I. THIS IS AN UNFINISHED AND EVOLVING DRAFT


A. It is presented in outline form.

1.  Many of the statements are in note form or are
    incomplete sentences.

2.  A final finished draft will correct this.

B.  I feel that artists and thinkers should offer
    unfinished works to the public as long as the
    works are labeled as such.

C.  I am doing this in the spirit of the following
    ideas.

D.  Although considerable work and thought has
    already been devoted to this statement, it is
    not unchangeable.

E.  We invite comments.

F.  We especially welcome suggestions about what 
    to call this kind of art movement.

1.  Please e-mail us your suggestions.

2.  What would you name or call this kind of art
    movement?



Send an e-mail message





 
II. INTRODUCTION

A.  Up until recently (about  100  years  ago) 
    painters painted directly from nature.

   1. Now most painters tend to create from their 
      imagination, from subjective inner needs and
      inner impulses or they paint based on abstract
      principles or conceptual ideas.

    a) Instead of drawing from nature directly,
       some painters draw from their inner nature.

      1) For example, Jackson Pollock used to point
         out that he, himself, was nature.

      2. Painting has become mostly studio oriented.
	  

B.  Painting has removed itself from nature for
    the same reason that the society itself has
    removed itself from nature.

   1. People are no longer subject to the same
      devastating forces of nature that controlled their
      lived a mere 200 years ago.
	  
   2. Civilization has overcome nature to a large extent.
   
    a) People live much longer.

      1) In just 200 years our life expectancy has almost
         doubled.

        a) People live more secure and predictable lives.

         1) For example, many lethal diseases have been
            wiped out or can be easily treated with
            antibiotics or prevented with a vaccine.

         2) Both long distance travel and travel close
            to home can be reliably scheduled (most of the
            time) without being subject to the weather.

         3) Communications are effortless 

           a] e.g. the phone, faxes, and e-mail on a
              personal level
			  
           b] e.g. TV, radio, magazines, newspapers, and
              the Internet
			  
         4) We have a reliable and cheap supply of food and
            energy.

C. Painting in this century has merely reflected the break
   with nature that the civilization as a whole has
   experienced.

D. Human beings are a part of nature and until recently lived
   close to nature for better or worse.

 1. For hundreds of years the goal of technology and science
    was to conquer nature, to subdue it to serve the need of
    humans.

   a) This has largely been accomplished, for better or for
      worse.

E. In short the old relationship that humans had with nature
   has been broken and we can never go back.

F. However, in the near future we will be confronted with the
   problems that we have created.

  1. The UN estimates that in the next century world population
     will reach the maximum that the Earth can sustain.

  2. According to the Larousse Desk Reference the Earth will run
     out of many essential materials in the next 100-200 years.
	
   a) Lead, zinc, mercury and tin are expected to run out in the
      year 2015, copper in 2035, nickel in 2060, iron in 2160,
      and aluminum in 2220.
	      
  3. In addition there may be global warming which is a
     consequence of civilization.

    a) The weather and sea levels may be affected.
	
  4. Further the destruction of hundreds of species and the
     destruction of the rain forest may affect us in ways we do
     not yet realize.

G. In short, we must learn to understand, confront, and manage
   our own nature because it is our nature that has created the
   world we live in today and will create the world of the future.
   
  1. Our own nature is now our greatest danger.
  
H.  In addition because we have become so large and dominant as a
    species, we must also manage the planet, become the custodians
    of the nature and the Earth from which we came.
	
  1. At this point we have no choice.

  2. Because of the immense power we have achieved and which we will
     never relinquish, we must also learn to manage the Earth itself.
	 
I. The goals of the New Art will be to:

  1. To explore and understand our own nature in relation to the Earth.
  
  2. To explore a new relationship with nature since the old bond has
     been broken.
	 
J. This is a heroic task in the best sense of the word.

  1. there is no guarantee of success, but that is the nature of heroic
     tasks.

  2. Painting and art is well suited to create new images and icons that
     can serve as touchstones and guides to our future

  3. Since this is where the future and civilization is leading us, it is
     only natural that painting and other arts would also move in that
     direction and be in the vanguard



III. PRINCIPLES

A. The word human comes from "humus" meaning soil or earth

  1. human means "from the earth" or "of the Earth"

  2. humans must constantly seek to renew, recreate and celebrate their
     relationship with the Earth from which they came

B. Our goal is to create a new art which explores the relationship between
   humans and the Earth on which they live.

C. Our goal is to also understand human nature in relation to the Earth.

D. To create symbols, icons, and experiences that guide and help humans in
   this understanding.
   
E. Works should explore modern expressions of: 
                        myth, vision, story, dreams, desires, wants, ideals.

F. In order to achieve the above there should always be an emphasis on the
   human scale.

G. Works should create or evoke a sense of place. A sense of place is
   important to a human's sense of belonging.

H. Since humans need to feel that they are "a part of things" or "a part of
   the world," works of art  should  help people bridge their sense of
   dislocation.

I. In order to help create a sense of belonging, works of art might refer 
   to, derive from, or relate to previous art forms. By previous we mean 
   the entire history of civilized art as well as primitive, prehistorical,
   folk, and naive art.

J. In order to help create a sense of belonging, works of art might include
   the natural rhythms of the Earth.

K. This art should often (but not always) be an inclusive art. By inclusive
   we mean an art which has wide appeal and is accessible to people.

  1. Too much of modern art has appealed to in an in-crowd and deliberately
     put many viewers at a distance.

L. This is not a New Age philosophy

  1. It's fundamental tenants are based on the best predictions by reliable
     sources

  2. i.e. that humans are about to reach the limits that this Earth can
     provide in terms of population, ability to extract essential resources,
     and the ability of the Earth to absorb and accommodate human 
	 by-products and pollution.



 
IV. THOUGHTS

A.  Humans have a fundamental need to belong and to feel at home and to also
    feel a part of their world. This cannot be reprogrammed or removed from
    the human psyche without serious consequences.

  1. One consequence could be that humans destroy the life sustaining power
  of the Earth which would doom the human race.

  2. Humans are not machines whose needs and desires can be replaced and
     redesigned at will.

   a) While changes can be made, they must be made within the limits of 
   what the human psyche can accept.

  3.  Humans must come to terms with their animal nature

   a) Much of what we do is hardwired from 100,000s of years ago.

   b) Humans must recognize and come to terms with their animal nature 
   before they can make meaningful changes.

B. Art which includes the natural rhythms of the Earth could include: 

  1. the weather

    a) e.g. why not installations that are designed to be looked at 
	in rainy weather or cloudy days or sunny weather?

  2. day and night
	
    a) e.g. why not art forms that take advantage of the point in 
	time that happens each twilight when artificial light and natural
	light are in balance?

  3. the seasons

  4. the landscape

  5. the moon

  6. the stars

  7. the tides

  8. the summer and winter solstice

    a) The summer solstice has been largely forgotten.

     1) Stonehenge and other ancient monuments were built to mark
	 and possibly commemorate this event.

    b) The winter solstice is marked and celebrated, essentially 
	by Christmas and New Years.

     1) One of the reasons that Christmas and New Years are such
	 powerful ceremonies is that that human participate in an 
	 ancient ritual.

       a] such as

        i] lighting lights at the darkest time of the year

        ii] bringing a tree into the house
		
       b] Much of the ritual of Christmas involves pagan and 
       Roman rituals

        i] Gift giving and a week long celebration up to New 
		Years is from the Roman Saturnalia festival

       c] Christmas is also powerful because it involves the 
       all the senses

        i] church ceremonies

        ii] music

       iii] food

        iv] smells

         v] group gatherings

        vi] color
		
       vii] And of course involves the deepest religious 
	   needs ~ the birth of Christ

  9. the fall and spring equinox

    a) the fall equinox is largely ignored as a 
    celebration

    b) spring is celebrated by Easter

  10. there were also mid-season festivals, some of which
  we celebrate today
   
    a) e.g. Halloween
	 
    b) Mid-season festival were not celebrated at the exact 
    mid-point but rather approximately at the mid-point.
		
C.  Although this is a heroic effort, it may involve 
    cooperative efforts among artists and involve artists 
    and others from a number of disciplines.
 
  1. An interdisciplinary new art may work with and include
  other arts such as poetry, literature, song, dance, 
  theater, music, photography, sculpture and especially 
  architecture, plus other art forms.
 
   a) Artists should at times work in collaboration. This 
   kind of cooperation will create new art and art forms 
   which involve synthesis and multiple disciplines.

   b) This kind of cooperation will create an art which 
   does not emphasize the individual artist as much as 
   the partnership or a cooperative effort.

   c) Examples in the past

    1) the ballets of Stravinsky which included famous 
	choreographers and painters

    2) The individual artist may be a little less 
	important than he or she has been in the past.

D.  While much modern emphasis has been on art that 
    springs completely new from the artist's mind, our 
	emphasis is quite different. Art should often evoke, 
	refer to, pay homage to, or be related to earlier 
	art or artforms.

  1. In the history of art this has been the rule and 
  not the exception.
 
   a) It's only recently that artist felt they must 
   create something completely new.
  
  2. Even radical modern art has been related to 
  earlier art forms

   a) There are dozens of examples but here are a 
   few:

    1) Picasso studied African masks before creating the
	landmark modern masterpiece "Les Demoiselles 
	d'Avignon."

    2) Paul Klee studied primitive and folk art of his
	country.
    
    3) Henry Moore drew on Pre-Columbian art for his 
	sculptures.

    4) Jackson Pollock referred to the Navajo Indian sand
	paintings as partial inspiration for his drip 
	paintings.

    5) Bartok used Hungarian folk music as a major part 
	of his musical compositions.

E. This new art should include an exploration of the 
   myths and ideals that have guided humans in the past.

  1.  For example, some feel that modern western 
  civilization has been primarily guided by the myth of
  Prometheus.

   a) Prometheus stole fire from the gods and gave it to
   the humans.
   
    1) This gave humans untold power, so much power that
	the Gods themselves were angry and punished Prometheus
	for doing it.

F. The particular construction of these images and symbols
   can be quite flexible.

  1. In particular, it can draw on the history of art of
  the last hundred years - the numerous experiments that 
  have left us with a rich legacy to work with in creating
  a new expression.

G. It should at times be less studio oriented and more 
   involved with the outside and Earth itself.
   
H. Architecture should include the outside and create 
   transition areas from outside to inside (such as the
   buildings of Frank Lloyd Wright).

  1. The building in which we live, should not be walls
  against nature with windows that don't open and air that
  becomes sick because it circulates within the building.

I. The change we are going through may be as profound as
   the change that humans experienced when they learned 
   agriculture and the domestication of animals.

  1. This change allowed civilization to flourish because
  there was a surplus of food and the food supply was 
  more predictable.

 J. Knee jerk political reactions and environment 
    political correctness are not welcome. The purpose is 
	an open inquiry and free dialogue. 

K.  An art which was less commercial would help attain 
    these goals.

  1.  An art which you could not buy, or possess (at least
  in the usual sense) might be helpful.
 
 2.  For  example, images created just for the Internet
     which display best on computer monitors would not have
	 commercial value and they could not be hung on the wall.
	 Although a print could be made, the effect would be
	 quite different that the image seen on a monitor.

  a) My, Rick Doble, digital images of "Woman in Motion" are
  such an example.

  b) also images projected onto buildings

L.  Some modern art has already moved in the general 
    direction of our New Art principles - outlined above.
	  
  1. The "Land Art" movement

    a) Christo's wrapped landscapes
	
    b) The Lightening Field by Walter DeMaria 

  2.  Picasso's Chicago sculpture  which  contains wires that 
  emit sounds when the wind blows through  it.
  
  a) It is very appropriate for the Windy City
  
  b) It is a sculpture with a sense of place and a sense of 
  the environment into which it was placed

  3.  Jackson Pollock's dripped paintings which were inspired
  in part by the Navajo Indian sand paintings. These sand 
  paintings were created by shaman who poured colored sand 
  into the shape of figures. Later the wind blew the sand away.

  4. Brancusi's endless columns

  5. The realistic sculptures of people. 

     a)  These  sculptures are on the  human  scale. They are 
	 are so realistic that people react to them as though the
	 sculptures were part of their space not like the usual 
	 sculpture that is separated from the viewer.

  6.  Rick Doble's digital images of "Woman in  Motion."

    a)  My own art has concentrated on realistic images of 
	humans (they are based on photographs), that emphasize the
	human scale and yet the images themselves are iconographic
	and somewhat symbolic.

M.  Because technology has changed, the role of men and women 
    are different.

  1. Women and men will be full equals. 

  2.  This is one of the most profound changes in human nature.

  3. The nature and role of women has changed.

    a) Women now have control over their bodies.

    b) Woman can now earn a living and be independent.

  4. The role of men has changed.

    a)  Men need to find new models, new heroes  to inspire them.

      1) The hero who subdued nature, protected and provided for 
	  his wife and children may no longer be valid.

      2) The male structures of hierarchy, chain of command and 
	  pecking order may need to be altered.

      3) The muscular male hero who defeats all foes may need to
	  be revised.

  5.  There needs to be stories and myths  of  the heroic that 
      apply to both men and women.

N.  While  this is an inclusive vision, it does find fault with 
    some modern trends.

  1. Pop art legitimized advertising in a way that has made it 
  much more acceptable. Advertising now enters every corner of
  our lives. 

    a) In particular advertising has intruded into our most 
	sacred and important holidays and festivals. It has even
	started creeping into our personal anniversaries such as 
	birthdays with mailed advertisements designed to reach the
	consumer just before his or her birthday.

  2.  Architecture, that creates canyon walls in the modern 
  city, has ignored the human scale and the environment into 
  which buildings are placed.

    a) Buildings need to be more than boxes placed on a grid.

      1) This destroys our sense of place and creates anxiety.

    b) In many of these buildings you cannot open a window or
	get fresh air, hence the frequent "sick building" syndrome.

    c) Architecture needs to be created that provides 
	transitional areas from inside to outside and which does 
	not set the building and the inside environment completely 
	separate and apart from the outside environment of the world.

      1) For example, buildings should have some balconies, roof 
	  top gardens, and other points that open to the outside.

  3. We believe that this movement will be opposed by a number 
  of people because it is not business as usual.

    a) Some people will dismiss it as naive, or try  to paint it 
	as a another new age philosophy.

      1) This is flatly wrong.

      2) Those who think this are themselves naive  because it 
	  is clear that the Earth and human kind will go through 
	  major changes in the next century.

      3) The warnings and basis for our philosophy are based on
	  the best current information and predictions by the most 
	  informed sources.

    b) While we do not oppose commercial  art,  we would 
	de-emphasize it.

      1) This is bound to upset people who make a living from 
	  the buying and selling of art.

        a] they will try to belittle its implications.

The purpose of this work is to start a dialogue. If you would like to quote this article, in whole or in part, or send your thoughts, comments, suggestions, insights, etc., then please send me an e-mail message.