“Window Pane Blues” from “Architectural Elements”
"a left handed view”
Is, in simple terms, derived from two traits. While the first, left handedness, may be obvious, the second has been described by others saying “You have a different way of seeing things”. That different way or view is the “parti” which I define as:
Artistic vision, developed early through childhood interests, and later fueled by an education and career in design and architecture. Instruction and practice focusing on “basic elements” of line, form, pattern, color, light and shadow to plan and articulate solid and spatial relationships.
Throughout this development, pathways between mind, hand and eye were created. Creatives understand the interdependence of hand, eye and mind in the illustrative and communicative arts. In this case mind is not just intellect, it is the nexus of our senses as they vie for a voice in output.
From a left handers perspective there is an added twist embedded in that sensory competition. Left handers must see (think) differently. Consider the process of learning tasks. From a young “lefty” learning to tie a shoe or throw a ball from a right handed parent, to a student using graphic instructional material filled with world-favored right hand images. We must see, learn and function (try and find left handed scissors) in reverse.
Combine a creative mind with a left hand and you do get a “different way of seeing”, envisioning and creating.
The mind inspires, coordinates and choreographs the whole body to produce art. Artists select tools to document these inspirations. The camera, like brush and paint, paper and pen, or voice and body is a tool.
Cameras and lenses are not new tools to me. Along with Architecture, photography was a parallel and complimentary interest.
Now these tools provide channels where “basic elements” and vision are expressed in photographic images, Expression which often imposes a skewed perspective on subjects creating dynamic tensions between corner (or edge) and center, between abstract and reality, and between familiar and foreign.
These are some of the opposing qualities or ways of seeing in:
“a left handed view”