MY FATHER'S ROOM - THE FOUR SEASONS OF THE MASTER MYTH

My Father's Room
The Four Seasons of the Master Myth

My Father’s Room © Salazar 1994

Synopsis

My memoir My Father’s Room the Four Seasons of the Master Myth begins with my reflections on my relationship with my father and unfolds the saga of my life, describing how I came to move from my home in Maine, to live in my father’s room in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.

Americans are seeking their “place,” a phenomenon significantly heightened in this post 9/11 era. We seek a “sacred place,” the ‘place’ that Joseph Campbell writes of so eloquently, where we can be more human. In My Father’s Room I ruminate on my present dilemma and develop possible resolutions for myself. My father never spoke to me of our family’s past, of much at all; he never left a written guidance about his aging; furthermore our failure to communicate precluded any understanding between us. I moved on with my life without him, leaving the early memory pages blank as an unfinished canvas. Reggie, from the Day of the Dead Series © 2004 Salazar

He left only one written commentary in his billfold that I uncovered when I was going thru his personal belongings: “The primary effect of the aging process is basically a deprivation of one’s human dignity.”

Part I of My Father’s Room expresses what shaped and influenced my work as a visual artist. And Part II regresses to my earlier painting days in Europe and my first marriage, mundane jobs and my family life with four children. Throughout the memoir I explore my development as an artist who returns to his passion in his elder years, finding that “sacred place.” I write of reaffirming my artistic abilities in a burst of creative work in The Four Seasons of the Master Myth.

I utilize technology, including a DVD about my life in art: The Four Seasons of the Master Myth. This work-in-progress began in 1990 in Maine where I created the 1,000 small images; one after another, never destroying any piece: they tumbled out of my head—sequentially. I found my philosophical construct for The Four Seasons of the Master Myth in a text written by Professor J.K. Feibleman. In Aesthetics he wrote of the “master myth”: success in spring, hubris in summer, nemesis in the fall, death in winter and the consequent resurrection in the following spring.

“Art,” Bill Moyers writes, “connects us to ennobling ideas, it challenges us to greater personal horizons.” I include in My Father’s Room a selection of images from my series, The Four Seasons of the Master Myth.

This book is a snapshot of my life as it reflects individuals of my generation, both in art and in my path for success and growth as an artist. As a visual artist my life’s work is with images; words only play a supporting role. However, by combining words and images I am able to communicate more fully. The discussion of aging is important to the large audience of retirees. I conclude from the data I have examined, and from talk shows on the Baby Boomers, that my memoir and the images may be warmly received. It is not opportunistic of me to also postulate that the “Generations X and Y” will understand my work; most assuredly the final DVD production will help to illustrate the prose and images. Young or old, we are all searching for value in our lives. My Father’s Room suggests one path toward that enlightenment; the one which may enable us to achieve their “sacred spaces,” whether in our father’s room or wherever we are in life.

The Four Seasons of the Master Myth

The Project: Background © Salazar 1990

Since 1990, it has been on my “front burner”—simmering—I am driven to complete it now! I created the 1,000 images on paper (4”X6”) in one year; it lacked a philosophical construct until I discovered Professor J.K. Feibleman’s Aesthetics—His thesis is that the “master myth” is “a guiding force in terms of which the greatest art could be discovered.” He applauds James Joyce “as the first,” “not the last,” to “grapple with the forces of the ‘master myth’ in the form of a contemporary work of art.” Using the “master myth” theme—the myth of the year god; his success is spring; hubris; or divine insolence in summer; nemesis in the fall and ruin in the winter, and his death and consequent resurrection in the following spring—I wrote on my life in art—a memoir—My Father’s Room The Four Seasons of the Master Myth.

I divided the 1,000 images into 250 segments and selected the first 25 images from each segment. Next, I photographed and made a slide-to-video transfer of the sample. Then a video—a work-in-progress—shows me painting with voice over; first the spring monologue, with 25 images; then, summer, fall and winter, each show my monologue and then images; Vivaldi’s Four Seasons music on background. Unsatisfied, I wrote a right/left brain dialogue; needed is final production of the DVD dialog; digitalization and graphic representation of 900 images; music and some postproduction editing of glitches in the monologue. The DVD will be used in a Project Installation that expresses by memoir my life in art as metaphor for the master myth: And, sold and promoted in my book: My Father’s Room.

The Project: Context © Salazar 1990

“If,” as Coleridge says, “the purpose of art is the subjection of matter to spirit so as to be transformed into a symbol, in and through which the spirit reveals itself” then as artist one of my jobs is to provide a vehicle— my creative effort—to accomplish this. Today, as when Feibleman wrote [1949], there is continued “separation of the fine arts from the wider public.” Without playing the “blame game,” I simply address my attention and efforts on combining my images, memoir (written and spoken) and to represent these as the four seasons in the cycle of a year; facilitating old and young alike search on there way to find meaning in their life, using as a guide how my life and my art are intertwined; addressing Joseph Campbell’s “sacred place” and its importance in our search how we can become more human; it is imperative in this chaotic age.

The Project: Originality © Salazar 1990

I have combined by memoir and images, in book and in installation, “a life in art;” with the purpose of telling and showing my visual artistic passage: a guide for all on how to reach one’s “sacred place.” In my book memoir—My Father’s Room—to be sold to the general public, a work in progress DVD, The Four Seasons of the Master Myth, is included. Additionally, an Installation (Exhibition) showing the original 1,000 images and the new production DVD with voice over, and music displays the “master myth”: spring, summer, fall and winter is planned.

The Project: Impact © Salazar 1990

My project is an “expansion” of worthy artists “groundbreaking work.” The Project closes the gap between creator and viewer-interpreter. Others, like writer-artist Jonathan Sarterfer, use only words and images in books. My Father’s Room adds my oral memoir: The Four Seasons of the Master Myth; with 1,000 images, monologue and dialog; addressing my life in art as the spring, summer, fall and winter as metaphor for the “master myth.” The Installation with 1,000 images in one space and another space, by projection the DVD with oral memoir and images— interactively displayed— with music, provide the DVD with superior distribution possibilities.

The Project: Artistic Enabling Value for Myself as Artist

Completion of the new production DVD makes my plans for the Installation of the Four Seasons of the Master Myth available for exhibition at museums and galleries. The new DVD will be available for purchase by museums, schools and universities through my distributor, Chip Taylor Communications. It will make this “old” artist name known and hopefully make my other artistic work more collectible and saleable. It will help promote sale of my book My Fathers Room, where the work in progress DVD is offered, along with an opportunity for the purchaser to buy the new DVD when it is released.

The Project: Audience

My primary audience is everyone interested in the “aging process.” To reach seniors: Internet, TV, talk shows, printed blurbs in magazines, etc. shall be sought. But, ‘young and old’ search for value in their lives: Generation X and Y individuals will not shun my work; the techs will appreciate its quality. A book is part of this project and will be promoted by my publisher. The production DVD is guaranteed a national educational distributor. The Installation will seek venues interested in the topic, content and presentation: possibly Stonehenge Paper, the paper I use for the images, may help sponsor The Project.

The Project: Venues

The Project three paths are underway or planned. They interconnect; yet have separate production and postproduction pathways and venues. When completed: 1) “DVD” final production distribution guaranteed for universities, schools, museums and public by my Executive Producer & Distributor, Chip Taylor Productions: www.chiptaylor.com 2)“Book” completed; I have a literary agent, looking toward publication of the book in 2008-09. 3) “Installation” [after DVD completion] to be designed and exhibited at grantor’s facility and other venues.

The Project: Support Needed

This assistance might not be needed but for an unfortunate event: my grant in Melbourne, Australia from Mike Reed & Partners came unglued when Mike became seriously ill, sold his business, complicating his personal supervision for postproduction and production of the enhanced DVD. Now The Project seeks support! A Budget is available.

The Project Results:

(1) A published book My Father’s Room The Four Seasons of the Master Myth

With the Book a work in progress DVD The Four Seasons of the Master Myth

(2) A one-hour fully edited DVD with 1,000 images, music and voice over available

for sale in the educational market distributed by Chip Taylor Productions.

(3) An installation exhibition at two or more college/university galleries showing the

DVD and the original images.

(4) A report on the results of the project provided the grantor.

For Additional Information and Commentary see:

BLOG: www.salazargallery.com/ramblinrose.html

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