"Comfortably Numb" erases the boundaries between dimensions

“Comfortably Numb” is a painting with sculpture mounted in front of it.

Some pieces create themselves. When that flow begins, it’s an amazing experience. Most artists know this magical spot though it doesn’t happen often enough. At some point, you realize you are not creating, but acting as a conduit for the creation of a work of art. It’s thrilling, humbling, mystical, spiritual…

“Comfortably Numb” was one of those pieces. From a couple of brief sketches, I saw the concept and its execution clearly. The figure took very little time to create. The gesture came together effortlessly. The canvas had to support the sculpture invisibly for the illusion to work. Even that was a short problem-to-solution step.

I did a rare thing at that point. I stopped working on the piece. I stepped back to enjoy what was happening. When a piece practically creates itself, the experience passes too quickly. The magic passes in a short, intense moment. With “Comfortably Numb” I chose to enjoy the process completely. So, I set the canvas aside unpainted with the sculpture mounted to the surface. And I looked at it for a week or two.

Then, in a very short session, I blocked in the 2-color background. It was a simple wash of Manganese at the bottom and Pyrrole Orange across the top. It had a Rothko vibe. I left that alone and simply observed for another week or two. Thinking but not doing. One morning the rocks and clouds became. Gradually, through the next week, the reflection and refraction of light appeared. Effortlessly. The most playful part was enhancing, but not fully rendering a shadow cast onto the surface by the figure. Suggesting waves near the horizon, the illusion was complete.

I have studied the illusions created by Rene Magritte. The geometry of Comfortably Numb is spatially similar to several of Magritte’s 2- and 3-dimensional works. Equally important are his titles. Each image makes a statement. Each title offers a different perspective. Between the viewer, the art and title a question is forged. And you are engaged.

Commissioned Mask for the Prize of Hope Award at Dell'Arte International

In 2022 I was commissioned to create 3 identical masks for Prize of Hope. This is a prestigious award given annually by Dell’Arte International and Aasen Teater, the Danish Institute for Popular Theater in Brødholtvej, Denmark. The 2022 Prize of Hope was awarded to the Zimbabwe Theater Academy. The evening festivities included a performance of the 2-person play, “Zandezi,” created and performed by Cadrick Msongwlwa and Ronald Sigeca from Zimbabwe.

The concept for the mask was the result of viewing videos, reading the script and working through 50 sketches before presenting this concept to Dell’Arte International for approval. After the clay came a mold and castings for 3 masks.

I began the commission by viewing videos of the performance, reading the script, researching Zimbabwean mask styles and then producing about 50 sketches. After sharing my concept with Dell’Arte CEO. I shaped the original mask in clay, created a silicon mold and cast three masks which were then painted. One mask was awarded to the group from Zimbabwe, one went to Denmark and the third is now in the Dell’Arte International collection.

Dell’Arte Institute and the Danish Institute of Popular Theater focus on physical theater, a genre of theatrical performance that encompasses storytelling primarily through physical movement. In Zimbabwe, where 14 languages are spoken, the language of motion connects all.

Dell’Arte has been offering the Prize of Hope with the Danish Institute of Popular Theater since 2008. Past recipients include Cornerstone Theater (2016), Tim Robbins & the Actor’s Gang (2008), and many more!

 My connection to Dell’Arte came through Tony Fuemeller, a master mask maker, actor, puppeteer, director and instructor. Many thanks for the introduction!

The Prize of Hope, 2022 was a commissioned mask depicting two figures whose heads are the eyes of the mask. Two additional figures rising above their predicament appear in the forehead of the mask. Final masks were cast in lightweight polymer/plaster mix and painted with acrylic paint.