Introducing Michael Bise (Artist Talk) Post 14
While in class last week, my classmates and I attended the Michael Bise Artist Talk at Sam Houston State University. This talk was very interesting to me. The artist himself looked to be in his late twenties or early thirties and seemed to be slightly depressed and highly sardonic.
The reasoning behind the depression soon became apparent after hearing about his work. He makes huge drawings (as in 3'x7') using pencil (or graphite) which are mostly life related. In one of the drawings, he is in a hospital bed hooked up to about twenty medical tubes. We learned that he had to have a heart transplant about three years ago after having the same disease his father had died from. Michael still seems to be depressed at having lost his father though that tragic happenstance but it is what caused his drawings to make a dramatic turn to what it is now.
He explained that before his father's death, he created large abstract paintings. His first major work after his father's death is the drawing of his sister in her bedroom getting dressed for the funeral. In it, he explains the disconnect between the trivial Brittney Spears posters and the expression of complete and total shock and grief on his sister's face is what intrigued him to draw the picture.
I loved going to this artist talk because hearing a well-known artist talk about his work and the struggles he goes through inspired me to make more art. He goes through the same struggles I do as an artist just starting out and he is well known. Makes me think, maybe I'm normal. :) I don't know how happy my family would be if I took pictures or painted them in their most vulnerable states though.
To find out more about Michael Bise, check out his website;
http://michaelbise.com/home.html
