On Questions

Last week we watched a video about the artist Robert Irwin and spent time talking about his questioning process. Irwin used a method of self-questioning to propel his work forward and to probe the effect and meaning of the work that he was creating. His big question in my mind is what to make and this lead him to an exploration of perception. But how does this question relate to anyone else but Irwin. In all likelihood it doesn't, but the process of questioning—not the individual question is a process that is relevant for all artists. Everyone must find the questions that are appropriate for their search—as Irwin said for his Getty Garden project-"always changing, never twice the same"

Martin Puryear

This is a enigmatic image from the Martin Puryear exhibition.  What does it refer to...bird or  tool...a little slippery, the image moves from one interpretation to the next.  The piece is haunting.

The test

OK.  So it is time to think about art and wonder.  How are the two ideas connected. I will try to think about this over the next several weeks.  Really, I am interested in curiosity—what makes me want to think, look, or respond.  Is it the natural world, or a product of human intervention.  Does art create wonder for viewers and does an artist's wonderings create art?  Let's see now.