As the carvings were hung for the opening of the show, “The Studio by David Alan,” I was elated to find how beautiful they really are. In the rough Bali studio where the pieces were carved and re-carved by the craftsmen sitting on the terracotta floor, it was impossible to know if their magic would come alive.
It is strange for me to walk through the show and be touched by what we created. The pieces are completely mine, step-by-step, and not mine all at the same time. I can’t take credit for them. They were a gift.
I spent years preparing for this show. I worked untold hours with and without the carvers to make this happen, but I stand in front of these works of art and wonder where they came from. After spending an hour walking through the show, a friend captured this feeling so well when she said, “The muse was generous with you.” What a sweet perception of all that happened. If the muse gives gifts, how can credit be taken?
This show matters more to me than any show or any work I’ve ever done. It matters because creating and sharing beauty, awe, inspiration and wonder matters. The deeper it penetrates individually and collectively, the better for all. If these works from “The Studio” touch and inspire, that’s a good thing.
