February 5 – September 15, 2020
Approaching Darkness, paintings, drawings and sculpture by Stephen Real.
Artwork that explores a personal relationship to the “event horizon” surrounding a metaphysical “black Hole” where things might fall into darkness, or live in light on the edge of it. The artist is a graduate of the Museum Art School, (now known as PNCA) Portland, Oregon and founding member of Inkling Studio and the Ray Trayle Print Prize. He asks: How can we use darkness, evil, confusion and even death to live better lives? In viewing his artwork, you stand before the question: Because darkness always approaches, will it harm me, or can I use it somehow?
APPROACHING DARKNESS; ARTIST STATEMENT
For beauty is just the beginning of overwhelming terror. And we are irresistibly drawn to it because it chooses not to destroy us. Each and every angel is awesome, terrifying, powerful. (The Duino Elegies I, by Rainer Maria Rilke) Light and Dark are not gray. While the brilliance of Light gives joy, Darkness is more difficult. To live fully, you must approach the dark and live with it. For if you don’t, it will approach on its own and throw you down. Because of light, you are approaching darkness… or darkness is approaching you.
Light and Dark exist because of the other. They are one, and born within you. It is your own personal Light and Dark, your own inner child. Love it, ignore it, or abuse it; this child needs you.
And yet, you- with your restless Child of Light and Dark- are not alone. You live among others, each of whom have their own active child. Sometimes these children play together. But like all children, they need love. Where is the love? Can you nourish the Children of Light and Dark so your world might deepen into a richness, a place of wisdom, a responsive life?
Consider cosmic black holes are where things disappear and are born. Your connection to darkness is like that. You stand on the edge of what is called “the event horizon”. You are moving. You are approaching darkness, and at the same moment, you face a new dawn.