This piece is part of my Identity Collection.

You will see me mention identity a lot on my website. A lot of my art is focused on the concept of what identity means. We tend to think it's straightforward and quite simple and one can certainly view it that way. But like many things, if you look a little deeper and then deeper still you start to see things in a different way, you start to see that there's a different appreciation for something when it's looked at from different perspectives.

With this piece, Trombone Solo, I continue to explore the concept that our identities are fluid. At any given time who we are is a reflection of our environment, to include both the people and our surroundings in our lives. Music is one of the best ways to understand this concept. When we are listening to music or performing it, we are engaged in an act of transmission and reception, something from one person to another that requires no spoken language. Music provides a pathway that communicates many things including emotion, energy and other concepts hard for us to understand. But we all can agree that music takes us places that brighten our day, improve our mood and basically transport us in many ways like nothing else can. The idea that something like music can change how we feel and even who we are.... typifies the concept that who we are at any given time changes. If you have followed this concept this far then you can also see that it is a simple step from here to realize that others in our life can also transport us and us change our way of thinking and being at any time. 

It is thinking and being in a certain way that create our identities, the things that hold our concepts of the world around us. I believe most musicians would agree with the idea that they identify with their instruments in a very meaningful way that suggests it is a deep part of who they are. Take the next step and see that someone like a close friend is therefor part of one's identity. The book you are engrossed in, for a short time becomes part of your identity. This fluid environment in which we live changes throughout each of our days. If we can see this, come to this realization, then we can see that if someone else that we engage with becomes part of our identity then who we are is wrapped up in the people around us especially with those in which we engage meaningfully. 

The last step is to realize that other people and things around us are playing an important role in that act of creating who we are in the moment. Part of you becomes part of me. If that sounds a bit strange just consider your relationship at the most fundamental level with the most important person in your life and reflect on the above thoughts. 

I would love to hear what you think. Please contact me and give me your thoughts.