John D Bailey

 

“ Art is not a pastime, but a priesthood.” -unknown

For many years, my life has been consumed with questions. I have searched through numerous books, conversed with the wise, and still I know nothing. It seems the closer I get to the answers, the more questions arise.

There is, within me, a void or longing, that gnaws at my very being. Thus far, this hunger has not been filled with anything found in this world. The search for Money, Power, Fame, Success, only seem to numb and cause me to forget my real pursuit…Truth. But there are times when I remember my odyssey; these are the times when I am alive….awake. Unfortunately, no matter how many times I continually remind myself to awaken; I still forget and close my eyes. I use my artwork to stay awake. I want to always be aware of this unquenchable thirst, even though it is costly. Some call this the life of a tortured soul…I would agree to a point, but I do not think it to be necessarily negative in nature. My real comfort is found only in the pain of this stark awareness.

My hope is that while my artwork serves as a journey of remembrance for me, it might do the same for you. We need each other’s help to stay awake. We have been desensitized and even unintentionally encourage the sleep to take over, because it is easier not to think.

I am alone. I am alone until I meet someone on the street or in a shop that knows of this hunger…and this then encourages me to continue on and inspires me to open my eyes once again. I am grateful for those brief interactions and welcome them as fuel for my soul.

I have studied art formally at Savannah College of Art and Design and worked on a Master’s at Emmanuel School of Religion. It is now time for me to include you in my pursuit, learn from you, ask you questions. I want to be awake.