David Park (1911-1960)

"I think of painting-in fact all the arts-as a sort of extension of human life. The very same things that we value most, the ideals of humanity, are the properties of the arts. The words that come to mind are many-energy, wisdom, courage, delight, humor, sympathy, gentleness, honesty, peace, freedom-I believe most artists are goaded by a vision of making their work vivid and alive with such qualities. I believe this is the undercurrent of the artist's energy."
David Park, quoted in exh. cat., San Francisco, M.H. de Young Memorial Museum, 1959, n.p.