Simple.  Basic.  That is how life and art look to spectators when perfected.  The complexities are there for those that look closely, but the average person should easily determine what an artist is trying to say.  Jane Hammond’s mastery of this skill is one reason why her “Six Sets” piece currently showing at the Chazen Museum of Art can attract even the casual observer.

Simple.  Six identical televisions hang on the wall, each on a different “channel,” each channel a human trait.  Color and depth make the carved wood sets pop from the paper, while the television concept evokes simplicity.  The sets are an old design of a bygone era when televisions had separate dials for UHF and VHF; a time before the flick of a remote could provide access to hundreds of channels.

Hammond’s uses a collection of 276 found images in all her work from this period.  The images that reside on the televisions are visible throughout her collection.  The six traits used by Hammond are easily grasped, even without the note cards that list their names; Faith, Insight, Kinship, Patience, Perception, and Fairness.

Basic.  It is no surprise to see Buddha on the television devoted to “Faith,” or Einstein floating along on the channel devoted to “Insight.”  Hammond breaks each trait into components that can be easily understood.  An uncomplicated and soothing background of hills, and water repeat throughout the series.  Different colors compete in the foreground of each set and successfully garner attention.

For the art psychologist that looks deep beyond the basics, this series does not disappoint.  The composition of the televisions using silver foil and a detailed wood veneer provide an exact representation of a set I had as a child.  A closer look at the background images reveals the horizontal scan lines that are familiar to older television connoisseurs.  Other subtle differences in the background correspond with the theme.  The addition of rocks in the foreground on “Faith” represent the obstacles life presents.  A footbridge in the distance provides a path to overcome challenges.

Some may criticize the series for being too simplistic and basic.  If I were only allowed a passing glance at “Six Sets,” I would tend to agree.  However, like life Hammond’s “Six Sets” are only simple and basic until you look for deeper meaning.