I write, and I create visual “poem objects” that, I hope, convey messages or feelings with visual poetics: analogy, metaphor, rhyme and alliteration of color and shape, juxtaposition, and things left unsaid. I am happy to be considered an “outsider artist” or part of the “art brut” genre. These are terms used to label artists to help with marketing or to aid in Internet search results. In the end
connecting with art and artists is a personal journey immune to and from labels. I believe that art either affects us or it doesn’t. Our reaction to art needs no defense or explanation. Not liking a work of art is perfectly acceptable. We discover. We winnow. A poem or a piece of art needs to hit us somehow. To make us windmill an arm like Pete Townshend. It's what drives us to create and to collect. I believe that any form of art is only successful if the work turns a common item or idea into an uncommon one—creating not only the poem or poem-object, but some form of emotional power chord. Or sometimes just the sense—or possibility—of that kind of alchemy. Affiliations:
The International Society of Assemblage and Collage Artists
The Andovers Artists Guild (MA)
East Mill Art Space (North Andover, MA)
Arts Institute Group of the Merrimack Valley (MA)
Exhibitions
Judge: Mount Washington Valley Arts Association. Art in the Park. Aug. 10, 2013
REM: Uforge Gallery, Jamaica Plain, MA. Aug. 1-31, 2013
Jeff Roberts: Surfaces 2012-2013. UForge Gallery, Jamaica Plain, MA. July 18-Aug. 18, 2013
North Conway Public Library Annual Book and Art Sale. July 13 & 14, 2013
Art in the Orchard. Arts Institure Group of the Merrimack Valley. Jun 8-9, 2013. (Honorable Mention)
Contemporary: UForge Gallery, Jamaica Plain, MA. June 1-30, 2013
Textures: UForge Gallery, Jamaica Plain, MA. January 3-27, 2013
To the power of n: When n Equals 12. International Collage Project. http://tothepowerofn.joellambeth.com
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