I like this point, Duane: "Like an astronaut viewing Earth from outer space and coming back again. Feeling at once more human and more alien."
I spent a decade outside of Canada living in Korea and the reverse culture shock felt like this in a way. So much had changed while my memories of the place had faded and perhaps been idealized and inaccurate. Hard to explain but nevertheless, an awesome experience.
I like that collage titled: "thwarted with their plans of happiness and folly." Interesting to have the reflection in the visor of the astronaut.
That’s a perfect example Neil! I moved around a lot as a kid. I think when things like that happens enough or are impactful enough that kind of isolation, or exclusion, or exile-like mentality becomes grafted to you personality, to you identity, perhaps even you DNA. No matter how long I’ve ever lived anywhere I’ve always maintained a feeling of being an expatriate. It seems that in our current culture that feeling is becoming more pervasive in varying and interesting ways. Thanks again!
"while my memories of the place had faded and perhaps been idealized and inaccurate"
Neil, I'm glad you said it so clearly. It's like we feel some duty towards accuracy--with the goal of having a "photographic memory." But I've been gently trying to reframe this "forgetting." Trying to look on it kindly, and to see it as something actually quite beautiful and creative that the mind does—how it distills and refines and edits our experiences into something like poetry fragments—saving the essence of what mattered and letting the rest go.
That's such a wonderful way to see it, Ann! Memory, is itself, in many, a creative act. Something we are constantly drafting and drafting whether or not we are aware it's happening. It can be beautiful experience when we can catch a glimpse of it moving in that way.
yeah, I think it also applies even to sad or hard memories…If you think about it, the goal of all therapy is to help us feel those difficult emotions and to incorporate them somehow into the wholeness of who we are now…reframing in a way that helps us move forward always beginning again with greater self kindness. Not in a self-righteous way but in an empathetic way that helps us extend that same strength to others.
That's one of the things I enjoy about your newsletter, it's getting to see those fragments form into something. The interstices of a moment recalled beautifully.
Thanks so much! I definitely wanted there to be a certain kind melancholy pervasive in the pieces. A tangible degree of longing and estrangement. An example of saudade made visible. Thanks again!
Thank you! It was really great having such a clear direction in mind and being to thematically focus the work on a particular project. After I finished the series and sent it off to Pardon I felt a bit lost in the studio, almost directionless. Hoping to stumble upon a similar kind of project in the near future.
So glad to hear you say that! Thank you! I was worried about maintaining a sense of continuity and flow from one piece to the. I wanted it to feel a bit like a story. It was really so much fun!
Love the astronaut images and how distant they are trying to fit in with human life on earth in those outfits. Are there aliens hiding inside? Are there humans? These images instantly made me think of the song I'm in Love with a Robot by Röyksopp and Robin. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPqnxFgCrhg
I love Robyn and that song just popped in my head when I saw the Astronaut connect to the plants and the dog with the astronaut. In my head it worked perfectly. Glad you see the fit too! :)
Thanks so much! That’s one of my favorites too! So glad you liked them. This was such a fun series to work on. I love the concept so much. Hits home for me. I’m thinking about continuing the series in some way.
I like this point, Duane: "Like an astronaut viewing Earth from outer space and coming back again. Feeling at once more human and more alien."
I spent a decade outside of Canada living in Korea and the reverse culture shock felt like this in a way. So much had changed while my memories of the place had faded and perhaps been idealized and inaccurate. Hard to explain but nevertheless, an awesome experience.
I like that collage titled: "thwarted with their plans of happiness and folly." Interesting to have the reflection in the visor of the astronaut.
That’s a perfect example Neil! I moved around a lot as a kid. I think when things like that happens enough or are impactful enough that kind of isolation, or exclusion, or exile-like mentality becomes grafted to you personality, to you identity, perhaps even you DNA. No matter how long I’ve ever lived anywhere I’ve always maintained a feeling of being an expatriate. It seems that in our current culture that feeling is becoming more pervasive in varying and interesting ways. Thanks again!
"while my memories of the place had faded and perhaps been idealized and inaccurate"
Neil, I'm glad you said it so clearly. It's like we feel some duty towards accuracy--with the goal of having a "photographic memory." But I've been gently trying to reframe this "forgetting." Trying to look on it kindly, and to see it as something actually quite beautiful and creative that the mind does—how it distills and refines and edits our experiences into something like poetry fragments—saving the essence of what mattered and letting the rest go.
That's such a wonderful way to see it, Ann! Memory, is itself, in many, a creative act. Something we are constantly drafting and drafting whether or not we are aware it's happening. It can be beautiful experience when we can catch a glimpse of it moving in that way.
yeah, I think it also applies even to sad or hard memories…If you think about it, the goal of all therapy is to help us feel those difficult emotions and to incorporate them somehow into the wholeness of who we are now…reframing in a way that helps us move forward always beginning again with greater self kindness. Not in a self-righteous way but in an empathetic way that helps us extend that same strength to others.
“always beginning again” - this exactly!
Thanks Ann and I like how you mention those poetry fragments. So true in my case.
That's one of the things I enjoy about your newsletter, it's getting to see those fragments form into something. The interstices of a moment recalled beautifully.
I dream of getting rich and having a giant room covered in your collages.
Love that! I sell them pretty cheap, probably wouldn’t take as much as you think, lol.
Such a cool series! I love the retro-futurist feel of these beautiful pieces
Thanks Jason! This is my favorite project from last year! Any excuse I can conjure to delve into that retro-futurist vibe I’m definitely taking! lol
Beautiful series! Appreciated in Amsterdam-space too
Thank you!! I'm really happy to hear you like! 🙏🙏
I love these, something so sad about them too. Well done on the commission also. 👏
Thanks so much! I definitely wanted there to be a certain kind melancholy pervasive in the pieces. A tangible degree of longing and estrangement. An example of saudade made visible. Thanks again!
What a beautiful collection! Well done!
Thank you Susanne! I appreciate that so much!
The collage with the dog…oh I love it!! Congratulations, that is so exciting!!
Right! I really liked it too. I thought it added another layer of sentiment to the narrative of the series. Thanks again!
Yes, it really does. Beautiful series in whole, too.
Much appreciated!
Congrats on the commission! Outstanding series!
Thank you! It was really great having such a clear direction in mind and being to thematically focus the work on a particular project. After I finished the series and sent it off to Pardon I felt a bit lost in the studio, almost directionless. Hoping to stumble upon a similar kind of project in the near future.
This series has been so striking & strong from the beginning, Duane. It really shows your individual style!
So glad to hear you say that! Thank you! I was worried about maintaining a sense of continuity and flow from one piece to the. I wanted it to feel a bit like a story. It was really so much fun!
Mission accomplished. 👊❤️
Too kind!
Love these, Duane!
Wow! Thank you Kelcey! Means a lot to me!
This series is so, so good!
Thanks Kim! I’m really proud of it.
Love the astronaut images and how distant they are trying to fit in with human life on earth in those outfits. Are there aliens hiding inside? Are there humans? These images instantly made me think of the song I'm in Love with a Robot by Röyksopp and Robin. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPqnxFgCrhg
Yes! It’s the sense of feeling distant and alien even within your homeland! I can see how that song would fit! Thanks for sharing!
I love Robyn and that song just popped in my head when I saw the Astronaut connect to the plants and the dog with the astronaut. In my head it worked perfectly. Glad you see the fit too! :)
Absolutely!
👌🖤
Thank you!
Gorgeous!
Thank you so much! I appreciate it!
You’re so welcome!
Congratulations! It's a brilliant series.
Thanks so much! I’m really happy with how it turned out!
I love these! Especially the one with the plants and dirt in the astronaut's lap
Thanks so much! That’s one of my favorites too! So glad you liked them. This was such a fun series to work on. I love the concept so much. Hits home for me. I’m thinking about continuing the series in some way.