Statement

Dewclaw intuitively resonated with me as a metaphor, although everything about it seems wrong. As a symbol for an art venture it fails big time. “Non-functioning remnant of the past” is not the message an artist wants to send, especially in today's art environment. It also conjures images from fantasy fiction movies, or something directed by Mel Gibson.

My fascination lies in this wrongly struck chord. Chords, really, for “dewclaw” generates many interpretations, some specific, others vague. It becomes a multi-metaphor of sorts, and I find myself juggling parallel veins of meaning. This is so much like painting.....(which adds yet another link)

I am primarily interested in using the dewclaw symbol as a recognition that art is purposeless, yet meaningful. Art has meaning that is not dependent on art performing a specific task. The dewclaw of an animal is less than useless, from the perspective of physical function. Yet it's such a powerful symbol for life's known and mysterious processes. One may use art for various purposes, and this occurs in many ways via individual, community, municipal, and corporate goals. But in order to discover the ways art has meaning, you may have to encounter it unencumbered by these extra-curricular tasks.

Dewclaw, the space, is primarily a project space for non-purposed encounters with art. It's art-for-art's-sake without the old baggage....perhaps with new baggage, but we'll see.

-Carla Knopp 11/30/11