The Abstract Art of John L. Payne: "Babel On" - 36"x 32" - Acrylic

Friday, June 29, 2012

"Babel On" - 36"x 32" - Acrylic - 625.00 US

"Babel On"... an appropriate title for this painting as well as my state of mind! Things have sort of exploded around here and in a good way even. This year has been full of opportunities starting with my own show at Driskill Gallery in the SBU Art Department. The show went very well (I actually sold something...) and it seemed to open a door of further opportunities. One of our upscale hotel properties, University Plaza, fell under new management and opened their doors to display the work of local artists. I was the first chosen to display there and ended up helping to curate the show which was a hit and actually made it into two separate newspapers! (woo hoo!!) I also had several pieces accepted into the "Big Show" at the Springfield Airports Sky Gallery and directly after that was asked to curate my own show "Intellectual Abstractions" at the the Springfield Regional Art Council's - Creamery Arts Center. This show will open next Friday July 6 and so far it is looking very promising.

Babel On is the second and last painting is my very small series investigating the use of a mono-chromatic pallet and symbolism to embrace social commentary and visually discuss the results of language and math in regard to their contributions to mankinds ability to grow in wisdom and pass on that knowledge to future generations. Just try for a moment to imagine a world without language and then a world without mathematics. Can you say "stone age"???

The writing in this piece is ancient Sanskrit, Cuniform and African Andinkra symbols. These are some of the (if not THE) oldest "writings" in our recorded history of language. Without the ability to document and record progress (Inventions, knowledge...) much is lost over time and the wheel then must be re-invented. The ancient art of story telling is romantic and probably way better for us than television, but, in the end it allows for the "recipe" to change over time thus affecting the outcome... True to my first sentence I have babelled on!! Enjoy this piece and enjoy your day...

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Artist Bio

Born in Oklahoma, John Payne began drawing and painting at the age of six. Though educated and involved in the arts well into college, his life and career path drastically changed when he enlisted into the United States Nuclear Navy at the age of 21. As a submariner, chemist and nuclear plant operator, safety became an integral part of his daily life. After leaving the Navy he followed a similar path working in radiation/chemical safety and ultimately as an Environmental Health and Safety Manager for over 20 years before returning full time to his passion as an artist. John is motivated by the works of the mid-century expressionists and current abstract artists alike. While some of John's work is pure expressionism, many of his pieces are more ordered in their chaos. This effort to control the abstraction with a sense of “boundaries” is reminiscent, states the artist, of the efforts we all make to live passionately while still attempting to conform to moral and social responsibilities. John’s work is thought provoking and often littered with social and philosophical commentary. As a Navy veteran John has traveled across the USA and to other countries as well, experiencing sights and cultures which have served as inspiration to his work. After 20+ years of working in the corporate world with art as his hobby, John has recently abandoned “the grind” to pursue his work as an artist in earnest. He offers that the decision was not only overdue but "very liberating". John lives in Springfield, Missouri with his wife Pattie and two dogs.