Cultural Icons Artist Statement

Cultural Icons Artist Statement

Lory Lockwood

The word "icon" is derived from the Greek "eikon" meaning image. The term "cultural icon" is defined in modern popular culture as a person or thing widely acknowledged as having a "depth of significance" or "star quality." Dennis Hall in American Icons states that "...an icon generates strong responses in people, it often stands for a group of values, it reflects forces of its time..."¹ And Douglas Holt in How Brands Become Icons, writes that a "Cultural Icon is a person or thing regarded as a symbol especially of a culture or movement: a person, institution, and so forth, considered worthy of admiration or respect."²

As such, cultural icon images can function as symbols depicting the underlying ideas and values of a society - it's popular consensus. These symbols are "vessels of self-expression"³ that represent our dreams and passions and ultimately influence personal choices throughout our everyday lives. And as symbols they facilitate desire, as it is easier to focus on a Harley than to express the underlying desire for power and potency.

Historically, Early Christian artists painted the first icons as sacred objects to be worshiped and believed. These small paintings were utilized by the Church to illustrate religious concepts, tell stories and inspire faith. Dr. Kenneth Harl, in his History of Byzantium tapes, states that "Icons are messages of faith, careful instructions to religious believers worked out to illustrate and remind the viewer of what the faith is about."⁴ These icons sought to express the non-material world through the mind and inward spirit. This method of instruction was visual not verbal in a world with many different languages, few translators and no printing presses. As such, they were both appealing and instructive - bringing theology in to visual expression.⁵ In addition to the influence on church members, these ancient icons represented the order, strength, power of the Church - one of the most important cultural forces of its time.

Today, a multitude of social forces utilize the power of the cultural icon in similar ways as did the early Church. "People identify strongly with cultural icons and often rely on these symbols to conduct their daily lives. Icons can serve as society's foundation compass points - telling anchors of meaning continually referenced in entertainment, journalism, politics and advertising."⁶ They are like shorthand, signifiers of ideas and values.

Consequently, for commerce and the media: "An icon is something that comes to represent a story - an identity myth - that their consumers use to address identity desires and answers."⁷ The icon can be seen as a fetishized image having acquired meaning and influence so far beyond its physical presence. Thus, the powers that be have realized the power of the image. Art critics and galleries, for example, have created icons figures in their world, sports newscasters in theirs. And each year the car and bike industries look for the newest iconic product.

This exhibit represents the cultural icon as a major motivating force in society. Included are iconic figures from the worlds of art, automobiles and motorcycles as well as the American flag, a famous outlaw figure and a football team. These paintings of icons focus on our culture's desire for personal satisfaction, freedom, individuality, power and success. As all of the paintings in this show are of different subjects - there is no attempt to deconstruct one particular icon but to present the theory or conjecture that society is populated by icons - stars, symbols - overall consuming images that represent a general popular consensus - what we "all" think.

¹ Hall, Dennis and Susan Grove Hall, Amercian Icons (Westport, CT: Greenwod Press, 2006) pg xvii-xix.

² Holt, Douglas, How Brands Become Icons Boston, Harvard University Press, 2004, pg 11

³ Holt, pg. 3

⁴ Harl, D.. Kenneth, "Byzantine Letters and Aesthetics," History of Byzantium, Teaching Company Tapes

⁵ Harl

⁶ Holt, pg 1

⁷ Holt, pg 2


Home The Artist Paintings New Paintings & Events Press Prints Commissions Resume Contact/Purchase Links	Cultural Icons Artist Statement Lory Lockwood The word "icon" is derived from the Greek "eikon" meaning image. The term "cultural icon" is defined in modern popular culture as a person or thing widely acknowledged as having a "depth of significance" or "star quality." Dennis Hall in American Icons states that "...an icon generates strong responses in people, it often stands for a group of values, it reflects forces of its time..."¹ And Douglas Holt in How Brands Become Icons, writes that a "Cultural Icon is a person or thing regarded as a symbol especially of a culture or movement: a person, institution, and so forth, considered worthy of admiration or respect."² As such, cultural icon images can function as symbols depicting the underlying ideas and values of a society - it's popular consensus. These symbols are "vessels of self-expression"³ that represent our dreams and passions and ultimately influence personal choices throughout our everyday lives. And as symbols they facilitate desire, as it is easier to focus on a Harley than to express the underlying desire for power and potency. Historically, Early Christian artists painted the first icons as sacred objects to be worshiped and believed. These small paintings were utilized by the Church to illustrate religious concepts, tell stories and inspire faith. Dr. Kenneth Harl, in his History of Byzantium tapes, states that "Icons are messages of faith, careful instructions to religious believers worked out to illustrate and remind the viewer of what the faith is about."⁴ These icons sought to express the non-material world through the mind and inward spirit. This method of instruction was visual not verbal in a world with many different languages, few translators and no printing presses. As such, they were both appealing and instructive - bringing theology in to visual expression.⁵ In addition to the influence on church members, these ancient icons represented the order, strength, power of the Church - one of the most important cultural forces of its time. Today, a multitude of social forces utilize the power of the cultural icon in similar ways as did the early Church. "People identify strongly with cultural icons and often rely on these symbols to conduct their daily lives. Icons can serve as society's foundation compass points - telling anchors of meaning continually referenced in entertainment, journalism, politics and advertising."⁶ They are like shorthand, signifiers of ideas and values. Consequently, for commerce and the media: "An icon is something that comes to represent a story - an identity myth - that their consumers use to address identity desires and answers."⁷ The icon can be seen as a fetishized image having acquired meaning and influence so far beyond its physical presence. Thus, the powers that be have realized the power of the image. Art critics and galleries, for example, have created icons figures in their world, sports newscasters in theirs. And each year the car and bike industries look for the newest iconic product. This exhibit represents the cultural icon as a major motivating force in society. Included are iconic figures from the worlds of art, automobiles and motorcycles as well as the American flag, a famous outlaw figure and a football team. These paintings of icons focus on our culture's desire for personal satisfaction, freedom, individuality, power and success. As all of the paintings in this show are of different subjects - there is no attempt to deconstruct one particular icon but to present the theory or conjecture that society is populated by icons - stars, symbols - overall consuming images that represent a general popular consensus - what we "all" think. ¹ Hall, Dennis and Susan Grove Hall, Amercian Icons (Westport, CT: Greenwod Press, 2006) pg xvii-xix. ² Holt, Douglas, How Brands Become Icons Boston, Harvard University Press, 2004, pg 11 ³ Holt, pg. 3 ⁴ Harl, D.. Kenneth, "Byzantine Letters and Aesthetics," History of Byzantium, Teaching Company Tapes ⁵ Harl ⁶ Holt, pg 1 ⁷ Holt, pg 2
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