David Skeens
Apocalyptic Love
About the Artwork
Transcription of Apocalyptic Love:
“Tonight there will be no morning star” – Tonight, Stephen Sondheim
APOCALYPTIC LOVE
The rich shall wear diamonds and devour the carth. The poor shall watch it televised on Fox and fall asleep. The hungry shall be led The American Dream and limp from the alleys in glass slippers. Alchemists shall drink the Elixir of Life and douse the masses with Chanel no. 5. A single actor will emerge from the chorus with a nosebleed. The gods of every continent will be mute and eat bon bons. And the meek shall inherit the mess.
Curatorial Opinion
David Skeens makes visual, poetic prints using iconic song lyrics and quotes by artists and writers. First, he gives the lyrics that set the stage and tone for the poetry that follows. They invite you in for an intimate conversation, the kind of running dialogue some of us use to narrate our inner worlds. The poetry fires off like neurons in the shape of phrases. Each mise-en-scene has pain and redemption, drawing from pop culture as well as mythology. Cliches mix with tender entreaty, making the reader into a confidante.
About the Process
Haystack works with both traditional printmakers and digital printers to ensure each artist’s print reflects the most important aspects of their studio practice. Apocalyptic Love was printed in collaboration with the artist and BRT Printshop (now Powerhouse Arts Printshop). Each edition was created by silkscreen printing (also known as serigraphy). This method requires stenciling techniques wherein ink is pressed onto paper through deliberately exposed areas of a mesh screen one color at a time.Â
