Visual Sanctuary would like to thank Michael Seiler for the time and energy he put into his presentation on February 13. He currently is showing his work at the Zanesville Museum of Art through April 7, 2012. Click here to find out more: Speaking To Spirit .
Enjoy the interview!
Life/Career
Tell us about your life: How did
you come to the decision to be an artist? What and who influenced
you?
I’m
not sure there ever was a doubt in my mind that I was to be an
artist. My first memories, at age 3 were drawing and painting. An
inner voice at that early age has stayed with me until today that one
of my main purposes in life was to communicate by making visual art
in some way.
I am
also one of the most fortunate people I know. Artists were always a
part of my life. One of my next door neighbors was a painter from
Belgium. She always had a still-life on her dining room table with a
human skull. She was rather eccentric, she swore in French and ran
around in her underwear, which drove my parents crazy, but it was to
my delight.
The
next neighbor was an avid shade gardener who included me in his
designs and plantings including hosta and a pear espalier. Today I
have a large hosta garden.
Following
him was Larry Wadsworth, a potter and art teacher. He was quite
perceptive to know my home life was difficult and took a
nonthreatening approach to my parents to bring into his studio. By
the 7th
grade I was throwing on a potter’s wheel and building kilns with
his beer drinking, cigar smoking artists’ friends, again to my
delight.
In
the 3rd
grade I was selected to be a part of the Toledo of Museum’s visual
gifted children’s
program. From the 4th
grade through part of high school I attended classes at the museum
every Saturday morning. These classes were not taught by art
educators, but by working artists. The classes were four hours long
and we did a lot of work in the galleries. By the time I finished
their program I knew most of the art and artists in the museum.
What was your education like?
I
received a BFA and a MFA from The Ohio State University. I also did
post grad work at Ohio Dominican University and Muskingum University
in art-education and studio.
I was
very fortunate to work with two world experts in the field of
painting. Hoyt Sherman was world renowned for his work in color
theory and Cezanne. I also worked with Bob King who was a leading
expert on Matisse.
Tell us about your career: How
did you end up in Zanesville? What types of jobs have you had
throughout your life? What experiences have brought you to be where
you are now?
This a
very long story, but as simply as I can here it is: I have
been involved with church work since the late 1960’s and more
specifically helping to build Christian Community. In 1979 three
families from our church bought a farm in Muskingum County to build a
small rural community.
Jobs:
I have worked many types of jobs which include farm work, carpentry,
apartment maintenance, and spot labor. My main occupation, that is
for money, other than making art, was in education. I have taught
every grade from preschool to graduate school. Most of my educational
work was teaching fine art/studio and art education.
The
short list of schools is: Ohio
University Zanesville, Muskingum University, Ohio Dominican
University, The Ohio State University, and Cambridge High School.
Tell us about your work
with the Zanesville art community.
There
is a long history of the arts in Zanesville. Starting with the
pottery’s to the Zanesville Art Museum. It was easy to find
artists. We started an organization called the Zanesville Appalachian
Artist Project to encourage all kinds of artists to work and exhibit
their work.
We started with three non-juried shows a year. Today ZAAP
has its own gallery and has monthly exhibitions. Later the Artist
Colony of Zanesville (ArtCOZ) was formed to broaden the arts
community. Today ArtCOZ has about 20 venues and about 70 artists
participating.
This includes dance, theater, music, and the visual
arts. We have a monthly first Friday gallery walk. I have been
president of ZAAP and I am now serving as president and spokesperson
for ArtCOZ.
PROFESSIONAL
ORGANIZATIONS (Past
and present)
Artist Colony of Zanesville
Christians in the Visual Arts
College Art Association
International Arts Movement
National Art Education Association
National Education Association
Ohio Art Education Association
Ohio Art League
Ohio Education Association
Zanesville Appalachian Arts Project
Tell us about your work with
CIVA.
I am
really a no body. I have been a member for many years and I have
attended some of their meetings. They offer a great service to
serious artists who are also Christian without being religious. This
includes arts opportunities, conferences, resources, and people to
talk with from time to time.
Tell us about one disappointment
and one highlight on your path as a professional artist.
Disappointments
abound. Mostly I’ve really had to learn how to market my work in a
very consistent manner. I’ve unfortunately, missed some
opportunities to exhibit my work.
On
the positive side, I won second best of show at the Ohio Expositions
Center/the Ohio State Fair several years ago. The award and the money
were great. However, the greatest part of the award was that the
judge was from the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. It gave me
enormous confidence in that the direction I was taking in my painting
was right.
Since you run a gallery and have
shown in many galleries, give us a brief overview of what to expect
when working with a gallery. How do you plan for the business end of
it?
It is
a real business. I host clients and try to sell them my work. I do
have guest artists and do the same. In this work there is a lot of
follow up with emails and hand written notes. Networking has become
something I’m still learning and using. I employ everything from
newsletters to Facebook. I also have an intern from Muskingum
University who helps. Everything must look and present as
professional that includes the hanging of the work, the invitations,
to having a clean bathroom.
Art
Who are some of your artistic
influences?
As I
mentioned, I studied as a youth in the Toledo Museum of Art. Art
history was a part of my life. As a very shy child Monet, Matisse,
Degas, Bonnard, Rodin, Renoir, Poussin, Hopper, Blake, and the list
goes on, were my friends. I have traveled to many museums and
galleries to study artwork. I am rarely concerned about my likes and
dislikes. I am very interested in what an artist has to say.
That
said the strongest ties to art history today are the American
Abstract Expressionists especially Willem deKooning and the
Neo-Expressionist and Amsel Kiefer. I am also looking at some of the
more contemporary installation artist. I’ve been a fan of Jean
Claude and Christo although they are not really new and she passed
away a couple of years ago.
I also
try to read great literature.
What are some lessons from your experience
as an independent artist?
I
think the biggest experience I’ve had to learn a long time ago was
to believe that what I was doing was truly important. Feelings have
little to do with my work. I work. I am always trying to perfect my
craft.
How do you solve creative
problems?
I
think, I read, I write, and I look at other works of art. I do have
two trusted friends I allow to critique my work.
Tell us about working with
asphalt and alkyd. Describe either with images or with words the
process you go through to create this way. See Artist Statement below
These works were created in a
traditional manner, using wood stretchers with heavy gessoed canvas,
however that is where the tradition ends.
I use asphalt and alkyd as my primary
mediums. I have chosen asphalt because as asphalt’s nature is
volatile and has the potential for unexpected change. So life, ever
changing brings both good and ill. Asphalt, smooth and shiny, also
reflects the colors of its surroundings. We likewise, in our personal
journey we reflect the “colors” of our experiences. The alkyds
provide some chemical changes and instability to the work. On
occasion, color is added to signify some emotional element, to
demonstrate the very nature of redemption of a particular situation.
Like the early German Expressionists
and the Neo-Expressionists, I attempt to speak to the spirit and the
time of my world. I utter my groanings on canvases to express my
experiences of failure and redemption, solitude and intimacy, and the
pleasure and pain of relationships. Painting begins in semi-automatic
fashion progressing to deliberate form.
The black, white, and shades of brown
and gray invite us to deal with the ambiguities of life. As maturity
softens my interpretation of life, these intensely personal
abstractions are changing my style to reflect mercy not judgment;
reconciliation not alienation; and mediation rather than conflict.
My paintings are fluid and express
grace and forgiveness that must flow between humans if they are to
remain free.
 |
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In My Mother's Womb You Formed
Me
"grace
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What materials have you worked with
over the years? What has worked and what has not?
I am considered a generalist. I’ve
worked in as many media as I could: photography, ceramics, steel,
oils, watercolor, acrylics and anything that would make a mark.
I have chosen for the time being to
only show the asphalt and alkyd paintings.
Tell about the themes in your art.
ARTIST STATEMENT
My work embodies the following themes:
failure and redemption, solitude and intimacy, and the pleasure and
pain of relationships. These are accomplished through a couple of
styles of painting, both nonobjective and figurative.
Most generally, I work from an
automatic starting point. Beginning with marks of oil pastel or paint
I allow the painting to “speak” to me and direct my thoughts and
marks. In this way I can paint from my subconscious.
My newest works are painted with
asphalt, alkyds, and oils. “I use minimal color, but I am able to
attain a wide range of values and tones and at the same time achieve
subtle shades of color."
I have a great affinity with the early
German Expressionist of the 20’s and 30’s and post-German
Expressionist of the 80’s and 90’s view of Zeitgeist. I attempt
to speak to the spirit and time of my world. As the scripture says,
“the Spirit intercedes for us in groaning too deep to be uttered.”
I utter my groanings on canvas, expressing my experiences with
failure and redemption, solitude and intimacy and the pleasure and
pain of relationships. Painting begins in semi automatic fashion and
progresses to deliberate form.
These intensely personal abstractions
were once color expressions of angst, but as I work with asphalt and
alkyds they have become black, white and shades of grays and browns.
Just as maturity changes and softens our interpretation of life,
maturity is changing my style to reflect mercy, not judgment,
reconciliation not alienation, and mediation rather than conflict.
Many of my newest paintings are fluid, expressing the grace and
forgiveness that must flow between humans if they are to remain free.
What other disciplines (creative or
otherwise) help you in your art career?
I write, play the guitar, and I try to
collaborate with other artists.
Please refer to my collaborations
especially my wife, Kathy’s poetry. It is an important part of my
work and exhibition: MichaelSeilerStudios.com.
Faith & Art
How did you become a Christian? What
are some things you have learned as Christian over the years that you
would like others to know about?
I became a Christian at a very early
stage in life and was baptized at the age of 12. My family was
involved in a traditional Baptist church.
I personally believe that I paint
because that is the gift God has given me. I don’t use it to
manipulate others to believe, but rather my work should represent who
I am in God. I do not like religious artwork. I don’t think there
is anything such as Christian music or Christian art. It is my
artwork that expresses my life and my world view. I call the work
“incarnational”, echoing Madeline L’Engle, and intend the
reactive mediums to emulate the ever changing nature of life. If
others cannot see God then I’ve failed.
How have you seen God's blessing on
your life?
(I think that what I’ve said thus far
only exemplifies that God has been good to me more than I could ever
imagine.)
What are some of your challenges as a
Christian in your art field?
I’ve always been up front about my
faith with all my friends. A good atheist artist friend will often
say to me, “Seiler, it’s all about faith with you, isn’t it?”
I hope not to be religious, but to be real, not ethereal, to be
human, but one who has know Christ, yet still has failings.
My biggest problems have been with the
Christians and some of the churches I’ve been associated with. They
too often want to put artists who are Christian in a box. They don’t
often like to think and wrestle with life issues that deal with
faith. Unfortunately, the Protestant Church has a long history of
rejecting art. Most of my patrons are non-Christian which an enormous
disappointment on one hand is and on the other my message is going
exactly where I want it to go.
How has your work affected people?
I have a huge following and those who
visit the gallery/studio and those who purchase my work seem to
identify with my message.
Tell us about ways you have served the
church and/or community. What did you learn?
How has it benefited
others and yourself?
I have served as an elder, a pastor,
taught Bible Studies, spoke on the arts as well as other topics, and
an organizer. My resume can speak to all the community projects.
What other information about your
career in fine art would be encouraging for other artists or people
in general?
I’d
be happy to expand on any of these areas not mentioned here. Contact Michael for a list of exhibitions and various other activities he has been involved in.
EDUCATION
M.F.A. The Ohio State University
B.F.A. The Ohio State University
Post Grad Muskingum University
Post Grad Ohio Dominican University
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Ohio University Zanesville
Muskingum University
Ohio Dominican University
The Ohio State University
Cambridge High School
AWARDS AND HONORS
The Ohio Exposition/The Ohio State
Fair: Second best of show,
Zanesville Art Center: Juror’s Award
Zanesville Art Center: Honorable
Mention
Louis Palmer Gallery: Muskingum
College, Honorable Mention
Louis Palmer Gallery: Muskingum
College, Honorable Mention
Zanesville Art Center, “May Show”,
Honorable Mention
Zanesville Art Center, “May Show”,
Honorable Mention,
Fellowship: Smithsonian National Museum
of American Art
Outstanding Art Teacher: Ohio Arts
Education Association
Regional Director, Ohio Youth
Governor’s Art Exhibit
Teacher of the Year, Outstanding
Achievement Merit Award
Michael’s art work is in many private
and public collections including the Zanesville Museum of Art, Ohio
Dominican University, and Ohio Bell.
ARTISTIC COLLABORATIONS INSTALLATIONS AND PERFORMANCES
Charles Savage, composer
Assistant Professor of Music
Linda Gall, Artist
Life-drawing workshop
Kathleen A. Seiler, Poet
Seiler’s Studio and Gallery
Daniel Colvin, Printmaker, Paper
artist
Cobenick Studios
Columbus, OH
Appalachian Abbey Arts Residency Group
Installations
Host and Facilitator: Hopewell, Ohio
Brenda Lloyd, muralist
Tuttle Square Vineyard Church
Dublin, OH
Erica Downer, artist, mixed media
International Arts Movement, 2002
New York, NY
Donald Boyd, Fluxus artist
Regional Art Gallery
Erica Downer, artist, mixed media
Zanesville Art Museum
How can we pray for you?
As I’ve mentioned, my biggest concern
is my message in my work. Please pray with me that I’m faithful to
what God has given me.
