––Some of my 1960s sculptures; CAST ARTWORKS/white-and-silicon bronze for this "8-Ball," made while I was in the midst of a 1st marriage breakup.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BBDNQV2T
Exerpted from THE SCUPTURES OF FILMMAKER RICK SCHMIDT 1967-71.
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(writeup at amazon)
THE SCULPTURES OF FILMMAKER RICK SCHMIDT 1967-1971: Told By Himself Kindle Edition
by Rick Schmidt (Author) Format: Kindle Edition. Also paperback and hardcover.
In THE SCULPTURES OF FILMMAKER RICK SCHMIDT 1967-1971, we get to experience his artistic life hanging in the balance, during his years of education at the CALIFORNIA COLLEGE OF ARTS AND CRAFTS (CCAC), Oakland, CA (now California College of the Arts). Without a few critical moments of assistance and mentorship, there would have been none of the inventive and elegant lacquer-sprayed, cast aluminum, "white" and silicon bronze works displayed in the pages. Schmidt's commentary, about both "the making of" his artworks and recollections excerpted from his 2017 memoir, "12 Dead Frogs and Other Stories," are a fast and fascinating read. He straightforwardly reveals the highs and lows of being an artist in the turbulent 1960s, early '70s.
It's interesting to contemplate exactly how he transitioned from casting metal and creating kinetic art pieces––many are based on the dissolution of his first marriage––to feature filmmaking. (For more in depth answers see his memoir, also available on Kindle). From sculpting Schmidt goes on to co-direct his first feature, A MAN, A WOMAN, AND A KILLER, with then-roommate Wayne Wang (future director of JOY LUCK CLUB, SMOKE, etc.), later pens a best-seller that many call "the bible" of independent film. His "how-to," FEATURE FILMMAKING AT USED-CAR PRICES (Viking Penguin, 1988, 1995, 2000), gIves start to several important Hollywood careers, including Kevin Smith (CLERKS), and Vin Diesel.
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We admire artists, as well we should, for learning to enter into The Mystery and reveal what they encounter in the form of words or images or sounds or movements, just to name a few ways. What would be helpful for us, too, I think, is to recognize that we are ALL artists, and live our lives accordingly, as works of art. And, as many have said and taught, the highest Art may well be transforming Fear with the Art of Love.