"PrimitiveFuturisms"
begins with a simple truth: “We’ve all evolved from indigenous peoples.”
And, since our beginnings, we’ve moved about the Earth, influencing one
another in positive or negative ways. Though it is the present and we await
each new moment (our future), we change during each new moment. Our
attitudes, practices, thoughts and dreams are constantly in a state of flux.
We remain primitive in relationship to our future. We, along with our
offspring, retain valuable primitive instincts and influences. That
aboriginal state, our primal antecedents inhabited, continues to affect us
today. We are influenced by contemporary neighbors (those nations that have progressed in a contemporary way) and many diverse primitive, indigenous neighbors which have retained tribal customs and practices. Many still remain indigenous to their Earthly region.
Each living person is constantly influenced by chronicled culture, their own subject culture and today’s ongoing Internet global cultural explosion. Yet, throughout it all, tribal instincts still guide us. We find ourselves valuing cultures steeped in indigenous thought and practice. We travel to the Amazon, to removed regions of Mexico, Peru and much of South America, Africa, India, Southeast Asia, New Zealand and elsewhere still seeking glimpses of ancient primitive cultures. Our world culture has become engrossed by a new survival mode featured as sport and entertainment set in some primal locale. We decorate ourselves in African, Native American, Aboriginal or other tribal adornments and outerwear. We adopt the Tattoo for sociological, cultural, spiritual and often, aesthetic reasons. We find ourselves drawn to forests, deserts, islands and distant quiet places of solitude for our own inner spiritual needs and escape. No matter how far we try to distance ourselves, we are guided by primal instinct. Yet our lives and careers are often stimulated by and generated towards futuristic achievement and the conveniences of futuristic life. But the primal desire and need for inner peace remains.
Every moment and action in life is a product of a PrimitiveFuturistic condition. We react! In many cases we consider our immediate reaction and qualify it, adjust it, then move forward with it or dismiss it. The result is a product of a primitive futuristic thought process. We have integrated instinct with an analytical side of consciousness. The bottom line being ~ all that we produce, enact or consider is a result of what has affected life in our past working in conjunction with our personal blueprint for our future.
In the particular case of my PrimitiveFuturism artworks, deeply carved wood sculpture + sculptured paintings often display elements (precious or semi precious stones, fossils, rock, symbols, metals, etc.) indicative of Nature’s primal force. All that affects life from pre-birth becomes a reference. A sculptural embodiment of elements and carvings are then integrated with future thoughts, plans, visions, elements and structure. This is a point of reference, a beginning. PrimitveFuturisms is a new way to view art and life and our perpetual dance with Nature. A full exhibit of PrimitiveFuturism sculptures, writings and works will be on display at Audubon Greenwich October 3rd, 2005 – January 3rd 2006.
J.M. Carnright
PrimitiveFuturisms Theory:::::::::::::::
Established University of Colorado J.M. Carnright circa 1974
Copyright J.M. Carnright 1974
First PrimitveFuturism Sculpture "SwingTime" copr. September 1974 J.M. Carnright
The Composition::::::::::::::::
Primitive~Futurisms
The Present ~ a moment constantly playing a part in our past and future.
Our Past ~ is innate, all we are born with, plus life influences and what we have done and endured.
Our Future is this composition and what we enact. It is the next moment and the entirety of tomorrow. It is a PrimitiveFuturism. It is many things and sometimes it is art."
cJ.M. Carnright 1987, Linz, Austria
The Initiating Tenet::::::::::
"Prebirth formulates a new beginning and perhaps, constitutes a waited continuation of our "psyche", our soul being. We journey into it with knowledge, memories and the presence of our shadow self, our essence, our soul. We journey into it having moments of contact with particular others we choose or were chosen to share "the before" with and those moments, hours or days in the "just-after." Still, during the transition, and into the birth, we remain part of the greater Being, the Oneness, the all encompassing awareness of Life, acknowledging our Light, our God and Godself. It is our choice to leave it or to remain within it throughout. It is our choice to evolve or to perish. During this existent ephemeral continuum evolution we remain in a PrimitiveFuturist state, always learning and evolving or digressing and perishing. "
c.J.M. Carnright 1980Los Angeles (Revised 2004 July JMC)
The Inception:::::::::
J.M. Carnright’s "PrimitiveFuturisms" concept originated in the mid 1970s in artworks created during that early period. The concept was actualized, placed into many artforms and words much more thoroughly following 1987. Its progression was stimulated, after the artist's pilgrimage to Eastern and Western Europe following coverage on his artwork by Kunst und Kirche Magazine. The journey, inspired by European Art Critics, Art Historians and highly published writers, Gunter Rombold and Friedhelm Mennekes of Kunst und Kirche Magazine, led to periods of earnest thought, reflection and discovery. This all occurred during his travels while writing, sleeping and dreaming near and within primal (Cro-Magnon) European caves, territories and regions. When he reemerged once again from the Vesere River Valley and other primal territories, Carnright’s preliminary theories began to formulate and flower. Art, writing and spirituality are just three of the many life pursuits and life components which will be explored by PrimitiveFuturisms.
It evolved and developed via art exhibits and writings actualized in the early 1970s to mid 1980s in California, Colorado, New York and Connecticut. The first J.M. Carnright New York City PrimitiveFuturisms exhibit entitled "Cro-Magnon + Relic" was held at Ten World’s Gallery in TriBeCA in 1988. WBAI radio (The Charley Finch Show) reviewed and promoted the second New York City Exhibit entitled "PrimitiveFuturisms" in the early 1990s at PDG Gallery. And before that, Carnright exhibited his PrimitiveFuturisms (concept, sculptures and paintings) at Vitek Kruta’s RENOVA Gallery in Warren, Connecticut on the Milos Foreman estate.
JM Carnright has exhibited styles of PrimitiveFuturist works since the 1970s at the University of Colorado, SUNY Albany, Los Angeles, Austria, Peru, and elsewhere. In the very early 1970s he created a large earthwork entitled "Earthwork con boulders" on the Grant-Humphreys mansion grounds in downtown Denver. Another (SwingTime) followed around 1974 at the University of Colorado (Denver Center) along with subsequent sculptural projects. He considers these all very early representations of PrimitiveFuturist artworks. Recently, a well-received and well-attended one artist exhibit took place in New York City's Chelsea Art District in February and March 2005.
c2004primitive~futurisms jmcarnrightc2004
Email us: JMCARNRIGHT@PRIMITIVEFUTURISMS.COM
J.M. Carnright artworks can be viewed now at:
305 Knowlton Street Artist Enclave
304 Knowlton Street
BRIDGEPORT, CT
J.M. Carnright Featured Works