COACH DAVE ALLEN, UNCW SWIMMING
This is Coach Allen, my swim coach for four years at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, and one of the most driven people I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. Coach Allen has now been coaching the men's and women's swimming programs at UNCW for over 30 years. In recent years his men's and women's teams have won 9 Conference Championships, and the men now have a dynasty of 6 conference titles in a row. Coach is portrayed with his championship rings like he's holding candy just out of the reach of jealous coaches. This work is the first in a series to be placed in a final print entitled "UNCW Swimming & Diving Retrospective."
On a personal level, I owe a great deal to Coach, both as a swimmer and as a human being. I wasn't the greatest of swimmers, but when I was introduced to Coach Allen (a mere coincidence during my Senior year of high school) he treated me like a top recruit, brought me into his office and spoke with me at length about the program. That same day we set up a recruiting trip and he pulled my application to UNCW and expedited it through the Athletic program's office. When I became a UNCW swimmer, I learned what real training was. In fact, while I was drawing this piece, I had to fight off terrible flashbacks of thousands upon thousands of yards of swimming, up to 18,000 yards a day during Christmas training! Aaah! But truly, Coach always was able to inspire you, just at the moment of total exhaustion, to give even more in the water and in life.
I am deeply thankful to Coach Allen for the discipline that he communicated to us, and am even more thankful for the way that he and his family supported my own during my bout with Cancer in 2000. As I told Coach's son Matt when he asked me how hard Chemotherapy was: "It's got nothin' on Christmas training with Coach Allen!" Thanks for everything Coach!
WELCOME!
I appreciate your time and your interest in my work. If you are interested in knowing more about me and my philosophy of art, please feel free to scroll to the bottom of this page. I would rather spare those who have no interest in such things from having to read about me before looking at my work. God bless you :)
The Vocation of the Artist
I firmly believe that art is meant to serve others, especially in lifting the hearts of people, through "ephiphanies of beauty," (John Paul II's letter to artists) to the contemplation and the glory of God. The artist participates in a unique way in the inspiration of the Creator of all things, and knows something of His joy in the act of creation, for "the act of creation is an act of love."(The Agony and the Ecstacy) This act is essentially bound up with the mystery of the Incarnation of Jesus, in which what had been invisible was made visible in His person, His life and work, and finally in His death and resurrection. The artist is exhorted by the very perception of his gift to its service. Art is not merely, nor should it ever be, a vehicle for selfish ends or cheap shock and awe, but it must seek to give joy to the lives of others. The artist is then in the end merely a servant of truth, beauty, and goodness, and his work must serve to convey these to a wider audience. "Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 15-16)I believe that the artist finds in the lives of Jesus, and of His foster father Joseph, essential role models, especially in their hidden life at Nazareth. Though very little is handed down to us in the Gospels or in tradition illuminating this period in Jesus' life, I believe that this hidden, simple, carpenter's life of "working quietly" (2 Thessalonians 3:11) can be a model for all artists, in which delight is daily sought in the manifestation of beauty in wood, paint, charcoal, dance, the stage, and music. This is a life of humility, where the artist freely accepts that this world, including his own work, "will pass away," (Matt. 24:35) but what it points to never will. Obedience to inspiration, especially as it is inspired by God's Word (itself the revelatory self-expression of God) is the artist's highest calling. This new site is dedicated to this higher calling of the artist, to this challenge.
You will find included in this site examples of my own work, as well as links to other sites which
celebrate the arts, and especially challenge the artist to reach the fullness of his own abilities
in the service of something greater than him or his work. I hope that you will enjoy this site, and
take full advantage of its links, especially the Letter to Artists of our Holy Father (of beloved memory) John Paul II. Thank you for your comments and your consideration of this website.
David Myers
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