2011 brings me a wonderful start, while intending to continue with my work supporting several charities I shall be embarking on a new personal project toward a national exhibition with a working title of ' Pollock, the Lost Year'.
In his last year of his life,Jackson Pollock did not create, a sad event for any artist but moreso for him as it brought to an end what I believe would have been the beginnings of his greatest triumphs.
Through research and practice I intend to explore where his work might have led to in a bid to bring the unknown into being, it is quite a strange feeling really, the more I find about Jackson Pollock the more I find out about myself, I am fortunate than Pollock to have resolved my own issues before becoming a public figure without the binds and embarrassing situations that drug and alcohol abuse brings, I have a great sadness for him as an artist, at the very time he should have been at the driving seat with a wonderful career ahead he returned to alcohol and the resulting destruction of his relationship and life, where would he have gone had this not been the case.
there is a US artist called Frankie Brown who in 1999 celebrated his 20th year of painting in the style of Pollock however he built his career on the statement, ''taking up where jackson pollock left off'', I would suggest that he did not take up where pollock left off merely continued where pollock ended, I would hope to go a step further and discover where his final and subsequent years may have taken both he and his art.
I am a progressive and visionary artist now with over 35 years experience and many more I would hope, still ahead of me. Overall I am driven to work for those who exist on the fringe of society and partner with several charities to this end including, The Royal British Legion, for whom my most recent work was an exterior installation piece covering a half mile stretch of walkway, Stonham (Home) Housing, an organisation that provides for Homeless and Vulnerable adults and Combat Stress, a charity that deals with ex servicemen and women following war related health and cognitive problems; for these charities I produce artworks, roadshows and talks, the main objectives being the raising both of profile and of funds, I also am involved with a National Mental Health Charity, MIND.
My greatest challenge this coming year is to drape a local historic building with poppies in time for Remembrance Day 2011, there are many hurdles ahead before that can happen, watch this space to be kept up to date. Currently I have the fortune to have met with a chap who runs a national arts cooperative and, as we speak, is starting to put together a film presentation of the event which I shall post as soon as it is finished and available, till then, Happy New and productive year from me.
