Revelation - When truth overcomes illusion

Among the many practices I find interesting is numerology. I was once told I am a number 8 - able to see both sides of the story, able to see balance, confident that patience will be rewarded.

My work explores illusion to discover the underlying truth. The archetype. The quality or experience that connects us rather than divides us.

“Revelation” is a statement about the realization of the truth. When disinformation or projected beliefs are eliminated, what’s left is that incredible “ah-ha” moment when everything is seen with fresh eyes.

Science historian, author, and television producer James Burke, in his series “The Day the Universe Changed” offered countless examples of how society’s view of the universe has been impacted by revelations. What we perceive as true is an illusion held together by current knowledge which can be overturned by scientific proof and/or direct experience. How the truth is revealed is not my point. When the veils of misinformation, political agendas, or any other form of illusion are pulled aside, what remains is undeniable. It can be unsettling, destabilizing and disruptive.

The truth shifts balance from what we once believed to what we now know.

Speaking in Symbols

Symbolism, according to art historians, was a movement that began around 1880 and ended in the 1920s. If you are into boundaries and barriers, that definition works just fine. I’m not. It doesn’t.

As opposed to Impressionism, with its commitment to the reality of the surface, Symbolism was a more holistic view as an artistic and a literary movement. It suggested ideas through symbols and emphasized the meaning behind the forms. Symbolism was a precursor of modernism. It developed fresh, abstract expression of psychological truth suggesting that behind the physical world lay a spiritual reality. Symbolists could take the ineffable, such as a dream or vision, and give it form.

“Underlying Truth” is about illusion – What we believe. What we see. And how that eclipses the foundational truth.

Symbolism is not limited to a movement. It is an enduring method of communication. Jung explains that through exploration of symbols one will eventually discover its fundamental archetype. That succinctly summarizes my path from sketch to sculpture. Art is a process of discovery through query and response. The object created is a summary of that process. The real art is the doing.

Communicating through symbols isn’t a conscious decision for me. Symbols have always been a comfortable vehicle for me to absorb and transmit information. They invite many levels of interpretation. The message can be suggestive, timeless, universal, grand.

I use visual metaphors as a form of poetry expressed in multiple languages at once. The symbols I use are gestural – human, animal and combinations of the two.

The infinite variations of gesture are the root of story telling. Abstracting the form, like editing text, is a process of eliminating anything that doesn’t contribute to the story. What’s left invites viewers to explore and encounter their own archetypes.

How I manage creativity to produce unique ideas

Creativity, like any skill, must be managed. Throughout my career, I’ve worked with many insanely creative people. The most successful all had one thing in common. They understood that generating ideas is not a random flash of inspiration. It is a skill that is honed daily.

Here’s how I approach my work. This talk was delivered on Friday, March 11, 2022 to a wide online audience and members of PDX Commons.

Sculptures recently sold

My Three Shadows - mixed media mask

A couple of items found new homes on the east coast last week. “Mentor” pays homage to my many generous teachers and the impact their wisdom has had on my life. “My Three Shadows” is an early attempt at mask making. It ventures into the realm of what Rick Bartow described as “things you know but cannot explain.”

How NFTs enhance an art collector's experience and expand art appreciation

Examples of NFT media that can be bundled into the complete experience.

I’ve been exploring NFTs as a potential path to create richer provenance for my art. Traditionally, provenance refers to the history of ownership of a piece. Any gallerist will tell you that photos of an artwork in the artist’s studio, or photos of the artist working on the piece enhance the credibility and value of the piece.

Point your camera at this image to download a 3D version of this sculpture.

My perspective is a bit broader. I see the finished piece as evidence that art happened. The real art is the creation – the process of exploration, the discovery, creating and solving problems. My sculptures are the result of many sketches over days, months or even years before I see something unique enough to execute in 3D. In addition to sketches and watercolors, my working documentation may include photos that I manipulate in Photoshop to expand my own understanding of the piece. I may shoot video as I think aloud during the process.

When I sell a piece, I sometimes include copies of sketches. With NFTs as an additional option, documentation of the work in progress expands the collector’s experience. It may expand their perception of the meaning. Or, it may alter their appreciation of how I saw the form and the space. The experience becomes much richer than simply owning a static digital image, or an simple animation. A video turntable image gives the full 360 degree view of the piece. My newest exploration includes a 3D image that collectors can spin and tumble to fully explore the space and form.

To date, I have only minted a few masks as NFTs. But, there will be more to come soon!

PDX Open Studios October 9, 10, 16 & 17

My studio is open to the public during PDX Open Studios weekends, October 9-10 and 16-17 from 10am until 5pm. Visitors welcome with masks.

Many new works on display. Several in progress. Plus deep discounts on most framed and unframed watercolors. It’s time to make space for new work.

If you’re worried about crowds, contact me to visit another time.

Visit my exhibit at Art in the Pearl this Labor Day Weekend

For the past several years, I attended Art in the Pearl as a demo artist with Pacific Northwest Sculptors.

This year, I’ve been invited to exhibit my work in my own booth. I’ll be in booth # S19A near the corner of SW Park and Davis.

Festival hours are Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 4th and 5th from 10-5 and Monday Sept. 6th from 10-4.

Festival organizers are taking special precautions to protect visitors and artists. Masks are required to enter the area. Exhibits are designed to allow appropriate distancing.

I hope to see you there.

If crowds are too much for you, I do studio visits by appointment after the festival. Contact me to arrange a visit.

Sketch to Sculpture: Talk and Demo at OSA

I can talk about my thought process when creating sculptures. But it’s more fun and more informative to actually demonstrate the process with my hands on the materials. That’s the plan for Friday Fun at Oregon Society of Artists on July 30, 2021 from 6:00-8:00pm. It’s part of their Friday Fun series. It’s outdoors in their parking lot. Drinks and snacks provided. Plan to get there early. Space is limited.

I’ll explain my constant transition between 2- to 3-dimension as I create and solve problems in the process of building a sculpture. I will have multiple examples of materials and works in progress. I’ll have things everyone can touch, explore and manipulate. I’ll be showing how I get from simple 4x6” sketches to full size patterns, then to a steel wire armature and finally a sculpture.

The 2-hour talk/demo will be interactive, fun and hopefully enlightening. The techniques I share are the same that I include in my upcoming sculpture classes at OSA in the fall. It will be a 7-week series of 2-hour sessions. I’ll post more info when the fall class catalog is published.

New Paintings and Sculpture at Columbia Center for the Arts

The Collector

It was an interesting challenge to create 30 pieces in 30 days. I realized most would have to be paintings. In the end, I created 27 acrylic paintings on 8x8” panels, two masks and one sculpture. Please join us for the Opening Reception, Friday, June 4 from 5-7pm at Columbia Center for the Arts, Hood River, Oregon. It’s open to the public.

Other artists participating in this show include: Rebecca Bashara, George Winn, Scott MacDonald, Chloe Hight, Mark Nilsson, Molly Holmlund.

IDEOLOGY - We hold these truths to limit our potential.

Ideology - Sculpture by Chas Martin

Racism, sexism, ageism, classism, religious intolerance - all are biases rooted in the ideologies we have chosen to believe. Ideologies are our own projections. We see what we are able to see based on learned thought patterns.

"Ideology" by Chas Martin – Click to explore interactive 3D version

IDEOLOGY, the sculpture, balances two symbolic figures of no apparent gender, race, politics or religion. Their magnetic engagement focuses on an invisible concept, an arbitrary point in space. It is nothing more than a construct of the imagination. In this sculpture, the figures appear in dynamic opposition. Ironically, it is the invisible concept that connects them.

Polarization does not confirm right or wrong. Aristotle argued every proposition is either true or false. He simply eliminated the entire universe of possibilities between the extremes. Great strategy for attorneys. A real buzz kill for creative thinkers. Logic blinds us to opportunity while binding us to ineffectiveness. Polarization solves nothing.

How do we let go of an ideology and invite other options for consideration? This is the basis for change. It is the very foundation of innovation. Logic says every step should lead toward your goal. A misstep is a mistake. I disagree. We learn more from mistakes than victories. Sometimes, a wrong can expose us to an better right. It takes courage to step away from the security of our beliefs.

Identification is a foundation for ideology. We label ourselves and our communities to reassure our sense of belonging. This is us. Everything else is them. We are right. They are not right. Our perceived inclusion excludes, and in many instances, devalues everyone else and their opinions. Segmented communities enable participants to feel safe or strong. Ultimately, however, each ideological community is distanced from the larger community. Our differences are reinforced by our ideological limitations.

Labels are limitations. Categorizing an individual by color, sex, religion or other descriptor is not, in my opinion, a sign of respect, but a recognition of differentiation that ultimately leads to separation, division, exclusion, resentment and implied limitations. Labels maintain focus on our differences, not our similarities.

Suspending our ideologies opens the door to overcome conflict. We may learn to appreciate and include others as true equals. We may realize we are ALL people of many COLORS. WE can move beyond racism, sexism, and ageism to a society of humanism.