After fifty years of sometimes following rules and sometimes ignoring them, I have come to the realization that "there are no rules, only materials." To explore, investigate, experiment, and ultimately live out what Picasso meant when he said "Art is a leap into the dark," is my raison d'etre'.

I am an intuitive artist in that I work from the heart, not the head. The unforseen event, the "accident," the unexpected all play a very large part in my creative play. Seldom is anything planned. I prefer to let the materials suggest the direction of a work. And the piece that surprises and delights me is the one that always most closely resembles the spontaneous utterance of a child, an utterance that brings a smile and a feeling of being presented with a unexpected gift. (Click image to view larger version.)

As far as materials go, I work with just about anything: paint, wood, glass, plastic, fabric, etc. I use a lot of "found" and "altered-function" objects in my work. And I frequently scan them for use in my digital works. "Found" objects are generally discarded items rescued from the trash, or found at flea markets or thrift stores. They are old, used and with a mysterious history that lends them a magical quality. By "altered-function," I mean objects that one buys new, let's say, at a hardware store and uses in a way contrary to its designer's intent. I can become quite inspired just spending a few hours at Home Depot. (Click image to view larger version.)

Up until a few years ago, my feeling was that I would use anything except food trash. Then one day I discovered a half of a grapefruit rind I had eaten and left on a shelf in my studio. It had dried perfectly, and ended up becoming part of a sculpture. (Click image to view larger version.)

In my studio, music also plays a part in the creative process. Drumming, singing my ancestors chant, playing my homemade flute, burning cedar incense and ringing my large orchestral gong all serve to take me to a level of sensitivity where making the "leap" is as effortless as breathing.

So, what I would suggest to anyone making art is to trust your intuition, your inner knowing; to allow yourself to be immersed in the process of creation as a joyous and sacred dance of materials; to neither listen to critics nor be one; and finally, to leap into the dark secure in the knowing that wherever your feet touch down will be the right place at the right time. (Click image to view larger version.)

Burnell Yow! 3/2004

About my involvement with the Philadelphia Dumpster Divers: I joined the Divers in the Spring of 2004, but I have been friends with several of the members for at least 10 years, and have participated in group exhibitions at Salon Des Amis Gallery and at the EPA.

See more of my work on my website at:

http://www.ravenswingstudio.com