Making Waves

By Stacey Walker

            “Masturbation is fine, but can you do it in the corner please,” said Daiv Mowbray when asked how he feels about fine art students and how education has changed and developed his work.

As a young artist, Mowbray admits his creations were a form of self-love, meant only to express how he was feeling. Through years of education and work experience, his creative inspirations have evolved. He now paints with the intention of affecting the viewer. This is clearly seen in works on display at his most recent exhibit titled “Summer 2012.” Judging by the reaction of the crowd, his art can trigger pleasant childhood memories, and impact a person so robustly, they instantly become a philosopher and an artist themselves.
            The painting that stood out to me was a photo-realism piece of a canoe sitting in water. The detail was so fine, at first glance the piece appears completely realistic, however, a second look and there is something unnatural to it. The canoe no makes the ripples in the water, the ripples are coming fro the viewer, Mowbray explained. This is meant to imply that each person brings his or her own perspective when viewing art. Their impact is just as important as the artist’s point of view. I asked friends to glance at the painting and see if they could spot what made it abstract. They were not able to pin point what was making the painting look so wrong, yet so right. I was completely hypnotized by the elegant work, and privileged enough to try and understand the meaning through the words of the artist himself.  

“The set of canoe paintings is called ‘The Story Teller’ in reference to the viewer. Since the viewer always brings their own perspective, these canoes offer the viewer the chance to tell their story,” explains Mowbray, “The canoes, represent potential, the empty vessel, containers of our ideas. They represent our bodies, our vessels here on earth, our means of travel, that which carries us through this physical world. They are waiting to be filled, with your hopes and dreams, your desires.”

Creative personality types are often stereo typed as erratic and unconstitutional. Having met a slew of incredible artists myself, I can’t deny that this is often the case. Many possess some if not all of the stereotypes that go hand in hand with creative genius, however, this is what catches the world’s attention. A conformist is rarely noticed. It’s those who dare go against the grain and convey a message that is contrary to societal beliefs who contribute the most influential ideas. This is true in every aspect of life, not just art.

Sometimes the creative personality comes with difficulty adapting to establishments like school. (I am not implying that it was difficult for Mowbray as he never alluded to this) Having the opportunity to speak with Mowbray, a man who has spent years in University, as a professor and a student. I was dying to pick his brain on some advice for young artists on their education.

“Most of the things I know are self taught. A lot of what I learned, I learned when I was supposed to be the one teaching,” said Mowbray.  

Although Mowbray took his time with his education, his experience with university started earlier than most. At age 15, his school counselor approached him about his grades. For the average teen, an invite to the office to have a discussion on grades can be terrifying, however, in Mowbray’s case, this would be one of the most exciting opportunities in his young life.

            “He said to me, Daiv, you aren’t attending class, but your grades are phenomenal. I can tell you’re bored with high school, would you like to apply for university?” Mowbray explained, “at first everyone, including myself was thinking, this is crazy, university at age 15. Then I figured, why not. I filled out the application and got accepted.”
            The opportunity was there for a young man to begin his serious educational career, however, Mowbray knew he didn’t want to start school yet. He wanted do travel and learn the world on his own before deciding on an education. He wrote a series of tests and graduated high school when he was only 15 before beginning his journeys around the world.  

            “Albert Einstein continuously defends creativity and imagination above knowledge, however, a young art student may misconceive this as knowledge isn’t necessary. That’s not the case. Acquire as much knowledge about everything and exercise your creativity in the face of that knowledge,” were Mowbray’s final words of advice for young students artists.

Mowbray’s work is on display in the Law Library at the Kitchener Court House. The exhibit is entitlted “Angels of Vos” and is an exploration of more abstract concepts where as “Summer 2012,” the exhibit I attended was intended to represent this realm of consciousness.