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The Muse's Storage Box

The Muse's Storage Box
Copyright Diane Lou.

Alchemical Dreams and Disparate Realities

Rust and bones, broken toys and old text, game boards, gears and nests. Even as a child such odd, unwanted items evoked a pit-of-the-stomach response that bordered on exhilaration.
While I make no attempt to conjure up specific feelings in the viewer, the ambiguous juxtapositioning of familiar materials creates art that evokes half-forgotten, dream-like visions that beg to be interpreted by the viewer. There is a sense of deja vu (the already seen) tempered by a sense of jamais vu ( the never seen, or the illusion that the familiar does not seem familiar), and this contradiction asks the viewer to dig deeply, to look inside her own repository of wisdom, intuition and experience to find her own meaning in the familiar objects she sees.
The once-private discards of people's material lives that I collect for my art seem to carry universal memories with them, memories that can engage and mystify the viewer. Their beauty lies within the rust, the erosion, the wear, and the mere fact that they were once possessions.
I play with abandon and with no forethought. Each piece of detritus seems to suggest to me a relationship with some other piece, and I begin to put them together and wait for the mental "buzz" that lets me know I am proceeding as I should. Even at this point, I continue to remain in the play state and will not allow myself to direct the outcome of the piece, a process that requires complete trust. The outcome often mystifies me as much as it might any viewer.
Remember when, as a child, whatever was in reach became the instrument of your creative exploration? That is my life. A rusty, flattened piece of metal on the street, a gnawed bone by the roadside, a unique twisted branch from a tree, a fallen nest, a broken egg, a snake's skin, a dead butterfly...all will be added to my collection and eventually have their beauty honored in one of my pieces. The resulting art creates a new story with its own imagined history, one that invites the viewers to lay some claim on it by allowing themselves to be enveloped by the sight, the history, and the ambiguity of the realities before them.

Monday, April 13, 2009

Welcome!

After allowing myself to be intimidated by creating a blog for longer than I care to admit, here it is in its beginning phase.  I am emboldened (what a great word) now to move on to creating the long-overdue website of my art as well, as well as expanding the blog.  

What pops up and out of my mind on a given day will be what is on the blog.  It could be a picture of a new project in progress or completed, or a mini-lesson in some technique, or just a glimpse into my day.  I hope some of you will find it interesting enough to visit often and offer comments when you feel compelled to do so.

Thank you for joining me!
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5 comments:

Suzanne Reynolds said...

Congratulations on your blog, Dianne. It looks great! I look forward to seeing more of your wonderful art, and hearing about what's going on in your life.
best, Suzanne

April 13, 2009 at 5:23 PM
Diane Lou said...

I value your opinion, Suzanne! Thanks for commenting on this long overdue project. It's fun now that I'm finally doing it :)
Hugs,
Diane

April 13, 2009 at 5:40 PM
Teri said...

Ohhhh Diane! I'm so happy you have a blog and that I can follow more of your work. How lucky others can be introduced to the wonder of your talent.

I love "Why Not?" so much! It found its wall on the main floor - I see it every day and every day it captures my attention over and over again.

I can't wait to see more!

April 13, 2009 at 8:34 PM
Diane Lou said...

Thanks, Teri, for your support and or being a follower.
Hugs,
Diane

April 14, 2009 at 9:55 AM
Robin Olsen said...

Congratulations on getting your blog started Diane. It looks great!

April 16, 2009 at 5:33 PM

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