Strummer (Study for Symbols) 1970

Editor: Here we have Benny Andrews' "Strummer (Study for Symbols)," made in 1970. It's a minimalist drawing, almost like a single, continuous line creates the figure of a musician with his guitar. The sketchiness gives it an immediacy that's really appealing. What strikes you about this work? Curator: Ah, Benny Andrews. There's a raw, almost urgent quality to his line, isn't there? It's more than just a study; it feels like Andrews is wrestling with the essence of the musician, trying to capture something ephemeral about the act of creation itself. Do you get a sense of the sound from just the visual? Editor: I do. It's funny, it feels almost like you can hear the tuning of the guitar, those tentative notes before a performance. It also seems to suggest that the guitarist is completely absorbed in the music. Curator: Precisely! And that absorption, that focus, it’s as if Andrews is hinting at the spiritual connection between the musician, the instrument, and the song. The symbols he refers to in the title perhaps allude to the deeper meaning imbedded in art itself. What would the guitarist himself say about all this? Editor: Good question. It is tempting to over-analyze such a simple sketch. Maybe the guitarist is simply enjoying himself! Curator: Indeed, sometimes the most profound statements are made with the lightest of touches. It reminds me that inspiration often comes in the most fleeting of moments. Editor: I agree. Thinking about Andrews trying to capture something about art is really quite special. It makes you realize all the layers embedded in what looks simple. Thank you.