SELECTIONS FROM WIND

In 1995, an unexpected turn caused my life to grind to a halt. Even as everything changed around me, I seemed to stand still, trying to reconcile reality with the future that I had planned.

Since being diagnosed with a debilitating condition my work has seemed to revolve around my struggle to adapt. Early investigations of this theme had a dark tone that delved into emotions of anger, isolation and resignation.

This current series of works takes a more contemplative approach. Instead of dwelling in remorse, these pieces reflect reckoning. This exploration began with an installation in which a continuous black and white etching lined the gallery’s four walls. Four large paintings punctuated the monotony of this otherwise bleak landscape. With their rich color and exaggerated scale these paintings embodied the prospects of change even as they were tied to the status quo.

The works represented here are a continuation of this journey and speak more directly to my ideas of hope and resolve. Against their nature, windmills stand stagnant although turbulence surrounds them. Their potential is not determined by the situations in which they find themselves placed. For me, these works reflect the moment in which you realize you cannot control the conditions around you. You can only control your response to them. This realization opens the door for hope.

­ L. Eric Smith III