October 2007 Featured Artist: Adam Lefevre
Rarely does an artist demonstrate such a collage of diverse meanings within their works, however all relating to one story so broad it could not be told without a volume of books. Artist Adam Lefevre has achieved the quintessence of the statement: a picture is worth a thousand words, in his works combining antiquated artifacts with twentieth century response. His statement was so pointed while artistically clear, Santa Fe ArtWorld recognized his purpose without any description at all from the artist. Adam was kind enough to disclose the themes of his works when invited to do so by our art director. We are pleased to present his themes to you as stated by the artist!
Dear SFAW,
When you first asked me to disclose my theme. I was struggling within myself if I wanted to tell my meanings. Like what my favorite song means to me might not what the singer intended. Never the less some things are interesting and need to be explained, though hard for me because I am not a real social person. I feel my own wife doesn't even understand me.
Ever since I was little I've always been struggling with the meaning of life. I can remember crying when I was ten years old because my parents told me that sixty thousand American men dyed during Vietnam. I wondered why so many gave their life to a war which turned out to be meaningless. I can't remember any of my friends who even seemed to care.
I feel my theme is bringing "the forgotten" stories back to life. Like walking through a cemetery knowing those tombstones tell many stories for the names they hold. The art I do will be looked on as twenty first century art for I bring back history with modern day technology. I walk through antique stores wondering what I can buy to bring "back to life." Not to rot on the mantle.
Now I will tell you about the six images I submitted. I'll try to make short.
Copper Mine, is an image I created in my studio. The piece of copper I had since I was little. In the background is a bunch of arrowheads I have found at my wife's grandparents’ farm which also used to be a Indian village -- a whole other story in itself.
Healing Waters, is a famous sulfur spring in Delaware. As the story goes, Delaware was a big Indian village because they thought the waters had healing powers. Also, Rutherford Hayes met his wife here. Up until the early 20th century people visited here to bath. Today it sits like a forgotten treasure in the middle of a college campus. Modern day medicine pretty much turned this site to desolation.
The Prophet, refers to Johnny Cash's song "When the Man Comes Around." Which is a song about the Rapture. I feel Cash was a deep thinker who could relate to the common man. As a tribune to him I wanted to create an image with a part of him in it. Cash wrote over a thousand songs. He said that he never spent as much time writing on a song than this one. I'm a deep thinker myself so this struck me as odd because he wrote this song not even a year before his death. I feel he was a vessel for God. I cut of a picture of his hand from CD, which is at he top of my image. At bottom is a bird’s eye view of my hometown in 1880. If you look real close on Cash's hand you can see a man holding up his arms. It gives you something to think about.
Temptation speaks for itself. I'm a happily married man. There is a part of me that I struggle against on a daily basis. What makes us human is to stop our natural impulses. To act on our instincts would be a selfish act that would effect many. I feel we all face this dilemma in order to conform to our society. Is happiness make-believe or should we act on our nature?
The Memorial, is like a collage. The man is a confederate soldier from the civil war. On left is a glass negative. Behind the soldier is an interesting building I pass everyday to work - an old stagecoach stop where many famous people stopped, including Charles Dickens. On the right is our old city hall which burned down. I took the picture, then turned it into what it is with computer software.
Judgement Day, is my favorite. The background is from a postcard of my hometown a hundred years ago. All those buildings are now gone including Rutherford B. Hayes house on the right. Tore down for a gas station. I know how disrespectful it is to treat a President’s childhood home. The man walking is Johnny Cash, which I drew from a CD cover. The lighting is from black light for surreal effect.
All my answers are very short. I hope I gave you a better idea of my thinking. If you have any questions just contact me and I will elaborate more. Thanks, Adam