LETTER

Art opens doors to understanding

 

Sunday May 13th I had a beautiful and unexpected visit from old family friends and good neighbors from Aylmer. One expressed interest to see my art - so I gave them the “Tour of our collection”, though a more detailed version than I used to give to occasional visitors. I still cannot afford to make these scuptures easily accessible to public, not that I would not like to do it!

During our conversation I learned that their husband and father suffered, but did not talk about, mental illness, and eventually committed suicide. I reflected that some of my own work pointed to aspects of mental illness, even back in the ‘70s when the subject was avoided. One sculpture relevant to this was documented by the Citizen, December 3, 1977. At that time “mental illness” still had its veil to be lifted; the subject was taboo, and even the journalist decided not to follow this angle, even though the sculpture was clearly about operating within two points of view and understanding - therefore a duoset.

That piece was an early version of my eventual work in “Multiple/ Multilateral Sculpture”. At that time the subject of this duoset was too touchy (or untouchable) on all points (in the era of Margaret and Pierre E.), and thus brought me what I may or may not have deserved. Yet it is important to recognize even now the insights we can gain from the artist’s vision, especially on subjects we ourselves hesitate to explore.

This visit was unexpected and very emotional for me. It proved to me that long-time friendships have still the juices of life -- and that we ought to pay more attention to the voices of our artists and sculptors.

Rasto Hlavina
Pontiac