Chappaqua, New York Artist Turns Resonating Moments into Inspirational Works of Art

Photo by Ken Jones

If you asked Chappaqua, New York artist Diana van Nes where exactly the inspiration for a piece of her art came from, she might be at a loss. This means she must step back, and then retrace the process to some moment that deeply resonated. For example, a simple baseball cap unfurls into an American flag of mixed media art that symbolizes something other than the ideals it was intended to. "I think our society is overly dependent on status symbols to define who were are," she said. So a flag made of baseball cap logos epitomizes how we try to stand out, rather than standing up for things that matter. Thus Van Nes hopes her art can help show the way.

Her artistic origins definitely began with flags, though. Her father's military funeral and flag draped coffin had a profound impact on her, and dominates Van Nes’ inspiration today. Losing an arm in World War II, he was never the same, and died due to alcoholism at the age of 44. "A flag covered his coffin," she said, and today those feelings help her weave political and social commentaries on abuse of power, hypocrisy and so on.

Art with Conscience

Closely associated with the caps is "Children of The Dark Ages." The piece emerged out of a New York Times article, about US clothing manufacturers who employ deplorable conditions for factory workers in the third world. "It's called following the needle to the cheapest foreign labor," she said.

Consisting entirely of high profile tags, "Dark Ages" symbolizes what she calls, "an abuse of capitalism," and the human rights abuse that follows. In return, only a labor intensive effort will do to match the power of her statement.

For example, the baseball caps piece took months to complete, but the diligence eventually had its final say. "I have to develop a vocabulary for the pieces, so that it conveys the concept—not just logos on the flag,” said Van Nes.

Mother Knows Best

But there's a large artistic literacy gap between the first piece she sold in 1997, and an empty resume. She was married in 1969 and had a daughter and son to come, without any regret. "I loved being a stay at home mom and naturally found creative outlets while raising my children,” she said.

Quite quaint, but with children in their twenties, the instinctive urge to explore her right brain finally found its place. "I was so ready to throw myself into art," Van Nes said, and enrolled at SUNY Purchase in 1995.

There she found a stimulating environment that broke down barriers for her, in terms of approaching art and what could be seen as art. Van Nes also liked being around a bunch of artists half her age, and not just because their youthful openness and ideas helped her creativity grow. "I wanted to die my hair pink," Van Nes asserted on the sly.

Of course, she was referring to the multicolored tops of a student body stuck in the 60's or somewhere yet to be determined. Unfortunately, she knew that wouldn't do in Chappaqua, but the kids reciprocated with the appropriate measure of affection. "They kind of looked to me as a mother figure," Van Nes beamed.

Onto the Real World

Undeterred, Van Nes still opted in for the real world. She took a few pieces to the Granary Gallery in Martha's Vineyard, where they gave her a work a try. "I think the next day they were sold," she said. "That was the beginning of an exceptional artist/gallery relationship.”

Today, her work is hung as part of the US Department of State's Art in Embassy Program, and in the homes and offices of influentials, such as President Clinton and Michael J. Fox. But parting with the pains of her labor is a lot easier than it may seem. "I'm always glad to say goodbye to it," she revealed.

Flags, though, aren't the only common iconic symbols she parts company with to make social commentary. This involves mixing natural still life mix with man-made objects. It’s an attempt to get us to remember and preserve the beauty of the environment as we leave our human footprint behind, she said.

Van Nes also has something to say about what constitutes beauty, through her cupboard series. In one piece called "Infirmary," she shows beauty can be seen in broken pieces, as well as in the whole. This even as we tend to prejudge. Her message: we can break the mold for what's considered to be beautiful.

Unfortunately, she was slowed by the onset of Parkinson's disease in 2000, which challenges her ability to mentally simplify concepts. Still not deterred in her attention to detail, Van Nes has made accommodations. Either way, she's sure she can keep coming up with ideas, and hopes they can be executed. "I'm not worried at this point," Van Nes concluded.

Please like my westchester stories page.

Author can be reached at [email protected].