|
Eric's book is called "Out of My Mind". This may be true about Eric, but his special alchemy is taking people out of their own minds.
Eric is one of the original light painting pioneers. Eric was doing light painting in New York City beginning in 1974. From 1974 to around 1978 Eric proceeded to blow peoples' minds with his early morning urban explorations and light painting images. Today light painting is really catching on, but Eric was pioneering these techniques long long before most of current light painters were the proverbial twinkle in their fathers' eyes..... Much respect to Eric for his light painting, but also for the energy, humor and enthusiasm that his work demonstrates. He literally transports his audience into a shifted reality. Eric makes us feel encapsulated inside his actions with his light painting. We smile at the work that is "in your face". His work in general, including his light painting images, make bold and sometimes shocking statements. The effect is like a shock to the system. I like to think of his light painting as "shock therapy treatment" for those of us that have slipped under the sticky, milky film of status quo. A radical representation of what we could be doing with ourselves. All of the themes I respect so much in light painting are present in Eric's work. Ambition, intellectual rigor, passion, energy to break through physical and mental walls, courage to face "the streets" alone in unpredictable locations in the middle of the night, joy that sustains, love that strives to give, a world view that facilitates transformational moments for everyone not only the artist himself. "Takin' it to the streets" as they say..... We met up with Eric at his amazing Amsterdam home. What a sight. Talk about living outside of what most folks consider an everyday reality! I saw him for the first time sitting at this window which is literally 10 feet away from the Canal. He was hard at work as you would expect from such a prolific artist. When he looked up and saw us I felt a sincere strength in the smile wrinkles around his eyes. I can vividly recall thinking I could still see the reflections from his light drawings reflected in his eyes. Myself and the crew all felt graciously honored when he ushered us into his simply stunning artists habitat he calls home. Anyway.....what was our visit like? Outside of time is how I'd explain it. Eric was a real gonzo experience. He kept us all on our toes physically and mentally. His energy is boundless and we had to keep pace with him as he demonstrated why people respond so strongly to his art. You see, that is what Eric does best...he makes people respond. Eric reaches out and catches people in the most unexpected times. He slips into their world unexpected, unannounced and craftily. But once people see he's there it's way too late to resist. What the hell am I talking about? I'll relate an experience we had. If you read his book you'll read about an interactive art object he made called Remote-Controlled Lovers. This is part of his Urban UFO series which is a powerful series that puts art on the streets, in the water, out of the galleries and into the everyday reality of everyone else. Urban UFO's allow people to have unexpected and uninvited interactions with art and, in turn, with themselves. Eric took Remote-Controlled Lovers out for us. He put it into the Canal and started the show. It was a cloudy and rainy day and there were not very many people on the streets, but Remote-Controlled Lovers acted like a magnet for the folks that were. It starts slowly...inconspicuously....as the random passerby notices them floating by and points. They exclaim something to their friend and now there are 2 people bending at the waist over thh bridge railing watching with unresolved expressions on their faces. It's great to watch the process these people go through to integrate this sight into their immediate reality. The lovers float around elegantly....they gaze and twirl and glide oblivious to the onlookers....eventually people start looking around for some explanation....and pretty soon they see a man in a bright red hat holding a massive remote control unit with a beautiful grin on his face giving them a huge thumbs up. Smiles. That's what this is about. Smiles, joy and a life energy that sometimes is dulled, but is ever-present within whenever we manage to summon it or someone else conjures it up within us unexpectedly. This was our trip with Eric: Smiles.
Eric was gracious enough to take the Lightmobile (Litemo) out for us. What a treat!! Watching the Litemo cruise through Amsterdam streets was very very cool. In relation to Luminary is was like watching moving history. I could write for days about our visit, and I will, but that's all for the moment..... Last thing....we had the distinct pleasure of meeting Eric's family: Sietske and baby Billy....All I can say is that Eric is a lucky lucky man. But, I think Eric makes his own luck as he goes along. His loving, beautiful family....his amazing home...his joy is a well deserved reward for the energy and joy he has given to so many people throughout the decades and the World. Peace Eric.... P.S. You all have GOT to check out the Conference Bike! I hear there is a new model on the way...watch out!...art may catch you unaware on your street one day!
|
(c) 2009 Luminary Movie LLC, All Rights Reserved