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Letter from the Editor
June.01.2006
There is a new painting in our house commissioned from a dear old friend, Portland painter Korey Gulbrandson.
When we hung it, I told Korey it was a shame that its destination was the entryway, as there isn't proper elbowroom in that area, let alone a seat, to allow me to ponder its complexities at length. In fact, its best viewing is from just outside the door, a brief visual gift intended for our guests and ourselves as we enter the house.
He suggested I open the door, throw a chair down just outside, and have a look every now and then. "Very practical," I agreed, and obliged myself with a leisurely visit with the painting in just that manner a few days later.
Now, as I personally like to steer as clear as possible of public opinions on specific works of art (I'll leave that task to our Visual Codec writers), what's not important here is the subject, composition, or materials used in this particular painting.
What I do feel important to relate is the thrill associated with the opportunity to live in close quarters with a fresh work of art, my excitement in having the chance to learn from it over a period of years rather than minutes, and my nebulous impatience in wondering how it will affect me over the time bestowed upon me to be with it...
And though this kind of a relationship with art is probably most accessible when we own the work at hand, for most of us this is a rare and/or nonexistent state of affairs.
However, evolving our experience of art from a passing viewing via an opening or guided tour is possible if we simply give ourselves more time to get intimately involved with the myriad artworld venues and events afforded us, free and otherwise.
Why don't we all take an afternoon off to shed the cumbersome mantle of time and breathe in the essence of the artwork of our choosing? Let's linger, loiter, make a nuisance of ourselves.
In other words, let's not just go and see some art this month; let's experience our month through art.
Happy trails,
m.
Founding Editor
Visual Codec
editor@visualcodec.com
