NOTES FROM THE ARTIST

My work has been exhibited in solo and group exhibitions worldwide including the Raymond Chow Gallery in Vancouver BC, the Marshall Clarke Gallery in Tsawwassen BC, the Bistango Gallery in Irvine, California, the Lewis-Clarke Juried Art Exhibition in Lewiston, Indiana, The Sylvia White Gallery in Santa Monica, California, The Colciello Gallery at The Robert and Mary Montgomery Armory Art Center in Palm Beach, Florida, Arte and Art Expo in New York City, the Salon Du Blanc in Tokyo, Japan and in his home town at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre. It is also on view at The Gallery Spa and found in numerous private collections.

What is an eye for art?

In the Kirk Douglas movie "Lust for Life" Gauguin tells Van Gogh that he paints too fast. Van Gogh replies to Gauguin, "You look too fast!" This has always stayed with me because I think people miss out on so much of life because they rush past it without looking. Someone came to my house to fix my TV and did not notice the paintings. They are on every wall and stacked three or four deep in places. I was amazed. A little elf told me to ask, "How did you like the art?" So I did. He looked at me wide-eyed and said, "Art? What art?" This was either very harsh criticism or a symptom of severe tunnel vision.

I think my paintings are worth noticing. I like to think that my paintings operate on many levels - like a play by Shakespeare. Whether you are a world famous expert or brand new to the whole idea of contemporary Art there is something for you to see and appreciate. I believe that the key to developing an eye for art is to spend a lot of time looking at it. The more time you take the more you will begin to see. Once you saturate yourself with what first attracts you to a painting you will be transported to a new level of appreciation.

My paintings are accompanied by my thoughts about them to encourage my viewers to take another look. It is dangerous for an artist to interpret his own work. I might be wrong, or worse, I might make my viewers think that their thoughts and feelings are invalid. But I think it's worth it if someone spends a few more minutes with an image and is able to notice something new because of what I have written.

I believe that the work I have presented here contributes something unique to the world of art and something special to the world at large. Any intelligent person can become an art expert if they are willing to take the time to look. No one really needs anyone to tell them what to appreciate. The best art is the art you like best!

ROBERT HARMS



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