Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Doors of Perception


 “There are things known and things unknown and in between are the doors of perception."
                                                                                               ~ Ray Manzarek of the Doors, 1967












Art and religion, carnivals and saturnalia, dancing and listening to oratory—all these have served, in H. G. Wells’s phrase, as Doors in the Wall. And for private, for everyday use there have always been chemical intoxicants.
                                                                                      Aldous Huxley, The Doors of Perception, 1954







Doors of Perception

ingredients: vintage book covers, vintage book page, vintage used envelope, image transfers, acetate, acrylic ink, watercolor pencils, metallic and nonmetallic artist pens, mica, leaf, found objects, milagros, stitching, glass beads, brads, beads, electrical resisters, vintage key




If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is, infinite. 
For man has closed himself up, till he sees all things thro’ narrow chinks of his cavern.
                                                                  ~ William Blake, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell, 1790




reference: http://quoteinvestigator.com/2010/11/17/rock-doors-between/

28 comments:

  1. molécule de l' ADN de l'art! superbe...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Merci, Elfi. The DNA took a lot of work, but it was fun at the same time.

      Delete
    2. i would love to use part of the doors of perception piece as my book cover. can i do this ? My email is joyriders.inc@googlemail.com

      Delete
  2. Replies
    1. Lynne, I hope you're speechless in a good way, and not speechless as in, "this is so bad I'm not saying anything." Hehe! xxoo

      Delete
  3. Oh this is beautifully resolved Sharmon! "The Doors of Perception" was a very influential book back in 1973 (was that really 40 yrs ago!?) and then just a few years ago Lewis Hyde wrote in "Trickster makes this World" - "he (Hermes) is the god of the hinge ... the mottled figure in the half light... who amazes and unmazes..." I love those gateways into the liminal space on the edge, the in between where anything is possible and you have described it here!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I appreciate the good words, Mo. I'm not familiar with "Trickster Makes this World," but I'll have to check it out.

      Delete
  4. this is just fabulous ... the stitches that mirror the book cover is just superb... amazing work...

    ReplyDelete
  5. oh yes, the infinite possibilities...! Beautiful, Sharmon.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, possibilities are what it's all about... thanks, Kim!

      Delete
  6. Wow!! Love this piece and the mirroring quotes. It's gorgeous.

    ReplyDelete
  7. All parts work together to make a beautiful whole piece...very balanced! Your quotes are a guiding force and all else keeps the viewer looking, looking! Great job Sharmon!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Mary Ann... This piece took me on a journey, made me see things differently...

      Delete
  8. You have given me a lot to perceive and take in...I wish I could see them up close...the layers do offer a multitude of opportunities. Peace be with you as you have opened an envelop of questions! Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This piece has been quite an envelope of questions for me, too, Mary Helen. I really feel like this one has taken me on a journey...

      Delete
  9. This is gorgeous~I love all the elements and the texture (love metal bits)! Bravo!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Gina, for the kind words; I hope you'll visit again soon!

      Delete
  10. This piece feels like a personal journey. The quotes and the art go so well together . I love it! .... and the title is perfect.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Robyn. I wasn't expecting it to, but this piece became a personal journey as worked on it. Much was revealed through the twists and turns of the process as it unfolded.

      Delete
  11. Adaption, integration and inclusiveness of things discarded and abandoned, provide a wonderful visual effect. First the expression must arise from within someone, then only it finds a resting place in the external world. Fantastic art work.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for the eloquent description, and the nice compliment. I agree that expression arises from within someone; finding it's physical resting place is the job of the artist, and it's not always an easy one.

      Delete
  12. absolutely wonderful dear Sharmon!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you, sweet Laura! So happy you dropped by! xox

      Delete
  13. Wow, these pieces are so fabulous - love where your work is taking you!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Thanks, Patti! It does seem to be leading me somewhere, doesn't it?

    ReplyDelete
  15. I am doing a presentation in my psychology class on perception, may I show your work with credits of course as a visual? My E-Mail is Tammynwv@outlook.com

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with me. I'm happy to reply here, but may not always have time for individual emails.