inspiration? It’s a valuable commodity. It’s sometimes obvious, sometimes subtle. What we do with it is up to us. INSPIRATION. It can come in the least likely of times. Or, as expected, when we visit a museum. As artists we are visual beings and thirst for images or ideas that will fill our desire for moving forward. New things to try, new discoveries of technique, form, medium, ….new ways of seeing. 
Here are some works by Joseph Cornell, as seen in the show this weekend. His work was not new to me. I have many books on his works. I think he has influenced anyone who works dimensionally in assemblage. He was an original. It was a rare treat to see such a large body of his work in one place…..in addition to the familiar pieces we also got a voyeuristic view into his process. Boxes and files and loose papers – remnants from his studio table, scraps from the floor. Hand scribbled notes, yellowed typed labels, strewn bits of evidence that someone was at work, was a collector, and was just as messy as we are. You could lightly browse or seriously investigate these offerings. Taking the time to read the provided information revealed a clever, funny man. Very cool. When my friend Julie introduced me to his work, years ago, I was inspired. What did I learn, and what did I do with the discovery of him? It was a short, sweet, and simple lesson: art can be made in boxes. That’s it. I didn’t start making look-alike art….didn’t start using cordial glasses and paper parrots in my work. I just started thinking outside the box, that art could be made inside a box. Thanks Joe.
So was I inspired on Saturday? Of course. I walked away with one inspiration – one epiphany, one morsel. Just one. How to take that information and make it my own will require some thinking. It may be years before I actually take this new thought and put it to work in my own manner. Personalizing the inspiration is important to me….and I may never find a way to incorporate this vision, but I have no doubt the idea will twist and turn several times before it either surfaces in my work, or spurs an additional thought or two or three. I’ve looked at this piece numerous times in the pages of books. I admit I hardly ever read the text that accompanies artwork in books so I never knew the secret this piece was holding. I did, however, read the description at the museum. For the first time I discovered that there is an opening at the top and bottom of this box. The ball, that is shown stationary, is actually meant to be rolled through the piece. I’m guessing this genius man also fabricated the box in such a way so the little covered cubes pop forward as the ball passes by. HOW COOL IS THAT?
The architectural designer in me planted that thought, that inspiration, that seed, that will grow within me until it bursts and just has to be cultivated. I felt an urge to build something immediately, and began making sketches. "I’ve gotta try that!" is often a sentiment we feel when we experience or see something this cool. How we interpret it and make it our own – that’s the challenge. Processing inspiration through our own filters is what keeps us authentic and true and original. Again, thanks Mr. Cornell. You continue to inspire us.
{graphic on "Penny Arcade Portrait of Lauren Bacall" added by me to illustrate the ball movement}‘
