Ken Hildebrand - Poetry and Paint

January 20 - February 25, 2006

Poetry and paint? Perhaps best described by this Artist’s Statement (and Testimony): “I believe that God has said, “Ken, you will be the brush, and you will be the pen...and I will be the paint, and I will be the ink”. I stand here before you as a humble brush and a lowly pen...for without the paint and without the ink, I am empty”.

The work speaks of life lessons...lessons that transcend age, gender, nationality and theology. Lessons from Nature and lessons from one another...yet all lessons from God.

As an artist I have an obligation to communicate with the audience. The visual language must be understood, but must not necessarily be literal. Combining poetry and paint to reach into the hearts of the viewer is my goal. My desire is not to have observers take home a painting to hang in their home, but to have them take away an emotion to find a home in their hearts.

I seek simplicity of line, much like the ancient calligraphers of China and Japan. How else might I paint the things we cannot see? How does one paint love or capture music on canvas? How do we paint sorrow or capture the wind on canvas? To paint the single line that will embody all of our human emotions...love and hate...sorrow and joy...agony and ecstasy...that is my search. The search will last my lifetime, with discovery perhaps going unfulfilled...but a wonderful search nonetheless.

As an architect, I grew up with the mantra of the Modern Movement...“less is more”. As it applies to contemporary architecture, this battle cry has lead to a built environment that leaves little to nurture the human soul. When applied to ancient sacred places the results transcend our physical being and speak to our spirit.. The ancient Zen gardens of Japan continue to be a source of peace and solitude, despite being centuries-old. Here at home we see a circumference of aged stones...the ancient medicine circles of the first peoples...simple, yet speaking powerfully of the Creator spirit.

Throughout the ages, churches of all denominations have excelled in the trappings of worship, but what of spirituality? In our attempt to put a face and personality on God, has the mystery of God been lost? The poetry and paint seek to connect with the spirit of God that lives in each of us. A connection that may bring tears of sadness or tears of joy as we recognize God’s blessings in our life.

Ken Hildebrand