The Cause Collection^™

Meet the Artist

Having just experienced Three 3D Responses to Violent Changes and formulated impressions of the dramatic impact violence inflicts upon culture, the viewer is now encouraged to interact with this piece by shaking its outstretched lifelike wax hand.

Traditionally a precautionary measure, the gesture of offering one's right hand to shake allowed the other a direct opportunity to check for weapons.

As a greeting of introduction today, it still functions as an opportunity to evaluate trust.

Before a mirror, the viewer participates in this ritual while perceiving the other's perspective of oneself.

Here, the viewer is invited to consider:

• If a tree falls in the woods, and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?

• Likewise, if art is created, and no one is there to perceive it, does it communicate?

• In the creative process, the viewer's perspective interacts with the creator's intent, and both are necessary to complete the work of art.

Perhaps one's perception is indeed the artist within us all.

Despite a culture's need to foster the art of creativity, often artists pursue their passion against the counter culture of those who just don't seem to understand the calling of the creative spirit.

The creative spirit is not just a preternatural urge to be artistic, for it has its origins as an obsessive survival skill. Obsession, as a natural survival skill, was bred into us from the early days of humanity, obsessed with seeking food, shelter, fresh water, trustworthy tribe-members, and finding a good mate, etc.

Certainly, when obsession focuses upon something unhealthy, it's a 'disorder.' Conversely, when obsession focuses upon something healthy, it is a positive order, and much can be made of this order.

Traditionally, the most outstanding people of all time are those who were obsessive about something. Creative obsessive behavior can lead one to a state of genius, especially when one's genes are naturally possessed by the creative spirit.

Perhaps the artist within us all will help create a better world.