In 2006 I began an 8 piece series of artworks under the theme ‘fragments’, on the nature of existence. They seem timely & perhaps, more relevant today. It took several years to complete them & in 2009, three were on exhibition entitled ‘Transformations’ at the Norris Cultural Center, here in Saint Charles, Illinois.
Not unlike Shakespeares poem ‘The Seven Stages of Man’, a favorite passage of mine.
All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages. At first, the infant,
Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms.
Then the whining schoolboy, with his satchel
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school. And then the lover,
Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad
Made to his mistress' eyebrow. Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard,
Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon's mouth. And then the justice,
In fair round belly with good capon lined,
With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and modern instances;
And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slippered pantaloon,
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side;
His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank, and his big manly voice,
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.
I set out to explore my own themes in mixed media & incorporating found objects. In some cases some very personel objects from my own life history, as I believe all art created, is autobiographical in nature & regard.
A journey of a lifetime, entitled in a life progression, such is the paradox of being human as folllows~
Nothingness & Being, Cultivate & Incapacitate, Indifference & Impartiality, Sentiment & Pragmatism, Wisdom & Folly, Civilty & Madness, Regeneration & Frailty, Sleep & Dream
Within the chaos of our lives there are certain symbols and archetypes, that are simple & beautiful truths that connect us all together. The tree is an ancient and varied symbol throughout history and in most all cultures. While the olive tree is typically a symbol of peace, different trees have different meanings, throughout the world. I have chosen, in part, oak tree leaves as one of the most important symbols that are incorporated in all 8 pieces. As It's a symbol of strength, morale, resistance and knowledge, my tree of life or figuratively speaking, a mobius strip connecting us throughout time & space forever. We’re all, just star stuff, to be sure.
If we take the time to find those things we have in common, rather than focusing on the differences, we can find a mutual understanding of each other. With respect & common decency…more then the pretty or the beautiful, we find that a sublime connection of oneness reveals itself, if we only look with eyes wide shut.
Partial list of mediums and objects include~oak substrate, leaves & bark, acrylic & oil paints, ebony pencil, paint marker, charcoal , oil pastel, india ink, photgraphy, coins & stamps, compass, copper wire & rods, mirror, granite, a variety of drawings and smaller paintings incorpoated, as well as many others.
(*interestingly, I took a single 12” square mirror and broke into 8 varied pieces, added 1 piece to each of the 8, so each individual person can see themselves and when the mirror is put together, see each other and ourselves when joined symbolicaly.)
Please enjoy, consider & contemplate, their meaning and see yourself, see me, see us. buried within the fractal patterns within the chaos.
The 1st image is a promotional card, created for the exhibit. The 2nd, a collage of all 8 works compiled into one. Please, feel free to comment and ask questions,
Richard Sperry
All 8, 48”x48” pieces in collage