Henry David Potwin
Artists Notes on Selected Paintings
25 Crosses - is a very personal painting for the artist. Each cross represents one year of Potwin's prison sentence. The man-tree is trying to move ahead but rooted in the rubble of his life- the chasm of past and future- the various implications of the cross: torture, moral judgement- the crisis of personal suffering. Yet, the single leaf at the tip of the man-tree represents life, hope- salvation.
Assortment - is a statement on females' serial love affairs, where men are consumed and discarded like chocolates. The painting depicts a bright pink heart-shaped candy box with the lid tipped back to reveal a box full of portrait-embossed pieces of candy.
Plum Orchard - we are treated to a peaceful yet surprisingly energetic painting that prominently features a Van Gogh-radiant sun. The abrupt short swirling strokes were meant to describe the relentless radiation of the sun, the listlessness of the trees, the bare earth beneath them.
Incubus - The male sexual spirit that visits women in their dreams.
Cereal Killer - A play on Andy Warhols' soup cans, the complete title is Cereal Killer- Prisoner of Consumer Culture.
Requiem (For Cultural Divergence) - That diversity grows in isolation and becomes lost in the synthesis of contact.
Raining Babies - The beauty of children and the threat of overpopulation.
There Goes the Neighberhood - The Walmart effect and the destruction of Main St. America.
Empty Fruit - Anticipation is greater than Realization
Blown Away (By the Winds of Change) - This is my 9/11 painting.
Piggy Back - This one is about people trapped in their self concepts, united by circumstances in competition with others.
Midway - The city as the "Big" Carnival
Legacy - Leaving future generations to clean up the mess
Adams Apple - Truths within truths. The fruit of the Tree of Knowledge, the cessation of life within the moment that began with that bite, when man became a seeker.
Depersonalization - The reverse of people without clothes- clothes without people. A social comment on appearances.
Adam and Eve in the USA - The other day, for instance, a painting of Adam and Eve (snake, tree- you know the story) was confiscated. I thought it was rather tame, as I had been emulating an italian holy card from my childhood. But alas, Adam and Eve were unclothed, which my censors do not allow. After 14 years, I am somewhat used to this but still push the envelope.
Update- my painting of Adam and Eve was returned to me by my rather small minded censors, and I was required to cover the naughty bits, which of course changes the entire meaning of the painting. I find it rather more socio-political in its current state, so I presume, alls well that ends well. I did however, give Adam and Eve navels. Somehow they just didn't look right without them.
Global Warming - I personally believe that the biggest threat to mankind and our kids fiture is global warming from pollution. I am against burning coal, and for renewable energy. I would like to see cleaner energy and cleaner cars as well as biodegradable plastics. I support the mission of the organization 350.ORG
Deicide - God, man and machine all saying they are god (see Hebrew text boxes)! God's finger pointing (like in famous Cistine Chapel ceiling) to man who is biting the hand that feeds it. God made man and man made machine. Created denies Creator.