vox is one of the most unique artists I have ever met. His favorite quote, by Sister Wendy, is “Only what comes from the heart is able to go to the heart”. This was reflected in his large body of work shown at his latest exhibition.
Over 500 postcards were sent out promoting the show at the Camden Fireworks art gallery. Over 100 people attended the opening reception on May 22. He gave an artist talk on June 5 and the closing reception was June 18. There was a total off 51 pieces on display.
Prior to our interview, he sent me some pictures. I immediately noticed all the red stickers. Naturally one of the first questions, I asked during our interview was, “How did you sell so many?” Contrary to the norm, the stickers indicated those that were not for sale. They were from private collections he “borrowed “back in order to show a full body of work spanning 15 years. Others were pieces he does not want to part with. When I asked how many he sold, he replied” All of them”. Was he just lucky, or was there a secret to his success?
Perhaps it was the in the postcard:
“
Working primarily as a general contractor for over 40 years, vox considers himself fortunate to
be able to financially support his art. He wants to share his creations with anyone who appreciates them , including those who may not normally be able to afford costly pieces .He is not interested in putting a monetary value on his time, and talent; a most difficult task for artists who often feel they must.
Basically, he set up an old-fashioned silent auction, although it was not promoted as such. Everything was $1.00 (or best offer); there were pieces of paper next to each item for bids to be written. Nothing was done on -line. People were either at the event or could call in a bid.
vox has a very specific philosophy about art. To him, there are three most important things: The first is evoking emotion. The second is emotion back-to-back between artist and observer. The third is expressing millions of emotions. His name comes from the Latin word for “voice “; always spelled with a small v. vox considers art his voice. His pieces are not all intricate, but must say something. His overall theme is “Beautiful You”. His intention is to “correct peoples’ improper thinking” of the way things are viewed, including self- esteem and social issues. He uses a lot of mirrors for self-reflection. Pieces all have name and special tag lines, which were meaningful to him.
Some pieces have to be looked at very closely to interpret. This piece called the “Weapon of Love” is a collection of guns arranged to spell the word love. His inspiration was a quote by Martin Luther King “We are still determined to use the weapon of love””.
At the closing event, there was a large range of bids. Some people bought pieces for as little as $6.00. The highest priced, “Fon’ly” ,a 14’x20’ mosaic made c layered glass, sold for w$800. It’s tag line is a quote from Bono “Fon’ly a heart could be as white as snow”
Total sales were over $6000. Everyone left very excited. It was a win-win for all who participated.
I am truly sorry I did not learn about the exhibition until after it closed. I would have loved to attend and be part of the action.
