For the Steam Project my group and I chose a random piece, in a random hallway of the seventh floor of the Baruch Vertical Campus. I didn’t exactly think much of the painting. It was just a regular piece, titled the Red Bentley. I studied the piece and thought of questions, but I just thought it was like any other piece of art. My perspective changed when I actually got to the artist, Norman Gorbaty.
While looking for more information on the piece itself, my group and I could not find much on the specific artwork. It isn’t a well known work or anything that’s famous or anything. I decided it would be a good idea to contact the artist. I looked on his website and found the email address. I sent the email that day and after a few days without a response, I didn’t think anything of it and I continued looking for research. Then I got a response. It was Norman’s son who replied and said Norman would be happy to talk.
I ended up calling him a few days later and got to ask him a few questions. I expected a quick five minute interview, but he actually wanted to talk to me and we ended up talking for a little bit more than a half hour. He created the piece based on a past memory when he went to France. He actually created a second piece that was exactly the same, except without the red Bentley. He also said that it probably only took him a few hours to make. These two facts, I never would have imagined, had he not told me. It’s interesting that he created two of the same works, each taking only part of a days work.
The most important aspect Norman told me that perspective is key. When I asked him different questions about what the artwork meant, he told me that it’s the viewer that answers these questions. It isn’t him, the artist, who decides what the part means, it’s the viewer who can choose how to interpret the work. He also said that each person’s perspective will change day-to-day. Norman cited that if I went to the work the very next day I might notice something else about the piece or have my emotions completely changed. Talking to Norman was by far the most meaningful interaction with art that I’ve had.
I found your post very interesting because my group had the same issue when looking up information about our art. We just could not find enough information about the art itself so we shifted our research towards the subject of the art and the author’s life. It’s really awesome that you actually got to contact the artist. My group tried doing this, but since our artist was pretty old he did not use much technology. We could not find his contact information anywhere, even galleries that did his shows did not have good information. Speaking to an artist who has been successful was probably a great experience and learning his perspective was an even better experience for you. I have been saying this artists opinion about art in most of my art classes. It is the viewers opinion that matters! Who cares what the artist was thinking when he made it? The connection to the art should come from the viewer not from what the artist wanted to say. These classes always focus on the value the artist brings, but I believe value should stem from within the viewer. I appreciate your post and I want to listen to your audio guide. Great work!