We have all heard or used the phrase “wrestling with an issue” or “wrestling with a decision.” It accurately captures the tension between two or more opposing ideas or options. Wrestling implies there is an opponent actively resisting your actions. It also involves a certain level of anguish or pain.
If you have ever wrestled an equally matched opponent, you know how strenuous and demanding it is. Wrestling requires intense focus and is so physically demanding you can only engage for short periods of time. It is one of the oldest sports and does not require elaborate facilities or equipment. In fact, the ancients use to wrestle without any clothes or gear in a patch of dirt. It was, and still is, a struggle between two human bodies. In that sense it is one of the most direct combat sports.
I was a competitive wrestler for close to a decade while growing up in Iowa City and eventually attending University of Illinois on a full athletic scholarship. Wrestling played a significant role in my formative life.
It may seem odd, but, while contemplating this painting I can’t help but consider the differences between wrestling and dancing. There are striking similarities and profound differences between the two activities. Dancing with a partner also involves two human bodies with direct contact. However, rather than opposing one another’s movements, dance tends to be cooperative, coordinated and usually harmonious. Although physically challenging, dance is an act that is largely expressive and intended to be beautiful and inspiring. As I consider these differences, I realize I have always been more interested in the dance — making art. The following image is an excerpt from a series of mixed media paintings I produced focusing on the word. This work is entitled wrestling.