Philip Guston

Reading a book on the later work of Guston by William Corbett-

In one of the passages, Corbett talks abt how excited and serious Guston was abt his work-he says that Guston's absorption in it was an inspiration and, after late night talks with the painter, he awoke in the morning with the desire to get to work. "His commitment to his art was so great that he lifted yours to his level. In his presence there could be no question that making poems matters..." Wow-to be able to impart this degree of enthusiasm and love and excitement through what you are doing is amazing. It gives more substance to the idea of artist as trickster, as a shaman who has powers beyond the pedestrian.

I feel as if (though only on occasion) some viewers face my work and come away with something more than just visual bytes to be stored in an already overfull brain. My biggest charge is to see someone visibly excited by the work and want to go off and make something-no wizardry here, yet I'm at a loss to describe the chemistry that seems to go on between these people and my work. Not to get corny, but I am humbled by it. I've experienced something similar only once-at the Hirschhorn in Washington, DC, I saw several Matisse bronze heads -these images were in my head since I was very young. Seeing them in person was very powerful, bringing emotional reaction that took my breath away. Never has a work of art gotten to me in such a way...

Apropos, the one is called "Trickster"-it's one I just showed in Philly and came home thinking it needed more work-so it has been recently reworked. Much like the rest of my life, I can't ever seem to be satisfied. That is a good thing-well, if it's not good, it most certainly keeps me from sleeping at the wheel....