pix credit -1- Museum for Moderne liv -2- Canada Travel
Cocteau at Musee des beaux arts-de Montreal | he was famous for being famous, spurned by the surrealists for being too much of an artistic "jack of all trades" | But his work has been influential far beyond that of many of his critics |
     I was most taken by his images from World War I [The Great War] | While I'd known of his erotic work, and of his avant garde films (performance art really), his war correspondence was both dramatic and captivating |
     Co-curated by the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and George Pompiedeau Centre in Paris, the exhibition's display in Montreal will be the only North American presentation. Those interested in seeing the complete exhibition while there ought to find a way to see it if at all possible | For more info: 6 may through 29 august 2004 |

Sense of Dignity | The text:

Each person on earth is endowed with some quality or skill unique and special to oneself || It is not for mere mortals to deny another one's birthright of sharing that gift because of social prejudice, custom, superstition or set of beliefs || Rather we must grow and provide the opportunity for all people's to develop their gifts, then all may grow with their fruition || Anything less denies us that to which we are entitled || To one's sense of dignity

     Penned in 1987, it took until 1990 to come up with the center illustration | This is one of a collection of works that I consider to be my personal values statements |
     There have been those who looked at this work and stated immediately thereafter, "oh, you must be anti-abortion" | While one would be accurate in surmising that I believe that sentient life begins at conception, there are so many other parameters to weigh in on with that subject that I find statements such as that too concrete, almost simplistic |
     Would that life was so concrete, ..so black and white | But it isn't | the sentiment is also off the mark, maybe even misses the point | I'll be posting other samples of my work as time allows |