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A through Z 24 x 87 in

Prelude 24 x 72 in

How does a letter group become a word? What are the subtle processes behind word and symbol recognition? When do symbols, trademarks, logograms, abbreviations and acronyms become more powerful than a word? How does type style and scale alter the perception of text? The poetic semiotic MANUSCRIPT installation explores our dot com, text. msg., e-mail, short text world. The installation alludes to commercial, political, religious and secular topics with the reading and interpretation left to the discretion of the viewer.

Artist’s Comment
Many artists share the thought that they know when a work is finished when it no longer bothers them. I painted for 25 years and abruptly stopped in 1990 when the “bother factor” of painting ended. This spring, I had a conversation with Peter Marcelle who was in the process of curating a Contemporary Culture exhibit in his gallery. That night I had an active dream consisting of silent black and white letters, words and symbols moving as in a kaleidoscopic chess game. This radical departure from my usual full-color figurative dreams (and paintings) was pleasantly bothersome. I woke up at 4:00 AM with that formerly-illusive spark of creativity which led to this MANUSCRIPT project.

MANUSCRIPT was created in three 10 hour sessions with the kind assistance of my friend Alex Vignoli. His help was instrumental in the realization of this project.

Leonard Barton
August 2007

Come November 44 x 72 in	Manuscript	Peace Eclipse 28 x 22 in
Peace Atomic 24 x 34 1/2 in	The Seen 140 x 44 in.