This is Where I Have Come To

This is where,

well not a where,

more like a how -

how when you think

of everything 

all at once

and it all runs together

into a puddle

left from a mental rainstorm.

You say 

so this is where I am,

how I've come to be?

where I've come to...

just that.

jeffkimsey-carroll.com

You Were

There are moments

where you are not who you are,

and you can accept that it may just be the moment;

but there is the possibility that you never were who you thought you were.
 

Waiting

"Waiting on the Awakening"

I am not sure if we are good at waiting. With the pandemic we are all being asked to wait. Even those who continue to work are waiting for things to get back to normal. I think the old "normal" is not ever coming back. So what we are waiting for is not clear. Perhaps it is the 'all clear' signal, telling us it is safe to venture out. Or maybe it's not having to live always staying six feet away from others.
I think we might really be waiting for something to change from inside. We now have an unspoken fear of each other. If a stranger drops something we do not rush to pick it up and hand it to them. So how do we connect? We are creatures who want to connect, to be a part of each other's lives. It seems like we are on the edge of a new way of being.

Pictured is a work I did right as the pandemic began. I cut the shapes out and then they lived in the shop for a few weeks before I began to give them individual character. Character in this case is defined by line and color. In case you cannot tell from the photo, these are individual half inch thick pieces of wood cut out, painted and remounted together on a black background, about 18 inches tall by 11 inches wide.

Waiting still,

Jeff

Moment #22

A Faith to High

Reverse Coloring Book

About a year ago I had been cleaning out paint brushes on a scrap of ply wood when all of a sudden the ply wood with paint all over it, caught my eye. I started seeing abstract shapes in it that I liked. I used a Paint marker to create lines, allowing the painted board to define where the lines should go.

The lower part of the painting to the right is the board I cleaned my brushes out on. The top I added on to square out the piece. It is actually two separate pieces of wood.  
"Another Jungle" 
36"x 24"



These are more abstracts painted with color first and then out lined to create surprise images. Dream Scape Tiles 3.25"x 5" each

Jeff In Reverse

A Fragment of Process

"A Fragment of Process Done" 27"x16"

Shape has Power
surfaces are marred
in the process
of making.
blobs of paint,
grease, glue
and stain
tell the story
of a hundred projects 
or more.
Little stories
of moments 
left on a table top
I give it a shape
of no significance
attach flame
to symbolize
it being torn apart
Then I set it all
on a field of 
unintelligible glyph
intended to evoke
feeling rather than
understanding.


The Top Layer of
this sculpture was 
part of a work bench
that built many 
exhibits at the 
children's museum 
I work at. I drew little 
pictures into all the 
paint and glue blobs.

Two Close up shots showing some of the little drawn in
stories




Jeff Saving Stories

Pandemic - Art

So here I am with all kinds of time. Laid off, trying to collect unemployment, told to stay at home, so why thousands of people are suffering and dying all over the world I am in my garage making stuff. Feeling guilty for having no real skill to aid the situation other than the ability to stay put. They are claiming it is the best way to help but it does not feel helpful. So I will continue to cut out chunks of wood cover them with paint and hold on to creativity for those who are fighting for there lives and all the people on the front lines in hopes that someday we can all get back to our dancing, painting, writing, or whatever we/they may do.

"One Moment In the Way"
Wood an Acrylic Paint 22"x13"

The color and shape of life 
are there...
obscured by a moment
We did not want,
expect,
or plan for.

I did not realize what I was creating until this was a few steps from completion. Distressed forms blocking vibrant color symbolizing life peaking through. All on a base of illegible scrawling designed to draw out feeling rather than understanding.

Jeff Holding on