A.D. Maddox Artist to Visit East Texas in May
The Longview Museum of Fine Arts will feature A.D. Maddox this May 17th. in Longview, Texas.
To tell you the truth, I had no idea who A.D. Maddox was until I did a little looking. My bias toward art, and certain types of media within the art of fly fishing are probably pretty obvious to readers here by now. Being a pro photographer for 27 years, knowing those struggles to this day, knowing the technical aspects of water versus camera, the brutal nature of fly fishing’s toll on photography equipment; all that gives me the deepest appreciation for the art of photography in fly fishing. But a minor in art, and weekly trips to local galleries (Fort Worth and Dallas mostly) back when economic good times were rolling, kept my mind open as did my wife who taught art and is now a full-time working artist.
My fly-art-world view opens occasionally to let in people like Derek DeYoung, especially after being around him for a few days in New Orleans a couple of years ago. DeYoung’s style, with its bold colors, bright trout and creative cropping (photo-like), appeal to my desire to take my art to the next level. DeYoung is a fine person too.
The living of a true artist in the fly fishing world seems to come from selling your art in every way possible – iPhone covers, tin can lids, tee shirts … the list is almost endless. If I were an artist, you bet I would do the same thing and as much asmore than anyone could tolerate!
One can’t help but love her quote on her website:
“I believe people fly fish to enter a more serene state… One that is completely free from the chaos and pressures of our modern society. I strive to capture these brief moments of perfection on canvas so that the viewer can remember the utter simplicity of the experience. Fly Fishing is a spiritual pursuit!”
And her site tells a great story of just how talented Ms. Maddox is, as well as a few other things …
Have a look at all the covers for “Gray’s Sporting Journal,” and you would think she’s the illustrator in residence like Norman Rockwell at the “Saturday Evening Post.” Her work is not only diverse – from realistic to abstract – it is also voluminous. I’m sorry I don’t know which came first, but I see some similarities between DeYoung and Maddox.
All this great work, great success by an obvious talent … and then … play the sex appeal card? Sure, we only see what we want to see, that is unless someone wants us to blatantly see what they want us to see, right? If A.D. were a male (why the initials), we’re now forced – FORCED – to ask ourselves, would her success through obvious talent be greater or less? Too bad my simple mind goes there.
My direct experiences and research on women celebrities (industry leaders, show hosts, writers et. al.) in fly fishing shows five to ten times the participation and engagement by male readers aka. fans – if the artist/blogger/fly fisher is female versus male. And females are more likely to participate in dialog with females, which is understandable in a predominantly male driven, male dominated industry.
I would never assert that we can’t be who we are, wherever we want to assert it, but why not avoid the appearance of selling something other than your art – by displaying images like the Ducati photograph elsewhere? Perhaps someone like me, with so many websites, realizes that certain images, writing, art, interests and opinions belong on certain websites and (you probably didn’t realize) NEVER CROSS OVER.
Nevertheless, you have to appreciate the quality, variety, and yes marketability, of the work of A.D. Maddox. I don’t have any permissions to rip photography from her site, so go see it at the A.D.Maddox Studios website.
I guess I will have to go to the event to form a better opinion on all this, and bring my wife along as well – OF COURSE (she saw the Ducati shot).
Category: Culture on the Skids, Fly Art, Industry, Life Observed, Reviews
Speculation negates research. I have had all the speculation whipped right out of my hide by now.
Why even speculate, her art clearly stands on its own.
I’ve actually given this a lot of thought and I don’t even know where to start I am as lost on the subject as ever. All I can say with certainty is that I really enjoy her art.
I guess that’s my goal – separate the artist from the art. So many women in this business feel the need, or perhaps innocently or accidentally, promote stereotypes. Can you tell? I am trying to balance on a pointed wood picket fence.
I was in San Antonio last week for a library conference and listened to an author panel of women that write YA literature. On the panel was an author that uses her initials to conceal her gender. She writes books that are usually geared towards boys and therefore she thought it would help her sales. (Which I am sure it did). After answering the question about why she does conceal her gender, another author on the panel was critical of her position saying that she was helping further the stereotype that women cannot write quality books for guys.
It sucks that we have not been able to separate appreciation for artwork from the artist. This is true in writing, painting, photography…