It was with great sadness that I saw that contemporary artist Rex Ray died yesterday. I was in shock and then a wave of uncertainty came into my consciousness. I’ve been following Ray’s work for a while and always been amazed by his use of shape, color, and proportion. His art was identifiable and I’m sure his work inspired many artists that are working today.
It got me wondering about more than just the actual works of art living on beyond the life of the artist, but his inspiration on others. What will be his legacy? I know that he not only was a great artist, but lent his work to good causes in the community. His impact goes far beyond the world of art. As an artist, what will be left behind besides your physical works of art?
I know for me I love making art. I feel compelled to create art and it’s more than just the physical piece you get to see, but for me it’s about the process. I try and share my process about art making because I believe it’s more than about art, but about living. For this reason I believe the PBS series “ART:21” was so important. Watching an artist be interviewed while creating work inspired the body, mind, and spirit. It gives the viewer a deeper understanding of more than just the art. It provides each and every person a context for the work. It allows us to share, what is often, a secret part of the artist’s life. It’s a representation of the artist’s thoughts, feelings, and experiences.
The world is a crazy place physically, economically, socially, financially, and spiritually. Art such as Ray’s gives us perspective about the world in which we live. He provides an escape as well as an explanation. His legacy on the world goes far beyond the colorful works he created. His legacy is about how he lived and how he participated in our physical world!
Time to Live Creatively 