A conversation with Dan Mathers work

There is much to love in a piece of art. There can be much to look at; a reflection of self, an intellectual link made to a well pondered theory, maybe simply the sense that this is a small part of someone else revealed for you to see. What a huge gift that is.

How would we survive this life without people reminding us of the multitude of ways in which to have conversations broadly but still with depth.

In a society with so much rigor around its' 'politeness' and inclusiveness words have become potential weapons of self destruction. Some of us find it hard to comprehend and struggle with what it actually means to be intimate now with our communities for fear of judgment, misinterpretation and misrepresentation.

Constantly tracking all the social norms and needs can make it feel nearly impossible to remember our own needs. Our own truly personal conversation. What was that? The way we articulate it may actually be heard in words that are not our own. We question our inner voice and sometimes scold it for not sounding 'right'. Personal lies become larger than personal truths in order to survive.

Where to from here?

Back to the beginning. Back to the many ways we have always communicated in order to collect parts of the whole. Stories, dance, music, pictures - art. Art is a conversation. Choose your topic, or let the topic choose you, it's there and it can be tangible.

Looking at Dan Mathers work today at a friends house I felt a shift.

Slight, tortured pieces, delicate and poignantly beautiful and poised. We stared at each other, those pieces and I, asking, quietly waiting for the unfinished question to form so we could both not answer it together.

Did I bond with a canvas? The artist? Myself? I don't know.

I do know I feel richer for the moment having been. I felt instantly calmer for having a 'life' moment on a shiver I felt alive and real. I felt I had a true conversation.

Thank you