BLOG by David Berks---Owner
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What is art? “It is what it is”… I have heard that saying as an acknowledgement that one must accept that…”What you see is what you get.” No hidden meanings, no doubts, no attempt to beguile the observer. For some accomplished artists, an apple is an apple and a hat is a hat. When they are juxtaposed, the mind is challenged into having to discover or interpret how the objects relate and what conclusions, if any, can be drawn from the work. Surrealism is expressed in this way, counting on our understanding of what is real. The starting point for understanding the work is based in reality. One can’t really argue about what is seen, even though its interpretation may vary amongst observers
My art encourages me to delve even further into how the mind interprets what it sees by introducing a process that captures with photography the ongoing chemical reactions at different stages of the work’s development. Just like a painting, there is a play of color and shapes, both representative and more abstract, really dependent on the observer to experience more than analyze. Each work is unique, and cannot be duplicated, as additional chemical reactions are introduced, changing the work, continuing to the endpoint. The goal is to offer a work for meditation by considering what is seen without knowing, letting suggestions rise from work.
This process is a combination of three stages, and is called patination, from the root “patina,” meaning usually an oxidizing film on metal that presents itself in various shades of green over time, even protecting the metal from further oxidation (i.e., no rust). Other colors of patinas are available. For me, the “canvas” is solid copper. Once completed. it is possible to top coat the result for indoor or outdoor use and for protection for those who can’t resist touching the patina. A coating is recommended either way, as the chemicals found in various patinas in any form (wet or dry) can irritate the skin and should not be breathed.
Process: The first stage is adequately cleaning the surface. The second stage, playtime, is getting carried away by the process, which can include heating. Visualization along the way includes “finding” recognizable forms as the work proceeds, bringing them into being to enhance the piece. The ongoing third stage is to photograph the evolution of the process as it occurs. Eventually the various inter-reactions come to an end. I am not limiting myself to other techniques, but this is what I am currently exploring
I am finally retired and ready to devote more time to what I have wrought in just the past year with the work you see. The next phase is combining this technique with copper enameling and see where that goes. It seems there is so much more that can be explored with these two techniques. Inspiration encourages work and work means results. I plan on sticking with it and welcome any feedback or comments anyone may have to share.
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