INVISIBLE MOUNTAINS - DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT

I am fascinated by the ways in which we sabotage ourselves and work so hard to hide our talents.  Artists seem to be especially good at this, because their gifts don’t often translate into marketable products for our consumer society.  The artist often doubts his/her worth to the world, and incredible talent can be neglected in favor of a more convenient, practical and safe lifestyle.  Many artists I know continue to press through life and face these doubts, somehow continuing to keep the light of creation alive.  These artists receive little attention, and rarely make a living through their art alone. I am interested in artists who remain entranced with the process of creation, while struggling at times to meet the goal of a sellable product.

Paul, the young artist in Invisible Mountains, both resists the need and attempts to find a place within our capitalist culture.  He is faced with the challenge of creating a painting under very specific guidelines that run contrary to his nature, which lead to an artist’s block.  His character struggles as he questions how he can work for profit without sacrificing his integrity, and whether he can move through the block without selling out or giving up.  As the filmmaker, I questioned whether the journey could be put into words, images, and sound.  And how would I convey what leads to an epiphany? 

These are the questions that I have struggled with during the seven years it took to make this film.  It is the quest of the common artist -not those who have been lavished with fame and fortune in their lifetime - that continues to captivate and inspire me.

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