A solo exhibit by John Sproul
September 17 – November 12, 2021
Schedule gallery visit
“This work comes out of a great loss that I suffered, endured, and continue to endure of my closest friend, Dave Allan, who I have known for more than 30 years. Dave was diagnosed with stage 4 Melanoma cancer 2 1/2 years ago and died a few months later at the age of 51. This work began shortly after that as I needed to “talk” through the grief that was in me. As time went on the work moved from this specific loss to include all experiences with loss. The loss of a child leaving home; of youth; of what could have been; of choosing one thing over another; of one idea or state as we move forward into another, and so on.
I do not see loss as a negative, but rather as a powerful experience that is necessary for growth. It often is a balance in life and is something to share and walkthrough, not to be held onto to hold us down. I have been through a lot of loss in my life and much good has come of it. Was the good that came out of Dave’s death worth the loss, was it balanced out – definitely not, but the 30 years of having such a beautiful and close relationship more than does and the loss of it makes it very clear how important he is to me, and I will always have that with me.
This exhibit is dedicated to Dave and to all of us who have lost.”