William Blake's art and poetry was spiritual. When I encounter him I see a prophet in the wilderness. I see an artist, but mostly I see a zealot with a vision of fire and glory. I enjoy reading about his career as much as his own words, to get a picture of the visionary consumed by the eternal in a context of fellow bodies competing for a publisher's contract.
Formations and assemblies, teams, congregations, affiliations. I just spent two consecutive nights at the Commerce Gallery entertaining guests for a themed weekend in the downtown square. Community here is not abstract.
I picked through old snapshots at a local pawn shop of families on beachside vacations, graduations, picnics. I drove with a friend out to a primitive baptist hall to experience a Sacred Harp. This republic as a broth, boiled down to shared experiences, not so much the lightning bolt of Blake's inner world.
One month so far at the new studio in downtown Lockhart. Adding a sign here, a website there (in a couple weeks). Matt Kaplinsky of Dallas will show his work next, party night Friday May 3rd. Patrick Puckett, whose work is currently hanging through end of April, will have a show in Austin at Wally Workman in June. He and his wife are expecting their first baby this month...a great time to support this fellow artist.
