Faculty

Artist Statement
My creative process is one of striving and searching. In part, it’s a challenge like climbing a mountain but not, necessarily, to reach the summit. I’m not even certain of what an artistic “summit” would look like. Perhaps it’s to complete something that is complete; to create a work that’s alluring without reservation, if that’s possible. I want to contribute something to humanity, to reveal something. This would be more than the satisfaction of an appetite or the expression of emotions: more than to make others feel the way I have felt in the face of great art; more than to impress with skills or ideas. And… I want, need, to make things. Carl Jung said, “The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct acting from inner necessity. The creative mind plays with the objects it loves.” Distractions abound from Jung’s “…play instinct acting from inner necessity.” Sometimes I need to remind myself to embrace the mysteries of creation…to put aside questioning and make nonsense. That’s what I need to do sometimes.

Mark Hartman
Letterform
Graphite, Crayon and Ink on Vellum and Paper
n.d.

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