The Vivid The Varied The Vivacious Sculpture of Beth Cavener Stichter

It was love at first sight. That sight was an ad in “Art in America” magazine featuring one of her addictive clay sculptures; promoting and introducing me to her work. The works are almost exclusively animals that are realistic, whimsical, provocative and alluring. They are Freudian in nature, they droop and cling and hang like a Dali time piece. They are also extrodinariarly unique in their invention. She amazes us with her distinctive and highly unusual style. She is among the most imaginative artist of our times; she is truly marvelous. She is by the way Beth Cavener Stichter.   

As viewers we can look, study, peruse for hours on a given piece of art. It can be a selected work or a body of work in question. We come to conclusions. After all this; many times the artist’s themselves are the best at describing what they do. Miss Stichter is no exception in this:

Both human and animal interactions show patterns of intricate, subliminal gestures that betray intent and motivation. The things we leave unsaid are far more important than the words we speak out-loud to one another. I have learned to read meaning in the subtler signs; a look, the way one holds one's hands, the tightening of muscles in the shoulders, the incline of the head, the rhythm of a walk, and the slightest unconscious gestures. I rely on animal body language in my work as a metaphor for these underlying patterns, transforming the animal subjects into human psychological portraits.

Beth Cavener Stichter

The counter culture has embraced Miss Stichter’s work in a large way. The sometimes erotic and compellingly different approach to the form is hardly main-stream as reflected in the attention of “Juxtapoz” magazine and the vastly similar “High Fructose” and their readers. The dedication to craft and artistry is not missed again by more “High Brow” publications like the International Sculpture Center’s monthly “Sculpture” and the eternal “New York Times.” 

Her combination of human and animal, anthromorphic forms are much to her credit as she shakes up all our perceptions. She continues to grow creatively as she looks deeper into the self and the Id as well as the collective conscience. I look forward to seeing her work soon in person. Perhaps; in the future, even a conversation with this artist of phenomenal feats. An artist of works to love.

The Christmas Magic

There is such a thing as a perfect book. “The Christmas Magic” is such a thing. For the believers of “magic;” especially Christmas Magic, Lauren Thompson and Jon J. Muth have collaborated to make a special joy for you. Parents, children, grand-parents, uncles, aunts and cousins will enjoy!

I discovered “The Christmas Magic” a couple of Christmas’ ago and immediately fell in love with the poetry of Miss Thompson’s language and the equal beauty of Mr. Muth’s water colors. The two are responsible for many delightful and pleasurable books. Books; award-winning, endearing and interesting are to the creators’ credits.

If you have already know this book be sure to re-read it this season and share it with someone special. If you have not had the pleasure; seek it out at all costs! You are certain to enjoy!   

HENDRIX

What an amazing career this man; Jimi Hendrix had. He is easily described as extravagant, loud, exuberant, original, blazingly hot and brilliant to genius levels. The recordings and stage performances are legend. “Electric Ladyland” to Woodstock; “Band of Gypsies” to Monterey are recordings and concerts of note. Hendrix was always innovative, unusual and continually pushing farther and farther to the extremes of his craft and art. It was the electric guitar that he transformed into a thing miraculous as he kept the other great players of his time in awe. Hendrix led and ruled in the age of the “Guitar Gods!” He is by consensus number one among them. When the words “The greatest guitarist of all time…” are spoken or written they are usually followed by his name: Jimi Hendrix.

In honesty I was not immediately a fan of Hendrix or his music. He was rarely heard on the radio or seen on television. Photographic images were almost non-existent and he was in many ways an elusive rumor.  The main stream media in both print and broadcast video had chosen to ignore the man. How could they fit this extraordinary, reckless Black American fronting a group featuring only himself and two White Englishmen into a format? Dick Cavett was the first and one of the few, to give Hendrix a national forum. Hendrix appeared on Cavett’s popular late-night talk show and was surprisingly reserved and modest. I missed seeing the original broad cast.    

There was talk about Hendrix around my High School and there were those that were fans. The Hendrix fans were all devoted and spoke about Hendrix with a sort of religious fervor.  There was also a lot of talk about a new movie “Easy Rider.” There was an equal excitement about the film and it was essential viewing for just about everyone I knew; including teachers.  Some of the Hendrix devotees were sitting in the row just in front me at my first viewing of “Easy  Rider.”  From the opening minutes of the film the score was impressive as every element was spell binding and very dangerous. About a quarter into the film a song began that was like nothing I had ever heard before. I was capture from the first beat and it was somehow the perfect fit for the mood and tone of this radical thing we were engrossed in.  The lyrics began and the rapture was total and complete:       

If the sun refused to shine

I don’t mind

I don’t mind

If the mountains

fell in the sea

let it be

it ain’t me

Got my own world to live through

and I ain’t gonna copy you.

The lyrics went on; totally lost “in this spell” my life was being changed for the moment and forever. The lyrics continued and then concluded with:

Fall mountains

just don’t fall on me

point on Mr. Business man

you can’t dress like me.

I’m the one that’s gotta die

when it’s time for me to die

so let me live my life

the way I want to 

As the song ended; somewhat abruptly, the audience with that eerie but beautiful silence that lets you know everyone has had something of the same shared experience. One of the guys in front me turned around and simply said; “that’s Hendrix.”

It was the sound track of Dennis Hopper’s “Easy Rider” that brought me on board with “The Jimi Hendrix Experience.” I have never looked back as that addictive alchemy of the music he created continues to this day. Hendrix was to die young; his song “If 6 Was 9,” something prophetic, lives on, influencing new generations as it continues to capture unsuspecting hearts.