From Maya to Paint Grit: The Real World as Gift

What’s it take to be a painter in New York City?
First, build your own house. Then, get a job utilizing technology
like a tuning fork – you get the note, it flows color.

Here the Life and Work of Dan Jay

6^th floor Loisaida walkup with elevator and one of his paintings gracing the funk of the “lobby”
Spare room filled with paintings that’s the living room and in the back a spare room
filled with works-in-progress that’s the studio
Nothing to say that can’t be seen –
nothing hidden, abstract, obscure or in-between
Paintings labors:
forces of Dynamism, see the inner workings
(his paintings do make sense) of a World Gone Mad (world that does not make sense)

Paintings color-filled buoyant and animated:
“Decades of drops and drips, stripes and squares, enough
Of that! I create an Imaginary World in which there’s a harmony
in physicality – I’m no intellectual
What makes sense makes sense – can’t you see?”
Oh I see I see
I agree.

This one called “Canal Street Hip Hop”
answers “Broadway Boogie Woogie” –
Chunks of Canal Street plastic ordained into a rhythmic beat,
rapalicious grooverama hey hiphippity hop don’t stop don’t stop

The Orange spiral is twisting to the sky in "Daydream" - opening blue to red
Where’s the sense in that?
The sense in red and blue shadow, in moving forces, in blinks of eye, in art and love?
The Present-Day Painter refuses to Die!
Homesteads his house, and quietly applies
Layer of paint to build a new world.

Sit at computer and use “Maya” to construct a pelvis, the bones would make the body, so basic
You see (Yes! Cries the Reader of this poem, actually seeing the painting!)

Painting isn’t closing your eyes,
spilling drips and hoping it comes out right.
You plan, you explore variations, you
Do It.

Ah, dear bright Reflection of New York City’s multiblossom culture clash!
Dear Artist of Solitude in world gone crazy barmy lost in greed, selfishness,
materialism, racism, sexism, homophobia, intolerance in general, apathy, cars,
pollution, squandering resources of air and water, is that enough or should I go on?
Living in land mines, wars, unequal distribution of wealth, television, corporate
dominance, advertising, religious dogma, lack of funding for AIDS research
You make your own little snow globe, am I right or am I wrong?
You make your own little snow globe and you SHAKE IT UP, isn’t that what we do?
Paintings that simply add enjoyment to people’s lives,
paintings that simply put some of the pleasure back into the world

Nothing confusing obscure unapparent
Clarity, obvious, attractive shapes hopping
around the canvas in an interesting way.
Art of shape, space, and color!
Painting of thought and energy, with no mystery but love!
Eternal rocking unassuming creation!
   

                                          Bob Holman