Solomon was the wisest of kings. Sol means sun - that's where our word solar comes from. And, since we're on the subject of words and their meanings, I found out that Lewitt means levite in Russian. So, putting these all together, since I believe one's name is of supreme importance in who we become, this led me to the following interpretation - A radiant, wise priest. And, isn't this was what Sol LeWitt was in the world of art?
... more later
Ok, so it is now later, and I have been thinking about this genius, or madman, and what is the difference? Just the fact that LeWitt made us think about art is such a different way, that the concept was just as important as the piece itself was groundbreaking. Or that perhaps how people received the art was totally irrelevant, or even how he had thought of his art was irrelevant. So, it is all topsy-turvy in my mind, but what he produced was ever changing and evolving- as he was.
He showed us that the idea behind the art - the concept- could be the driving force, the seed, if you will, of a process that had a life of its own. He reminds me of those writers who say "Oh, no, I didn't plan it this way, but she showed me that she wanted to tame the tiger she found in the wild." As if the character was the one in charge of the writer's pen and the writer's will was subservient to her whims. So, Lewitt tells us that the concept leads, and he follows, adding, adding, adding until the piece is done.
Oh, and one more thing - art for the masses. I love the fact that we find his art in public spaces or even spaces that no one had decorated before, like roof buildings. Maybe that has to do with his sense of humour. Perhaps he thought that people in airplanes should have something pretty to look at when they were approaching a city.
Who knows?
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