The first Friday of each month is the art walk in my little town. It’s always been my favorite day. I’ve never had a bad one, ever. And when I’ve been fortunate enough to afford art, there was the added excitement that maybe I would make a new acquisition—procure a new trophy.
Though buying art is a tricky thing, even for me. It’s a bold move, plunking down hundreds or thousands of dollars for a work of art. Many feel they need to justify their decision, intellectually; defend it to their friends. I didn’t suffer that hurdle, but pragmatism nagged me; I’m not a rich man. My problem was thinking of all the ‘sensible’ things I needed, and comparing it to my desire for this piece of art.
The process included a piece by Oregon artist, Randy Redfield Month after month, I saw a few of his pieces that drew me in. One in particular, I wanted. I vacillated. I never stopped wanting it, but I tried to justify it to myself. There were two Redfield’s from the same series. I loved them both, but had a favorite. Then, one month, it was gone. My favorite of the two was gone.
I walked in circles. I contemplated shortly. Then I started looking for a little red sticker. I couldn’t let the other one slip away. I bought it that night and I’ve enjoyed it ever since and come to like it more than the one I let slip into someone else’s hands.
And as I was talking to Randy, contemplating his piece, he said something that has stuck with me. I believe I referred to his piece as abstract, but he quickly corrected me. “It’s not an abstraction of anything”. He’s right! Of course he’s right! It’s not a Chagall. It’s not Picasso. It’s not a woman with a funny head. It’s pure color, texture, line, space, light, dark. “It’s a color field” Randy explained.
That has been an important addition to my art-vocabulary. I liken it to music that’s pure instrumental. It doesn’t relate to tangible things. But it can be sublime. Thanks Randy, for the clarification and the painting.
I understand Randy’s work can now be seen at Bend’s newest and best contemporary art gallery, BICA.
*the piece featured is not mine, just an example of Randy's work
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3 comments:
well,that certainly reads well and was instructive as well/rr
very instructive as well as informative about redfield
Randy gets the credit. Previously, I had thought of just about everything that wasn't realistic or impressionist as abstract. He made a great point. Though there are still many contemporary genre's I don't know how to describe. What if there's no color? What if it's Franz Klein? What if it's all black and white? At least I know to wonder.
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