Image by Bklyn_Spencer via Flickr
One of my favorite living artists is Chuck Close. I was excited to see that Brian Miller’s prompt at Friday Poetically addresses his works. http://onestoppoetry.com/
A year or two ago I enjoyed touring students and the general public through an exhibit of Chuck’s art at Nevada Museum of Art. In addition to his well-know mosaic-like portraiture there was a collection of tapestries. Close used digitally manipulated photography to generate computer images that he sent to a tapestry weaving firm in Belgium The museum displayed this work so that the visitors could carefully look behind the hangings to see all the threads that went into the finished work. It was an amazing experience. To view some of Close’s tapestries, you may enjoy visiting http://www.magnoliaeditions.com/Content/Close/Close.htm
A Matter of Perspective
Stand too close to life
and you will only see
little squares of colors.
Take a few steps back.
Look how the whole
becomes apparent.
If you view a tapestry
from the backside
confusion presides.
Step up, face it head-on
the precision of the image
will stun you.
Go ahead, manipulate reality.
The outcome surprises,
at times, clarifies.
Victoria C. Slotto, Author 
very very true.
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Victoria…this was a wonderful write! I am so thankful to Onestop and Brian Miller for the Close feature. Amazing artist! Been awhile since I’ve been so inspired!
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I visited the site, Victoria. Hard to believe they are tapestries! Astounding.
It’s interesting how much perspective has to do with our connection to the world. People can vary so much in the way they see/look at things.
Wonderful, thought provoking poem.
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Wonderful homage to the art and artist and thanks for the link to Oakland firm. Checked out the site. Some lovely stuff there.
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Thanks, Jamie. Believe it or not…a bit of snow this morning–35 degrees. This is common here. Hope it’s warm over on your side of the mountain.
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I like this…nice and wise…..
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I like the last stanza. Sometimes even very experienced artists don’t know what they’re going to get until they get in there and and engage with the materials. That moment of clarity can be a delight and surprise for the artist as much as the viewer.
Didn’t know about the tapestries, thanks for sharing that – wish I could see them in person though (sometimes online viewing is too far back!)
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Very interesting about the tapestries. He was quite a genius! His work really does demonstrate the necessity to take a step back at times to clarify one’s situation.
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cool poem ….standing back sometimes is the best thing …thank you
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sometimes so hard to step back..isn’t it.. as we’re so glued to everyday life…thanks for reminding us with your poem victoria…i esp. liked the step up, face it part and manipulate reality..think we poets do this all the time…agh…and so cool you’ve guided visitors through his exhibition
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Like this . I also like manipulate reality…It surprises
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Thank you, Victoria, for exposing the best of the best. You are bringing the museum to us. Your poem describes the experience so well – I can almost hear the responses.
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Just when confusion presides… that’s when I love/need surprises the most. Great description!
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Simple words and such wisdom !! Brillaintly done 🙂
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nice…i like how you wove in his art beyond the painting…and thanks for the intel on the tapestries as well…that last stanza is a gripper…and what a pleasant surprise it can be…smiles.
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Victoria:
Go ahead manipulate reality…clarifies.
Your work always has something causing the reader to think.
I do not know about such art…it was informative.
Jaye
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