Revealing the Unconscious

Hello to all of those visiting my website. I would like to briefly discuss my poems project and how I would like you to get more people involved.

What I am looking for: In short, written out words. Mainly I am looking for written works that are original and unpublished. It could be a poem, letter, conversation, short story, series of dialogue- anything you might want to send me. I am very open to any kind of material you might want to send me for my painting efforts.

What about protecting my writing?: If you have any personal preferences about me showing your writing on the web, at a gallery or show just let me know. I want to protect the integrity of your work.

Are you looking for other artists to collaborate with?: Yes, if you’re an artist- painter, illustrator, sculptor, video, photography, whatever your medium- And you’d like to join the project. Please contact me. I’d love to learn about how we can continue to make the poems project bigger. I learn so much from other artists.

How can I contact you?: If you’re interested on working together or just want to make some comments, please feel free to do so below in the comments section. If you’d like to email me. Please email johnnystackart@gmail.com

I am your Higher Power. Today I will be handling all your problems. Please remember that I do not need your help.

If life happens to deliver a situation you can not handle, DO NOT attempt to resolve it, kindly put it in my In-Box. It will be addressed in my time, not yours.

Once the matter is placed in the box do not hold onto it or attempt to remove it. Holding onto it or removal will delay the resolution of the problem. If yours is a situation that you think you are capable of handling, please consult me in prayer, to be sure it is the proper resolution.

Because I do not sleep or slumber, there is no need for you to lose any sleep. Rest my child. If you need to contact me, I am only a prayer away.

Love,

Your Higher Power

This poem is by an annoymous author. In fact I don’t have an official title for it. I call it Higher Power. My friend and co worker Tanya Bissell gave me the poem. Its a poem that her father gave her after he found it on a bulletin board. When I track the path of how I got this poem and many directions it probably traveled I realized how strong the words really are.

This is the first piece in my poems series, it began it all. I always paint spontaneously however this was the first time I was able to reference a literary piece during the creating of the painting. It wasn’t really intentional to paint this subject however during the process I saw a box of tears. Then thought about the poem and re read it. Eventually, it just happened.

I see a figure pushing the tears flowing out of his body, secreting the worries from his mind and submerging his fibers into a box. I believe this shows the struggle of capturing such a moment, to attempt to literally force as all your worries into a box. I see the slow exit of liquid dripping down his body. This is the moment before relief.

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This piece is called “Settling in the Paralyzing Swamp” that’s part of my series called “The Horrors of Adulthood.”

The paintings intent is to display a humorous satire on the feelings of “falling into daily routine”, “settling down” or feeling stuck. The series “The Horrors of Adulthood” is focused on the feelings of overwhelming responsibilities  as you become an adult. This particular piece is loosely based on buying a house, the sinking feeling of  squatting. The figure is paralyzed as if he is slowly drowning.

Size- 8ft x 4ft

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This is an ongoing collage I’ve been working on for many years.  It is a  mixed media narrative that just kinda created itself.  Even act of indulgence I feel is displayed in this piece including obsessions, addictions , gluttony, etc…

The feelings of the paint and layers are quite brutal in my opinions. The mounds of chunks and elevation of materials is interesting to me. I added a lot of glue to the paint to add drawings from different papers and kinda just mooshed everything together on a big piece of plywood.  Elmer’s glue is a beautiful reliable substance. It drys clear and has a great hold. Don’t underestimate it’s abilities in the creative process.

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I will continue to work on this piece until I find a conclusion. However I feel it has many intriguing moments.

Closeups- 1

Originally uploaded by johnnystackart

I wanted to start posting cropped shots of my paintings as well. I feel like zooming in on a particular moment of a painting is an intriguing idea. This is also a painting in process which is what Revealing the Unconscious is all about. This particular moment could be lost as time progresses, painted over. I am going to really enjoy this series…Closeups… More to come.

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Its hard to describe how this came together, it just kinda happened.

I base my work and life really on spontaneous guttural feelings.  I like to think I live in the moment. I feel its a constant self analysis about what I am feeling and what brings me to where I am.  What I see here is a lot of pain. A desire to open up the physical and emotional parts of your body.  Maybe have the freedom to take some feelings out of your soul so you constantly feel them anymore. Honestly I have felt a lot in my life, everyone has. I melt from my emotions sometimes.  This piece really speaks to that.

The few people that I’ve showed this image to responded greatly to it. Its beautiful and sad at the same time. Deterioration at its finest.

Self Portrait: Swelling Seclusion

Originally uploaded by johnnystackart

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I originally started thinking of the idea of Purgatory after re-watching one of my favorite shows….the Sopranos. Im not sure of the specific episode, please feel free to comment if you remember… In the episode Christopher Moltisanti believes he died in the hospital for several minutes. However a debate occurs on weather he was actually dead or if he entered Purgatory. I became obsessed with the idea of what it may feel like to be stuck in Purgatory.  As far as what I see…I do see a soul exiting a dead body and entering a golden tomb. The tomb is screaming back at the soul which is ripping apart the body that lays underneath it.

Hussing Pharaoh: Waking Up Purgatory

Originally uploaded by johnnystackart