18 Comments
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Ann Collins's avatar

“the spirit interweaves itself” Duane, your work is a meditation on an idea that fascinates me. Do you think art is an attempt to make something invisible become tangible in the world?

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Duane Toops's avatar

Thanks so much! I think it's a fluid reciprocity. The finger pointing at the moon. The call of something unnameable made palpable as means of pointing towards what can't be said.

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Ann Collins's avatar

Mmmm yes and the energy that’s available if we’re willing to risk the inevitable imperfections in the work.

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Duane Toops's avatar

Yes excatly! Equal parts courage and curiosity!

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JS Hyder's avatar

I really like that notion. Thanks for sharing.

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Duane Toops's avatar

It’s definitely one that’s starting to resonate deeper and deeper with me. Thanks as always!

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JS Hyder's avatar

I know what you mean, definitely inspired by this piece.

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Deborah Brasket's avatar

I love this Duane. The idea of the artist being entangled his his/her creation. The idea of leaving an opening in the work to re-enter again or to explore further. It reminds me of that process (I forget what it's called) where potters will deliberately leave cracks in their work, or even break them on purpose so they can fill in those spaces with gold, making the whole thing more beautiful because of its brokenness, its imperfection. I had the opportunity to do that once with a bowl my brother made and sent to me. In the shipping it was cracked, but I filled in those cracks with some gold metallic paint, and now its one of my favorite pieces.

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Duane Toops's avatar

Beautifully said! Kintsugi is perfect example of this idea! Thanks so much for bringing that into the conversation! The art is in the fragility, the potency in its being vulnerable and unashamed.

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Writer Pilgrim by So Elite's avatar

"This is how they honor the the gods!" Spiritual and philosophical... I never though of something this way. Beautiful Duane!

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Duane Toops's avatar

Exactly! I wish I could remember where I first came into co ta tvwith ideas surrounding this tradition, but its so helpful and insightful, speaks to something so deep and prescient within the human condition. I've been thinking about it a lot lately.

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Writer Pilgrim by So Elite's avatar

You expressed it beautifully!

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Duane Toops's avatar

I really appreciate it! That's so kind of you to say!

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Amy Cowen's avatar

Beautiful. I know if this from quilting. How wonderful to see it in this, more far-reaching, context.

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Duane Toops's avatar

Thanks so much Amy! That's awesome! It's such a rife subject, rich with implication. You probably have an even better understanding of it than I do.

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Nolan Green's avatar

Thank you, Duane.

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Joyce's avatar

I’ve heard about this long ago when I was still a kid. And now you have beautifully incorporated that belief in your art works.

Thank you for sharing it, Duane

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Duane Toops's avatar

Thank you! It's definitely a reminder I very much needed.

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