Hello, bloggers.
In his last post, Matt mentioned his coffee table book, Matt Lamb: Diary Pages. This book was published in 1992 by Joffe Galleries, Inc., and features an introduction by art historian Mary Towley Swanson. I thought it might be interesting to share with you the captions that appear with Matt’s works on paper, as they are one of the few examples in his work of the use of text. They afford a great window into his creative process and his views of himself and the world.
Next week I’ll have a post for you in which I give my observations about the artwork and the worldview in Diary Pages, and what it tells us about the journey Matt has been on in the nearly 17 years since the book was published.
Best regards,
Richard
Blog editor
Excerpts from Diary Pages:
“Who is that person so in control? I wish I could be more like him. Holy cow! It’s me, as seen by the world! Will we ever know ourselves?”
“Oh, to have the courage to be a clown: to skip lightheartedly through life, never worrying about what others will say—only the dandelions, the poems, the pies in the face... This surely must be paradise!”
“Oh, the ultimate clown on top of the moon, master of all he surveys. Never saw such a person but have read it in history. Can we believe what we read in history?”
“Life is a battlegound. Each day we awaken with love in our hearts but armed to the teeth against whatever adversity may befall us.. Love, but be careful!”
“Someone broke my lolipop. Who could it be? I’m glad it wasn’t my heart.”
“Ah, the lament of childhood lost. Why am I sad? Maybe I am looking in the wrong direction.”
“I’ve been following you for many years. Why am I getting smaller and you are getting bigger? Must be something in the water—or am I going in the wrong direction? Or are you?”
“To catch all the balls thrown to us is impossible. Look at those we select; it may tell us something.”
"Jugglers are my friends. I marvel at how they keep all the balls in the air. Do we have to juggle in our sleep? No wonder I’m tired!”
“All the deeds of mice and men: so important, so meaningful, so full of cheese!”
“Being born is difficult. Life may be. The path we crawl is our own. The rocks and glass are our own. Wouldn’t it be fun always to be in a mudslide?”
“The broken heart of cultures long lost still penetrates the soil. Once it flowered and touched every aspect of the world. It is here all around us. We must find it. How?”
“Oh, fascinating... the great, strong stallion striding over mountains and dales. I will ride this horse wherever he takes me. I hope he knows where he’s going... I don’t!”
“Is this the devil? Such a comical, frightful image! It’s sort of soft—and scary, full of fun... bizarre! I wonder who it is! Holy cow, it’s a mirror!”
“What a dance! Ain’t she great? Just being is delightful!”
“Be not afraid; I am with you always. If you don’t know this, you don’t know nothin’!”