Live it to Give it Interview with Artist David French
Wednesday, March 12, 2014 at 1:00 AM facilitated by Kayce Stevens Hughlett
Today it is my delight and pleasure to introduce you to a man whose work my husband and I have admired for several years. As serendipity would have it, we met him in person a couple of years ago and discovered he lives in our neighborhood. Not only is he an amazing artist, but he's an entertaining and engaging friend with a lovely and talented wife who we also adore. We are blessed to have David French in our lives and I believe you will be, too.
Kayce: In my book, As I Lay Pondering: daily invitations to live a transformed life, the wisdom of children and an ability to play is highlighted in multiple passages. I'd love to know if you have a favorite reading and more specifically how play informs your life as an artist. 
Cocoon, 2013, Mixed Media on Carved Wood, 8"X10"X 8"David: I'd say that a favorite would be the passage from July 2nd, "Paying Attention." I enjoyed your riffing off the opening quote by Thomas Merton, "When you have put into practice the things you are talking about, then you speak from knowledge of the thing itself." I've found it fascinating to see what one chooses to pay attention to and what we revere. In paying attention we're occasionally doing just that, or we're telling ourselves a story about how it is that we're paying attention. The stories we tell ourselves throughout a lifetime of paying attention often interfere with our ability to pay attention. Narrative has a way of trumping reality.
Kayce: You've given me many things to ponder through your astute observations. I may have to start with "Narrative has a way of trumping reality." Fascinating! And play?
Jean DubuffetDavid: The idea of play is an interesting one. As someone who is busily toiling away in my studio every day I often feel that people are mistaking the work I do as play. I think it's important that the idea of play for an artist has nothing to do with a kind of therapeutic "inner child" work where art is used to create insight. I might have insights into myself while working, but my work is hardly therapeutic! I feel that an artist can identify with a sense of playfulness that occurs in the midst of their work, but there is a great deal more that one must consider, and play is just a small part of this. The artist Jean Dubuffet looked at the artwork of children, prisoners, and the insane for inspiration. I believe he was keen on understanding the motivation and intent behind the impulse to express oneself. The key for me is to find a voice within myself that is authentic and can find expression in my work. For me to say what this expression is all about is easier to do through my work than with words.
Kayce: You've spoken to the struggle many creative types encounter. I'm reminded of a story about an incident at a cocktail party where a doctor was speaking to a writer and quipped, "I'm going to be a writer when I retire," and the author boldly replied, "And I've decided to become a brain surgeon when I retire." I believe that the art of play (in its many forms) is serious business and if we don't have those moments of playfulness or authentic expression of which you speak, then our work truly does become endless toil whether we are artists, surgeons, or minimum wage workers.
I know you grew up in St. Louis with several brothers. For some inexplicable reason, I see that part of the country as Superhero territory. What is your superpower as an artist and do you have a sidekick?
Streamer, 2012, Mixed Media on Carved Wood, 32" X 11" X 8"David: Seeing St. Louis as "superhero territory" never crossed my mind! Your question makes me remember many happy hours of watching Superman as a kid with my friends. The superhuman feats of a man who in his day to day life wasn't much different from the "square" Mr. Jones in Bob Dylan's song "Ballad of a Thin Man."
And you know something is happening
But you don't know what it is
Do you, Mister Jones?
The Clark Kent character played a rather mundane ordinary man trying to make sense of what was happening while appearing clueless. I think I can relate to Clark Kent more than any superhero.
To address superpower and sidekick, I'll take John Lennon for superpower, and Bob Dylan as sidekick. Sorry, Bob!
Kayce: Ha! Why am I not surprised the interview includes musical references? If we had more time, I'd ask you to share how music influences your creativity. Perhaps another time!
In closing, I'm reminded that for me live it to give it means impacting the world for good by sharing our best selves. What is your hope for impacting the world for good?
Instinct, 2012, Mixed Media on Carved Wood, 23" X 20" X 6"David: By creating the works that I do I'm really just hoping to create a situation where someone will be given a reason to see things differently. It's not up to me to be able to control this experience. If what I do simply causes a person to reflect on their own creativity then all the better. For them to find beauty, feel a greater connection through the work, to have a moment where they feel inspired, this would be awesome. I do hope that my work will touch them.
Kayce: Brilliant! We are rolling on the same page here! Thank you so much, David, for sharing your insights on beauty and creativity with us today.
David French received a BFA from Atlanta College of Art in 1983. In the late 1980s he began making sculpture with wood while living in Berlin, Germany. His work has been exhibited regionally and nationally since he moved to Seattle in 1991. A recipient of an NEA grant for sculpture from Western States Arts Federation, David has also been awarded fellowships at Vermont Studio Center and a senior residency at Oregon College of Art and Craft. His work has been reviewed in Art in America, Sculpture Magazine, and American Craft, among other publications. In Seattle, David is represented by Linda Hodges Gallery, and his next show there is this June.
Reader Comments (3)
Nice interview - lovely to hear about David in David's own words! Masterful artist! I'm still thinking about the similarity to Sean Scully's work that I saw hanging in his studio.....has he ever put a price on that piece? xoxo
I shall inquire, Dianna :-) xo
Nice interview with David:)