Artist Talk for Where Do We Go From Here?

I often create visual metaphors inspired from paging through books.  In creating these surreal images I have found myself moving toward a more photography feel.... this media supports a sense of reality while keeping a nod to the Mannerist. 

But the book arts is still my first love.

I have felt that many where disheartened by the actions of the pervious administration, causing a questioning of our personal and national culture and identity. The title "where do we go from here?" inspired me to create a small collection of realizations and tools for realignment.  As with any loss I have found it is good to take stock in the things around you.  Evaluate where you have been, what your doing right now and where to go from here... In the beginning of a body of work I like to pick a place on the planet to focus on either by visiting or learning all that I can about that place. 

Bali, for some reason came to me. 

"In Bali this locating on the planet is very imperative into the geography of their culture. The whole idea of Bali is a matrix, a massive and invisible grid of spirits, guides, path and customs. The Balinese know were everyone belongs on this great, intangible map. They are human GPS. 

The Balinese don’t let their newborn children touch the ground for the first six months, newborns are gods sent straight from heaven.... and it wouldn’t be acceptable for a god to crawl around.... So, for the first six months  the babies are carried and revered as minor deities... if it dies before the end of the six months it is  given a special cremation ceremony celebrating its god status... 

But if the baby lives a big ceremony is held...

 Family and friends watch as they lightly dip the baby’s feet in a bowl full of holy water, placed above a magic drawing encompassing the whole universe, and they touch her soles to the earth for the first time... when they lift her back up into the air, damp footprints remain. This orients the child at last onto the great Balinese grid, establishing who she is by establishing where she is.  and she is now one of us... a human being with all the risk and thrills that are involved. And for the rest of her life she will answer"

where are you coming from? 

and where are you going from here...

I’m going to weave in and out of these images... 

pulling some of the symbols to your attention...

quoted from "eat love pray"