Matt Herbig

Matthew Herbig (American, b. 1960)

Artist Statement

Raised near downtown on Rockford's West side, I attended public schools before dropping out and eventually traveling for several years. Upon returning home, during a period of frustration and despair, I began to create "paintings" from found materials using industrial enamel purchased at Salvation Army and items found in the trash. I have persisted in my investigations surrounding the ideas and processes of those works for over 40 years. In 1986, I began to exhibit my work at local galleries and develop friendships with other area artists. At that time, I had also begun a wide ranging and ongoing study of art history. Retired now, I was employed in various capacities over the years, from construction laborer to museum curator. All of those jobs supplied valuable resources for my creative vocabulary. Today, I find each fortunate hour spent in the studio presents pointed opportunities for effort... and fresh revelations on grace.

Difficult bones settle nearer to comfort

Within this sphere

I maintain my favorite struggles

Flatlands roll out behind quiet industrial parks

Grey Sunday afternoons listening along the easements

A simple instrument

Or divinator, perhaps...maybe

Embraces a literature

Saturated and elegant

And from within the marrow of debris

I intuit a prayer