Monochromatic Transitions

Value is a term in the visual arts that refers to the varying degree of lightness and darkness in a drawing, film or other art form. But it can also refer to the perceived artistic merit of work. These refer to technical or expressive details on the one hand, or the position of an artist with a social context on the other. Value is also commonly used to describe personal philosophical views in the context of an artist’s life and community. Intersections and articulations is how the work of an artist fits within the context of the broader social and artistic environment and communicates as well as evolves with that environment. Visual tone can be a powerful way to evoke, provoke, uncover and clarify our values and those of our social structures. The visual artist, through hands-on engagement with media, knows the power of that engagement to uncover and clarify his or her personal values.

The critically important issue in this process of intersection and articulation is the notion of artistic integrity. It is often viewed as a struggle against the forces of social assimilation and commercialization. But it is rarely seen as a positive tension that is a motivating force for individual expression.