just got back from the artist's reception at an art show in San Jose called "Black Iraq", featuring the paintings and drawings of Mr. Barron Storey. For anyone in Northern California, I highly, highly recommend checking out this show while it is up. If you have the ability to see the work, DO NOT pass it up, put it off, or convince yourself you might go later. He has not had a show in over 10 years, so this is a rare opportunity. It would be a crying shame to miss out on this one, trust me.
http://artsopolis.com/?app=eventDetail&id=9474
With the images fresh in my head it is difficult to describe how incredibly humbled I feel as an artist right now. For those who know Barron's work, the level of skill, and intensity of feeling in his pieces alone is enough to knock the ego down several pegs. What makes my experience just now all the more humbling is the absolute humility and good will of the man himself. While I go to a good number of gallery shows featuring great work, I can honestly say I have NEVER seen such a collection of knock out, drop dead, powerful work all in one show, much less all by one person. I honestly found some of the work to be on par with some of my all time favorite museum pieces.
I am proud to say that I am now the owner of an original 10x20 painting by Barron. It is absolutely, 100% mind-blowing that someone like me was able to afford the work of such an exceptional artist. And yet, here I am thanks to the unbelievably gracious actions of someone who I consider among the finest living artists in the world. Barron Storey had not only done us the favor of displaying his fantastic work for anyone who wants to see it, he actually made it affordable enough for the average art student to acquire it. There are dozens of incredibly thankful young artists and collectors such as myself who have been able to do what we almost never can: afford the work we admire most. It is amazing... just amazing.
All in all it was a thunderclap lesson in humility for me. It is all but impossible to go around being cocky and brash, narcissistic and egotistical about art on any level when someone light years beyond me is so giving. It is an eye opener and a much needed reminder of why we are all making art in the first place: because there is something we believe to be important and we have the need to communicate it... I have the urge to continue to babble on about all this, but right now I think I need to just go meditate on what I have seen.
I will be going back to the show soon to absorb more (the amount and intensity of the imagery was literally enough to cause over stimulation). If anyone has an interest in checking it out let me know and perhaps we could cruise down together. I really believe strongly in the power of this work (if you couldn't tell by my gushing) and it would be fun to go see it again with some of the artists who hang on the boards. Either way, see it if you get the chance. If you're anything like me your mind will be blown.