Although on some level, I understand the need for the viewer to have something in writing, it annoys me to have to explain myself, as if the work itself wasn’t quite enough or did not stand on its own.  The problem with the words we use is that if you look at any artist’s statement it could easily be attributed to any one artist and it would basically do.  So, what motivates a sculptor or painter is seemingly similar but the content of the work is not. Besides, these motivations are not original or even interesting and having been so overused and beaten to death they no longer stand for what they “say”.  One would have to create new words, or obfuscate to such an extent that the viewer, cowed beyond words, would take refuge in actually trying to “understand” or connect with the work in question.  (Which is the whole point and only point of an Artists Statement).

“Artists are a dime a dozen”… I don’t think that was always true.  Because self-expression as a creative or therapeutic tool is a valid act does not mean that everything that is “created” falls under the category of Art. Unfortunately, we can no longer clearly tell the difference.

I am a sculptor and I paint.