22 Comments
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M.B.Morgan's avatar

This is really good stuff here! It made me think about how in my own practice how often the act of making becomes a kind of ritual in uncertainty. I love how you position ambiguity. Not like there’s an absence to fill, but as a presence to sit with.

Im curious though. Do you think the absence of resolution ever starts to feel like its own kind of clarity? Like maybe the not knowing becomes a kind of answer, just in a different language we haven’t fully learned?

Again, really well done. Your work is great and thoughtful. Keep it up!

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Duane Toops's avatar

“ritual of uncertainty” - YES! That’s exactly it. A sacred observance of continual inquiry.

And, wow, outstanding questions!

For me, every collage, every act of creativity, is a kind of koan, a paradoxical riddle not intended to be answered but to reveal the inadequacy of our understanding. A method of contemplation meant to show us that the way we hold our questions is more important than answering them.

Thanks so much for reading and for these amazing comments!

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Sebastian Matthews's avatar

Strike that. All of it!

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Duane Toops's avatar

haha, thanks Sebastian! Glad to be in good company!

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Dan Jandl's avatar

Fantastic!

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Duane Toops's avatar

Thanks so much!!

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Anna Judd's avatar

The art is just so good

GET OUT OF MY SIGHT

So good

And the writing: so relatable

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Duane Toops's avatar

Haha, “thanks” and “I’m sorry”, seems to be the appropriate response. Really glad you enjoyed it! I appreciate you!

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Neil Barker's avatar

This is golden, Duane: "Some discoveries revel in, rather than resolve, the mystery."

It is as though they are one in the same: discovery is mystery. Artwise, artists can do their best to take a snapshot through their art that hopefully gives a glimpse to others of the discovery.

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Duane Toops's avatar

Yes! I think every discovery should pull you deeper into further inquiry. Every ‘answer” just leads to a great sense of questioning.

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Martin Hughes's avatar

This selection is top notch. The never-ending theory continues and I'm here for it.

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Duane Toops's avatar

Always glad to have you along with me!

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Sonia Otero's avatar

“It’s okay to not have closure”, YES

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Duane Toops's avatar

It’s a tough lesson to learn, one I’m working on a little more every day.

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y/a (or anshika)'s avatar

You know exactly what strings to pull for your readers. Good one.

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Duane Toops's avatar

haha, too kind! Thanks so much! I just know which of my own strings need to be pulled periodically, lol.

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Kimberly Warner's avatar

Yes yes yes!

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Duane Toops's avatar

I love your level of agreement, haha! Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed it!

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Emily Foucart's avatar

Yes, all of it. Different compositions, different ideas and all look great, because you got the eye (litteral translation of "tu as l'œil", meaning, you got a good sense of aesthetics)

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Duane Toops's avatar

Thank you Emily! Always great hearing form you! You’re too kind! "tu as l'œil" - I love that! I’ll have to save that! (and learn to pronounce it) lol

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Sebastian Matthews's avatar

A collagist’s informal manifesto Agree with much of this on a level of shared experience

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Duane Toops's avatar

oh, I love the idea of a “manifesto” - thanks for that!

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