Empyreal Continuum, 1976

Empyreal Continuum, 1975

Artist's Statement

Between technology and fundamentalism lies the abyss of alienation and human isolation: repression of the daimonic leads to violence, apathy, and, finally, death of the human spirit.

Contemporary society struggles between these two extreme forces which deny Nature as a whole, and human nature, specifically. In Art and Music lies refuge, identity, inspiration, and the seeds of courage to prevail against media influences which celebrate the intellectual and spiritual poverty represented by those extremes. On the margins of our pathetic (i.e., tragic) contemporary world, but still attracting millions of ordinary people, Art and Music radiate the contrary message that there is meaning to life; that we all have significance; that we share similar thoughts, fears, desires, yearnings; that we are all still human. Art helps us to live, and prepares us for dying.

The art which the media celebrate, today, is driven by the same forces which drive the commodities market , and is sold to the public by the same marketing techniques.

Increasingly, the intellectual has replaced the intuitive as part of artistic process. The worn out mantra that Art must entertain shocking ideas in order to be avant guarde places a terrible burden on artists which does not necessarily lead to works of authenticity. Kandinsky's and Schoenberg's cry for Art created from "inner necessity" is as valid at the beginning of the 21st century as it was at the beginning of the 20th century. At the same time, no one could claim that either of these artists lacked for a theoretical basis. Only in the last century has the avant guarde been sold as some special commodity emanating primarily from intellectualizing, theoretical activity.

Beethoven made Schoenberg possible. Beethoven's music reflects the great human struggle within, through the medium of original musical ideas, as does Schoenberg's, which shapes emotion through the highly structured properties of 12 tone theory which he developed as his contribution to musical form. Each was an artistic revolutionary. Each respected musical tradition. Each was an intuitive and expressive composer.

Historically speaking, the true avant guarde has projected fresh vision which opens our minds to new possibilities. Much of what is cutting edge, by contrast, is a mind-numbing dead end.

The artists', or composers', marks equal the sum of an entire life, reflect the time in which he or she lives, while, at the same time, sounding prescient overtures to the future. They express the yearning to achieve connection with other human beings. Art is a tree of form and structure which bears the fruit of human understanding and creates a sense of spiritual community. Each work is a dream of wholeness.