Above is an earlier update gallery image shows the probable arrangement of the music for the three Beatles artworks. I am using the notes from the previous project, Zombie, to show the music’s placement.

Four days later this next gallery displays the finish placement of the music for each artwork’s notes.

A pleasant surprise is that I am only nearing three weeks into this project. I took on the challenge of constructing three artworks, all at once, knowing my deadline was around the middle of this January. As of December 6th the visual part of this project is near done. Of course what made this possible was that each of these artworks share features and the same color chart. That saved considerable time to where yesterday I soldered together all three stereo systems.

Creating the cover music for each of these songs is the next challenge. That starts soon after I post. After installing the music box music I will not be done. I need to develop a fresh approach to marketing this work. My reasoning is that I have never recalled no one ever saying to me, “I get it.” That is my fault. Even after 17 plus years of presenting this art, there has been no momentum breakthrough because I have simply failed to explain it. It is time to develop a new marketing approach to post alongside these artworks. To start, I need to present a better explanation of what this art means to me.

Most people understand what is art when it is recognizable. For example, picture a painting of a sunset across a solitude and silent pond. The still water only rippling with the passing of loons. All of which is hidden by a deep fall forest, surrounded by majestic old-growth white pines. This would be easy for me to visualize, and therefore, easy to appreciate. That would also be an example of what sells in this art area. Abstract also sells, for it is a picture of nothing. Therefore, a deep understanding is not required. But this art absolutely needs to be understood to be appreciated.

Therefore, alongside the artworks, I will hang brief details in images and words explaining how this art relates to the music it is portraying. I am not doing this thinking it will connect to the general viewer. I have never thought from this art start that would ever be possible. Instead, those images and words alongside the artworks are there for that one in the tens of thousands that has yet to view this art in person. That one individual that pauses, that hesitates to pass by. That one, that one that lives to visualize the possible. The one who silently acknowledges, “I get this.”

DECEMBER 7TH (PEARL HARBOR REMEMBRANCE DAY) supplemental update:
In this blog entry I mentioned an example of art that I could easily understand. This day I ran across an artist, who is having a current exhibition at the Overture in Madison, Wisconsin, that relates to that point.

The artist’s name is Stephanie Barenz and although she is from Madison and not the Eau Claire area, I see her contemporary landscape art as a great example of art that should be easy to sell. And yet, although I admire her work, it is an undeniable derivative art made for in its moment. And there is nothing negative about that. She represents a good example of the best of what I see around me and elsewhere in contemporary art: well crafted, pretty and somewhat fresh art. She also presents what I would like to see more of and doesn’t: originality and/or uniqueness, which keeps me looking elsewhere.

Art throughout its history has been about making the sale. That changed somewhat with the blip that occurred in the early 20th century that shaped my philosophy on art. Still, today’s art remains driven by making that next sale. Art that is kinda different, but obvious in its intent, is an art that makes the money. That is reality. That is what today’s art is all about. As far as Ms. Barenz’s art is concern, again I like it, and her art deserves respect. The things at a glance I wished I would have seen are the loons and white pines, which surprised me. Hopefully, she has such images I did not see. Or otherwise maybe when she is up in Northern Wisconsin early or late in a summer day, she will have along her sketch pad.

Scott Von Holzen