DESIRE

Issue 7 (April 5, 2022)

© Bill Travis, Jesse, photo transfer on mother of pearl in a 19th-century leather case, ca. 4 x 7 in. (open case), 2022. Click on picture for purchase information.

When the ancient Romans raised their eyes to the night sky two thousand years ago, they would have seen stars just as we do today, but they thought about them differently.

© Bill Travis, Pablo, photo transfer on mother of pearl in a 19th-century leather case, ca. 4 x 7 in. (open case), 2022. Click on picture for purchase information.

The phrase “from the stars” (de sideris) came to imply distance and beauty, a meaning that ultimately gave birth to our word “desire.” For me, this yearning for something just beyond grasp speaks to a continual state of becoming that is beautiful in its own right. Desire is about a restless, inner movement of the spirit that never resolves. It’s about fire and light.

I think about such things when I make my work. I start with the male body and reach for the stars.

© Bill Travis, Dancer, photo transfer on 23k gold in a 19th-century union case, ca. 4 x 7 in. (open case), 2022. Click on picture for purchase information.

In closing…

Prices will be going up in May, so if you’re interested in purchasing some art, this is a great time to do so. These and other pieces are available here. Or just click on the picture you’re interested in. The purchase information will come up.

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