Untitled
by Bruce Charles Tapola
A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Fine Arts
Montana State University
© Copyright by Bruce Charles Tapola (1983)
Abstract:
It's not the rational or logical workings of the intellect but rather the illogical, irrational workings of the
heart (soul), which are the catalysts of my pictures. By in some way giving the ambiguities of the
emotional self visual substance, either through metaphor or the invention of personal symbols, I am
attempting to make those ambiguities tangible. The intent is that once tangible they become easier to
understand.
Many of my paintings are bom of anxiety. I wonder (WORRY) about my future constantly. What my
paintings are about is the end result of the emotions they are born of. Where a more logically based
approach to art making yields the results of a pre-planned effect or is illustra-tional of an idea or theme,
my approach yields the evidence of the questioning process.
At any one time I hold a multitude of contradictory feelings and viewpoints. By including a visual
conglomerate of information which is both central and peripheral to a particular experience I can more
fully understand and represent my interpretation of that event as a multifaceted "thing". I feel that it is
the inclusion of contradictions and the absence of "answers" which gives my work an unsettling
quality.
Humor or satire plays a role in the making of each piece and in the approach to subject matter. Their
"homemade" quality serves as something of a nose thumbing towards the notion of high art. The
inclusion of "dumb" imagery is a counterpoint to the heaviness of the territory explored.
Truth, regardless of how it is defined by different artists, is one of the most desirable qualities of a
work. Bruce Nauman’s piece "True Artist," reads, "The true artist helps the world by revealing mystic
truths." I believe in this as an artistic ideal. Though this revealing must be the intent of the artist I
believe these truths are revealed by accident. If I have anything "important" or truthful to say with my
work I believe it must begin with an examination of my self. My pictures are the evidence of this
examination.
T
"UNTITLED"
by
Bruce C h arles Tapola
A t h e s i s su b m itte d i n p a r t i a l f u lf illm e n t
o f th e re q u ire m e n ts f o r th e degree
of
M aster o f Fine A rts
MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bozeman, Montana .
June 1983
N37%
T/M
dop. S
ii
APPROVAL
o f a t h e s i s su b m itte d by
Bruce C h arles Tapola
T his th e s i s has been read by each member o f th e t h e s i s committee
and h as been found to be s a t i s f a c t o r y re g a rd in g c o n te n t, E n g lish
u sa g e , fo rm a t, c i t a t i o n s , b ib lio g r a p h ic s t y l e , and d b n s is te n c y , and
i s read y f o r su bm ission to th e C o lleg e cji" G raduate S t u d ie s .
r a ir p a r s o n , G raduate
Date
Approved f o r th e M ajor Department
V
Date
rartmenX
'
Approved f o r th e C o lleg e o f G raduate S tu d ie s
2:1 d b 012
Date
Graduate Dean
iii
STATEMENT OF PERMISSION TO USE
In p r e s e n tin g t h i s t h e s i s i n p a r t i a l f u l f i l l m e n t o f th e
■
re q u ire m e n ts f o r a m a s t e r 's d eg ree a t Montana S ta te U n iv e r s ity , I
a g ree t h a t th e L ib ra ry s h a l l make i t a v a ila b le to b o rro w ers under
r u le s o f th e L ib r a r y .
B r ie f q u o ta tio n s from t h i s t h e s i s a re a llo w ­
a b le w ith o u t s p e c ia l p e rm is s io n , p ro v id e d t h a t a c c u ra te acknowledgment
o f so u rc e i s made.
P e rm issio n f o r e x te n s iv e q u o ta tio n from o r re p ro d u c tio n o f t h i s
t h e s i s may be g ra n te d by my m ajo r p r o f e s s o r , o r in h i s a b se n c e , by th e
D ir e c to r o f L ib r a r ie s when, i n th e o p in io n o f e i t h e r , th e proposed
u se o f th e m a te r ia l i s f o r s c h o la r ly p u r p o s e s A n y co p y in g o r u se o f
th e m a te r ia l i n t h i s t h e s i s f o r f i n a n c i a l g a in s h a l l n o t be allow ed
w ith o u t my w r i t t e n p e rm is s io n .
S ig n a tu re _ ______
Date, / % * ( /
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ARTIST’S STATEMENT .
I t ’s n o t th e r a t i o n a l o r lo g ic a l w orkings o f th e i n t e l l e c t b u t
r a t h e r th e i l l o g i c a l , i r r a t i o n a l w orkings o f th e h e a r t ( s o u l ) , which
a re th e c a t a l y s t s o f my p i c t u r e s .
By in some way g iv in g th e am bigui­
t i e s o f th e em o tio n al s e l f v is u a l s u b s ta n c e , e i t h e r th ro u g h m etaphor o r
th e in v e n tio n o f p e rs o n a l sym bols, I am a tte m p tin g to make th o se
a m b ig u itie s ta n g ib le .
The i n t e n t i s t h a t once ta n g ib le th e y become
e a s i e r to u n d e rs ta n d .
Many o f my p a in tin g s a re b o m o f a n x ie t y .
my f u tu r e c o n s ta n tly .
I wonder (WORRY) ab o u t
What my p a in tin g s , a re about i s th e end r e s u l t
o f th e em otions th e y a re b o m o f .
Where a more lo g i c a l l y b ased approach
to a r t making y ie ld s th e. r e s u l t s o f a p re -p la n n e d e f f e c t o r i s i l l u s t r a t i o n a l o f an id e a o r them e, my approach y ie ld s th e e v id en c e o f th e
q u e s tio n in g p r o c e s s . .
At any one tim e I h o ld a m u ltitu d e o f c o n tr a d ic to r y f e e lin g s and
v ie w p o in ts .
By in c lu d in g a v is u a l co nglom erate o f in fo rm a tio n which
i s b o th c e n t r a l and p e r ip h e r a l to a p a r t i c u l a r e x p e rie n c e I can more
f u l l y u n d e rs ta n d and r e p r e s e n t my i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f t h a t e v e n t as a
m u ltif a c e te d " th in g " .
I f e e l t h a t i t i s th e in c lu s io n o f c o n tr a d ic ­
tio n s and th e absence o f "answ ers" which g iv e s my work an u n s e tt lin g
q u a lity .
Humor o r s a t i r e p la y s a r o le i n th e making o f each p ie c e and
i n th e approach to s u b je c t m a tte r .
T h e ir "homemade" q u a l i t y s e rv e s
2
a s som ething o f a nose thumbing tow ards th e n o tio n o f h ig h a r t .
The
in c lu s io n o f "dumb" im agery i s a c o u n te rp o in t to th e h e a v in e s s o f
th e t e r r i t o r y e x p lo re d .
T ru th , r e g a r d le s s o f how i t i s d e fin e d by d i f f e r e n t a r t i s t s , i s
one o f th e m ost d e s ir a b le q u a l i t i e s o f a w ork.
Bruce Nauman’s p ie c e
"True A r t i s t , " r e a d s , "The tr u e a r t i s t h e lp s th e w orld by re v e a lin g
m y stic t r u t h s . "
I b e lie v e in t h i s as an a r t i s t i c i d e a l .
Though t h i s
r e v e a lin g m ust be th e i n t e n t o f th e a r t i s t I b e lie v e th e s e tr u t h s
a re re v e a le d by a c c id e n t.
I f I have a n y th in g " im p o rta n t" o r t r u t h f u l
to say w ith my work I b e lie v e i t must b e g in w ith an ex am in atio n o f
my s e l f .
My p ic tu r e s a re th e ev id en ce o f t h i s e x am in atio n .
3
LIST OF SLIDES
1
U n title d
24"x24”
2
B e a u tif u l Flower
7'x7'
3
U n title d
I0 " x l2 "
4
U n title d
1 2 "x l2 ”
5
G rasshopper
4'x7'
6
U n title d
22"xl6"
7
D efender o f Women
5'x5'
8
U n title d
5 'x3 ’
9
Message o f Love
5'x8'
10
U n title d
6 "x l0 "
11
Sea Man
3' x 5 '
12
House o f Time
5 'x9 ’
13
U n title d
14"x36"
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V.
MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES
stksN378.T164
CA
"U n titled " /
762 001