Art Feature: George Elsasser

by | Aug 5, 2020 | Art Feature, Interview, Photography | 0 comments

Collections, 2008, (Scar Tissue)  by George Elsasser

 

Despite the ideals Whitman portrayed with stunning perfection in his poem “America,” the “great experiment” of America is increasingly faced with unraveling.
Without a critical mass of clear-thinking individuals, we will continue on a shaky path. It is the unseen part of the iceberg that sank the Titanic. A similar fate looms for us when our egos run amok, blaming and criticizing everything outside while refusing any deep glances inside ourselves.

The Small

I was driving through a dark tunnel and noticed a lone headlight behind me. I realized a motorcycle was approaching faster than I was comfortable with. It quickly gained on me, and as it did, my fear rose. Suddenly it was close enough that in my rear view mirror I could glimpse the rider’s face, which was painted dark olive green. As fear gripped me, I pressed the gas pedal harder, but to no avail. The cycle had caught me, tapping my rear bumper. And now I could clearly see the rider’s face—it was mine.
I was reading Carl Jung at the time and was fascinated by his ideas and concepts. The dream described above has never left me. It happened about five years before my true nightmare began.
In my twenty-ninth year, as my father lay dying, my coping skills broke. I had seemingly crashed into something, or maybe something rose up to stop me. I experienced crippling and unbearable levels of anxiety. Just as I entered this place of indescribable fear, a phenomenon that Carl Jung refers to as “synchronicity” also entered. Events occurred that seemed like pointers, or guides in the darkness, letting me know I was on course.
These pointers revealed my father’s knowledge of future events unknown to me. A friend I had not seen in over a decade, who held experiential knowledge that I needed, made a perfectly timed coincidental appearance. I have experienced many more of these kinds of events than I could ever list.
As time passed, what evolved was a less tribal, softer, less judgmental, and better balanced being who brought more harmony and a less destructive nature to the world, saving friends, loved ones, and even strangers from collateral damage.
The Guardian did an article on your book, can you provide readers with a link?

 

Could you tell us a little about your photo-book American Psyche: The Unlit Cave?

The photographs in my book date from 2005-2019 and there are four 1999 drawings used as a story opener. Much of what we are dealing with in the U.S. now has concerned me for a long time. Some roots for the book came from my portfolios “break enter hunt gather” & “observing liberty”.

My book is about my inner journey – but also about my ongoing observations of America. It is merely coincidental or an example of synchronicity that my book was published in 2020 when the U.S. has not experienced this much turbulence since the 60s.

The book is divided into sections; Predicament, Liberty, Scar Tissue, Currents, Innersections, Interface.

 

Entrance, 2010 & 2010 (Predicament)

 

Tell us about your background and experience, your training or experience in art, your artistic influences, and your publications or awards:

I have been attracted to images, art classes and drawn pictures from a young age. I have a BA in art from Old Dominion University. I have training in most 2 dimensional art forms, but photography captured my imagination. Early on my photographic influences were Edward Weston, Minor White and Paul Caponigro. Their images attracted me because of my longstanding inclinations towards the mystical. I am drawn to Matisse, Picasso, Cezanne and expressionism both figurative and abstract. In the last 10 yrs contemporary photographers have influenced the way I think about presenting my work.

My photographs have been included in shows at the Chrysler Museum of Art and New York University (NYU). In 1997 I received a 20-year Retrospective at the Hermitage Museum, Norfolk, VA. I have taught various photography classes at The Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA). My business credentials include both advertising and institutional photography as well as 12 years of journalistic style weddings.

 

Broken Lamps, 2008 (Predicament)

 

Could you give a short description of your inspirations?

My inspirations come from many different things; mythology, philosophy, psychology, music, cinema and painting.

 

Gate, 2014 (Predicament)

 

What are your philosophical tendencies in your art collectively?

The philosophical tendencies in my art always point to my natural inclination toward the mystical. I am interested in the unseen or even the unknowable. The synchronicity in our daily journeys makes me want to dig deeper.

 

Flags & Guns, 2012 (Currents)

 

Any advice you’d share with nascent artists?

I am not sure I have any jurisdiction on this topic; I am not in charge of the universe or its unfolding. Each journey is unique and motivations may be different.

That being said what has always worked for me is to be honest and authentic to my own journey. I allowed my voice to evolve on it’s own schedule.

 

Liberty’s Ideals, 2010 (Liberty)

 

Can you share a little concerning materials, composition, or process?

I started out in b&w with a deep love of silver gelatin prints and then upon a difficult emotional passage of time I switched to color – b&w seemed insufficient to reflect my sensations at that time.

I enjoy working in a traditional photographic approach (unmanipulated images). I still find I can push the envelope working within those boundaries. When I use Photoshop it is for traditional darkroom effects.

 

Full-Stop, 2008 (Currents)

 

Do you have contact information or links through which you might respond to expressions of appreciation or other comments by our audience members?

People can contact me at [email protected] or through my website: www.georgeelsasser.com or Instagram @georgeelsasser

 

Cycle, 2008, (Interface)

 

Links to commercial sources where your work is available for purchase:

My book is available from the publisher Daylight Books or other book sellers.

To purchase a signed copy of my book contact me directly. Currently one can purchase prints through my website.

If one wants to peek at the book’s afterword and a few images you can find that here: https://stories.daylight.co/george-elsasser-american-psyche

 

 

About the author:
 
George Elsasser, who had been drawing since childhood, discovered photography at twenty-one and found that, unmoored from traditional uses, it was perfect for his artistic intuitions. He's been included in shows at the Chrysler Museum of Art and New York University (NYU). In 1997 he received a 20-year Retrospective at the Hermitage Museum, Norfolk, VA. Elsasser received his degree in art in 1984, has taught various photography classes at The Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA). He has done both advertising and institutional photography in addition to 12 years of journalistic style weddings.
 
Collections, 2008, (Scar Tissue)  by George Elsasser
 
In the artist's words:
 
George Elsasser currently lives in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
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