#12 — Bellower on the Branch
COMPOSED BY NICK MAIN & PREMIERED BY CELLIST JOHN LEE, INSPIRED BY DALE CARTER’S “RIDGES IN SAND II” AND DARRIL TIGHE’S PAINTING, “AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL SERIES: MY 16TH YEAR.”
“Ridges in Sand I and II are heavily influenced by the abstract expressionist painter Mark Rothko. There is a gentle sense of serenity and contemplation in his paintings that I attempted to capture in my Ridges in Sand series. Like Rothko, I took a meditative approach to these pieces with the soft color scheme. I flattened the picture plan in an effort to make the photographs appear more two-dimensional as in a painting. My main focus, though, was on capturing those fleeting, beautiful moments in nature when it reveals itself. I feel that a great photograph is one that fully expresses what one feels about what is being photographed.
And, to photograph truthfully is to see beneath the surfaces and record the qualities of nature. I also feel that a true photograph doesn’t need to be explained, nor can it be contained in words. Further, I use photography because the camera sees more objectively than my own eyes. I spent much of my time growing up on a secluded beach where nature was untouched. Now, though, much of nature in its once pure state has disappeared. My goal with these photographs was to capture and preserve nature in its pure, untouched state for current, and later, generations to enjoy.
My work has been displayed at the Hollis Street Project in Berkeley, Fort Mason in San Francisco, the Richmond Art Center, and the Laguna Beach Art Museum Annex. It has also been in Earth Island Institute, Bali Now, Water, and Line Up magazine, as well as Star News, Lumina News, and the documentary Waves of Hope.”
“I began a project to explore years of my life through paintings. Started with 1 and went to 34 years and then stopped. Took about a year. Used watercolor exclusively and laid 3 papers side by side creating a triptych. They had to work separately and together. Used many tools to remember the years and also assumed it was a puzzle of my own making. Finished 34 at Ragdale.
#16 was a huge transition in my life. Everything changed. Some of my feelings felt the circumstances were tragic for me and other feelings were that I had another chance to be alive. I went to boarding school then in Honolulu and they graciously took care of me. The painting reads the universe.”
EXTENDED CONVERSATION
Join us for an extended conversation with Nick Main, John Lee, Darril Tighe and Dale Carter regarding their virtual collaboration for the "Stay-at-Home Symposium." Moderated by Artistic Director Audrey Vardanega, Nick, John, Darril and Dale discuss their artistic backgrounds and their collaborative process.
