The title Meltwater, "Where Are We Going?" & The Whale comments on the duality (triality?) of meaning in the piece or more the different ways to view it...the various related, though different, themes of the piece. The last part of the title takes on the very image presented, a whale from the front. The two flippers extend from the sides, an eye protrudes on the left, and the peak of his bottom lip hits the top of his head, extending to the flippers. The "meltwater" portion of the title refers to the more social issue of climate change and, by presenting it as the title with the whale, it gives a very personal or intimate look at the problem...how it's affecting the world on an individual scale. The middle, "Where Are We Going?" is more of a narrative quality of the piece. Is the viewer asking the question? The artist? The Whale? Is it do to the meltwater that things are changing and confusion sets in? Have the changes affected how the instincts of animals are leading them or is it a more philosophical idea of "what's to come?"
The mutli-title idea comes from looking at a Dada book last night and really thinking about what art should be. The answer? Everything. It should be able to encapsulate the mind, to put forth avenues of thought, to engage the conversation. It may have one image, but that doesn't mean there's only one way to look at it...A title like that may seem confusing at first, but, I hope, it's actually freeing to the viewer...to know there are multiple ways that even the artist sees the piece, opening the door to unique observation and personal understanding which requires nothing but a viewer with a critical mind, ready to view art...if that's all a painting requires, it really can speak to everyone.
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