I had the extreme pleasure of corresponding with JQ Gaines and Catherine Restivo to find out more about how they view the world, their thoughts on what "reality" means and what theme song or background theme permeates their work.

As artists we are express our idea of reality through our art work. But each person who views our art work will walk away with a different idea of what we were trying to express -- sometimes it will be similar to what we intended and other times it will be vastly different.

"We see the world, not as it is, but as we are" taken from the Talmud seems to sum it up well.

I believe our own idea of reality is not primarily shaped by our vision (and eyes) but by our feelings, beliefs and most of all our hearts.

I would like to thank JQ and Catherine for their time, trustfulness and honesty in answering these questions. I would also like to thank Andrea Bigiarini for composing such thought provoking questions. I hope to meet each of you in person some day!

JQ GAINES:

Please, introduce yourself to us in 2 paragraphs.

My childhood was not a typical one. My mother was involved in the music industry… she was absent from our daily life, and spent most of her time on the road. And my father was regularly absent from our lives. too... in fact, he lived in an "imaginary" world of his own. Before meeting my mother, he was studying at a Jesuit seminary to become a priest. However, he experienced a major "turning point" during his studies... because he decided to abandon the priesthood so he could marry, as well as pursue a career in the World of Magic and Illusions. So in short, my entire childhood was spent gathering experiences and understandings that most kids (and adults) were completely unaware of. And like most 17 or 18 yr olds, I rebelled against my environment and set out to find camaraderie with other misfits… which led me to New York City.

When I arrived in NYC, I immediately felt at home… I was introduced to world cultures, art, and street life in ways that I never expected. I settled in the Lower East Side and lived there for almost 20 years communing with punks, squattors, aspiring actors/actresses, visual artists and displaced people from all over the world. However, one of my greatest gifts during this time was meeting my best friend and husband, Jim. He was the one who encouraged me to seek out a formal education in art. I had absolutely no family support, money or knowledge on how to go about getting a college education… but Jim helped me stay focused, create an Admissions Portfolio and apply for scholarships. And within a very short period of time, I found myself as a full-time student at Pratt Institute. After art school, I maintained and operated a Book Arts and Textiles studio in NYC, where I divided my time between designing and creating one-of-a-kind books and teaching traditional lacemaking techniques.

Can you explain what your idea of "reality" is? Please give your own definition, without thinking about a scientific or logical definition.

Reality is an interesting word. I used to believe that it meant "experiences that were absolutely truthful or real." But I've recently come to learn that there is no absolute truth in this material world. Because if something (an object, idea or experience) is to be absolutely true, then it will not undergo any change. Therefore, absolute truth (which was my definition for reality) just doesn't exist in our day-to-day world. I now believe that reality solely rests in a Divine Presence. What do I mean by that? I mean that the Spiritual Presence exists in and throughout all aspects of our material (and non-material world)… and therefore, is the only thing that remains constant and changeless. Everything else is an illusion that can be changed or altered to fit our current needs or way of thinking.

Tell us how you arrived at this definition and what your influences were that lead you to this definition.

I came to embrace this definition from my studies of the Indian Vedas. During the 1980's, I went to Germany to participate in protests of the United States deployment of the Pershing Cruise Missiles to European soil. Hundreds of thousands of people were demonstrating in the streets, on a daily basis.. yet, in the end, none of this changed or affected the political climate around the deployment of the missiles. I'll never forget the morning my world outlook shifted. We had read in the newspaper that the missiles were being transported across the ocean… while youth and (activists from all genres) were being arrested and dispersed through the streets with water cannons. I was completely demoralized… and It was at this point that I began to question more deeply "how" and "why" things happen the way they do in this world. A couple of artists/activists invited me to a meeting/discussion on Mahatma Gandhi's teachings on Civil Disobedience, and I believe this was the beginning of my journey in learning more about the Vedas and Sanatana Dharma.

What is the theme song and/or the background theme for the primary essence of your work?

I don't really have one particular theme song or background theme for my work… I think there are so many… I couldn't possibly begin to name them all. However, if I had to choose one particular musical genre/group that reflects or inspires my work, I would have to say: Tinariwen. Here's a short excerpt from their site which gives a glimpse of their roots:

"Tinariwen is a Tuareg group from the Southern Sahara Desert in Mali. Their musical influences are a combination of traditional Mali music (griots) and Jimmy Hendrix/Bob Marley/Bob Dylan. The name "Tinariwen" means "empty places"… and is a reflection of their land of origin. This band formed in the rebel camps of Colonel Gaddafi, as each of the musicians had been forced from their nomadic lifestyle into involuntary military service. Surrounded by a displaced nation of their peers, Tinariwen forged a new style of music, trading their traditional lutes and shepherd's flutes for electric guitars and drums. The style that resulted was dubbed "Tishoumaren," or "the music of the unemployed."

To be honest, I can't understand their lyrics unless they are translated… but I don't need to. Their music has a rich soulfulness to it… which, for me, transcends the meaning of words and lyrics. And that's what I hope to accomplish in my art someday... a soulful connection with the viewer which requires no words, thoughts or narratives.

What is it that made you decide to become an artist? Do you remember the exact moment… and how it happened?

I don't think that I ever "decided" to become an artist. It's always been "in" me. I can remember, as a very young child, drawing all over my bedroom walls and furniture… and even when I was in high school, I would doodle and draw in my math and science books while everyone else was listening to the teacher and taking notes. So, for me, creating was always something I did. However, it wasn't until my mid 20's that I decided to pursue a serious education in art. And that only came about from my husband's encouragement and support.

According to you, a painting, an image, or any other work of art, would be able to alter, modify, would improve reality, and awake dormant minds?

This is a great question! I'm not sure whether a work of art could improve reality, or awake dormant minds…. but I do believe that it can inspire and emotionally move people who are consciously AND unconsciously seeking new direction and change.

And lastly, what is the true mission of an artist?

I think the true mission of an artist is to be honest… both with his/herself AND with their art. I believe that the only way to reach this state of honesty is by consciously learning how to "tune out" all of society's expectations, condemnations, praises and demands… and just become one with the act of expressing or documenting his/her experiences. Then, and only then, will genuine artistic works be created. And, in my humble opinion, this is the art which speaks to the soul... and then becomes meaningful and timeless.

I also believe that an artist must learn to listen to, and speak, the language of his/her tools… whatever they may be.

(Cecily M. Caceu)

BY CECILY M. CACEU

Two Artists share with us their ideas on reality and how this definition affects our vision of the world and our art.

JQ GAINES: