It's Only Make Believe

 

No, no cooking today, or these past six months and here's the reason. My focus has been right here with Michael pulling together forty years of his work for his first major museum exhibition. His three month long exhibit opened last night at the Nicolaysen Art Museum in Casper, Wyoming. WOW.

Fearlessness is requisite for a forty year "look-back." Akin to writing an autobiography, Michael's paintings are a visual journal, a time-line of a life lived, and yes, reflecting is a bitch and a blessing, and a true leap for a man known for leaving the past waaaay behind. Just ask any one of the hundreds of students who know him, "What time is it?" There is only one possible answer in the universe known as Copeland, "NOW."

So, how does someone so focused in the present even begin?  Really, with a journey of the heart. Compiling a life's work also means opening up to the life; a perfect opportunity to embrace one's past and all of it's complexities and celebrate the perfection of what got us here, right NOW.

Mounting this exhibition has been one such journey for my husband and also for myself. This May, at the Nicolaysen's reception for the artist, we will travel to Casper and see for ourselves the impact of forty years of Michael Copeland's work; a visual thesis on his creative and artistic contribution, and his life so far...

I invite you to join us to celebrate this milestone. You can read all about the reception here and here. There is also a nice article and short interview with Michael for the Star Tribune in Casper, WY. You can fly into Casper and I will meet you there.

For those of you who have been a part of this journey these last 40 years, we thank you. For those patrons who released their iron grip on Michael's artwork and generously lent their paintings to this show, we thank you. To all at the Nicolaysen Art Museum who gave breath to this exhibition, there are no words large enough to express our gratitude and appreciation.

Finally, I leave you this wonderful quote...can't you just picture Cope, casting his net...
I am picturing you in Wyoming! Victoria

"The creative act is a letting down of the net of human imagination into the ocean of chaos on which we are suspended, and the attempt to bring out of it ideas." - Terrence McKenna