Art Attack – Out of the comfort zone
John Rankine
9/19/2013
I stepped out of my creative comfort zone by adding prose to a continued series of found-object still life photographs. Was I adding the prose because I didn’t think the photographs were strong enough? Did the poetry without the images stand on its own? Did these four or five line stanzas enhance or distract from the photographs? All questions I intuitively knew the answers to, but needed licensed reassurance.
Fearful with the knowledge this photo/poetry combo had the potential to become a Hallmark Card moment, I bravely contacted Eureka Springs’ poet laureate David Zimmermann, who agreed to review, help, and, gulp, critique the new work.
David assured me the poems didn’t suck (high praise), he liked the photos and gave me several suggestions, most of which I took, for improving the prose.
Four of the above-mentioned (insert shameless plug here) are featured at The StoneHouse wine bar for the rest of the month, Putting one’s “art” on the wall for all to see and judge is what artists do, and viewer reaction is beyond our control. It’s easy to settle into our familiar creative habits, producing work we know our patrons will like, and more important, sell, but sometimes we have to shake it up a bit, go with our passion and pray the result doesn’t suck.
“John,” David said, “Of course there’s someone who thinks you never should have added the poetry, but it’s your work and who the &#@% really cares?”
Stepping out of their comfort zones are eight established Eureka Springs artists who have started their own gallery on North Main. Denise Ryan, Drew Gentle, John Willer, Ernie Kilman, Barbara Robinson, Charles Pearce and Diana Harvey opened the Eureka Fine Art Gallery Saturday. It’s impressive and a welcomed addition to our growing local art scene. The artwork is as diverse and varied as their personalities. Congratulations.
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