RICHARD YORK

I have always admired the emotional depths that music is able to explore how a particular piece can produce a profound effect on a listener.

 

My new work strives for similar resonance between viewer and the visual medium, where movement, dynamics and reverberation are created through analogous effect in line, form and colour — "visual" harmony instead of the "musical" harmonics. It is my pursuit of that same elusive intangible that I intend my reduction woodcuts and linocuts to provoke. And, if successful, achieve great personal satisfaction knowing that my carefully carved images, inked and printed by hand, have struck a chord and resonated with a viewer.

 

This obsession stems from an unforgettable incident forty years ago. As I stood before Franz Marc's painting of Blue Horses I was overcome with visual emotion. Overwhelmed as the forms and juxtaposition of colour vibrated off the canvas directly toward me. It is an emotion I remember each day as I set out to work towards instilling that feeling in my printmaking.

 

I will consider Resonance a success, if my vision of the West Coast moves the viewer in a personal or emotional way.