art-star.jpg Photography by Blanchefleur

"Art Star" arrives as the culmination of a process which it creator hopes may usher common wildflowers into the avant-garde of photography. The work is a celebration of the discarded soul which survives. Its chaos assaults our desire to have control over their forms. We leave because those we love cannot conform to our will. Wildflowers, like shepherds, exhibit the balance achieved in losing control. They stay & fight. This arrangement of wildflowers might be interpreted as fireworks or even joy. In truth, the initial title of the work "4th of July", was removed only yesterday. "Art Star" becomes the possession of the artist's soul. Our minds are powerful. If these fragile weeds find ways through the ravages of hostile controls, then one is an "Art Star" when they achieve this state of mind.

I invented a picture which I keep in my head surrounding Lou Reed. It is a photograph I have never seen. He is young, in his 20s. He is at Warhol's Factory & the band have finished two hours of "Sister Ray". Reed sneaks off stage to a darker area behind some of the amplifiers, alone, soft light projecting down from the stage curtain behind the set. There is a darkened cement-block wall & you can only see half of him, the other half in darkness. He leans into the wall against his right shoulder, takes the lighter from his pocket at lights up a Pall Mall. He's got his shades on. As the stage curtain is tied to a loop & the light unfolds, smoke goes up into the rafters of the Factory. He is looking the other way; takes another drag. Art Star!

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WildflowersAvant-GardeBotanicLandscapeChristian