HAROLD ARTHUR MCNEILL

My worldview is most practically conveyed by my recent interview by ARKHAM STUDIOS , in connection with their release of limited bronze castings of my Cthulhu, along with an article I wrote for a local magazine featuring my work. My website, thirdcamelot.com does not exhibit either recent work nor convey as much of my thinking, purposes I hope to better serve with this myspace profile. May it be of value to kindred souls (who are welcome to respond ).
ARKHAM STUDIOS: Can you tell us what initially sparked your interest in art?
Harold McNeill: At earliest memory I was compelled to create. True art is borne of inner neccessity. It's misuse by predatory commercialism is a spiritual prostitution promoted by the souless who have but one virtue, mortality. In some respects the inner motive of art may be akin to the birth of a pearl, a response to the tension of mere matter for those who have souls. Not all is art, not all have souls. The modern heresy that all have souls is was even rejected by the the gnostic gospels of the Nag Hammadhi Library, where it was said; " there are many animals in human form, do not esteem them as men, for as animals devour each other, so do they." This is conveyed in that more reliable reference to the intent of jesus than the conterfiet christ of the church who hijacked his name as he forsaw; " they will cleave to the name of a dead man, calling themselve bishops and deacons, but do not listen to them for they are dry canals." In these works it is also said that man can be divided into three groups; those who know by revelation and creation like the sun, those who think by mere calculation and reflection like the moon, and lastly the hateful relativistic soulless who it was then said will be burnt up so nothing will be left of them. It is this pernicious weed that smother the roses of the soul, found in all races in varying percentages, and are the root of much that is corrupting to the soul. In the garden of life one must have the courage to pull the weeds, this tough love is actually best for their karma. Compassion for the weed is cruelty to the rose. Thus a human of soul can never be a crosstitute, and wiping out that diseased creed will be a partial tribute to jesus. For the true solar human, god is within, for the born lunar slave, god is above. Those who need to be born again should die first. In this we can be helpful. Throughout the ages I see the absolute relativist who measures by quantity in an ancient battle with the relative absolutist whose measure is quality. My words will be understood by the latter, to quote Blake; " as a man is, so he sees." Art is the truest theology of authenticity and thus more spiritual than religion. There is more ego than god in religion. Dogma is to life what arthritis is to dance. Death must be present for life to be vital, so telephone poles may have unintended applications in the future for those who missed Vlad Dracula's point, a man with a stake in in the future of many.
AS: You seem to be a Renaissance Man in the sense that you have many disciplines such as drawing, painting, sculpture, photography and philosophical poetry. Can you elaborate on how you are able to explore so many artistic avenues? HM: All is ripe for improvement, much has yet to be born. There are no boundries to the creator, art transcends morality. I have been fortunate to have things be obvious to me thus needing no training to realize my objectives. Though I enjoy photography I do not draw from such, but rather occassionally recreate my work with models. I have a horror of copying, even my own photos, but know Von Stuck produced great work in that manner thus am not dogamtic as to the validity of that approach in some cases. My limited foray into music over 20 years ago can be heard by clicking on the word republic on the bio page of thirdcamelot.com, which can also provide a sense of how I have approached oratory in the past. The world is polluted by art school monkeys whose inner poverty matches the inauthenticity of commercialism, though some true artists pass through their halls. It is a disaster to place the culture of a nation into the hands of advertising, as pedophiles should not run daycare centers. I can be very critical of my work and appreciate your kind words, given your own artistic achievments and character.
AS: Your work seems to have an influence of Art Deco and Third Reich aesthetics. Is this a fair statement or does the influence come from elsewhere? HM: I consider influence to be separate from inspiration. I resonate with some timeless aspects that have manifested in the past because the were within me from birth. Influence is corrupt, inspiration divine. True man is not a product of history, history at it's best is the product of true men. Authenticity above conformity. What is real is above time, newness is the fetish of mediocrity. To address any curiosity as to my view of the Third Reich that may arise; National Socialism had many strengths such as realizing that man does not exist to serve capital, capital exists to serve man, but it became in my view too like what it fought. Master Race is too like Chosen People for my taste, though many are beginning to discover that the kosher version of history may not be the last word on the matter, nor entirely truthful on all points. I contend it more relevant to invest energy on the wall where it is least fortified, rather than let defensive debates on the past negate one's impact on the future. To deny merit outside of one's own race is a talmudic arrogance that has no place in my heart. The absurd contradiction of racial hatred is in blaming someone for their nature as if it was a choice, racial awareness enables one to understand and thus preserve diversity. You do not get apples from orange trees, yet it is stupid to hate either, nor does one have to like either, all is a matter of taste and its freedom. Projected equality is as much a prejudice as projected inequality. Fresh water fish do poorly in salt water aquariums, that is why diverse environments consecrated to diverse natures maximizes true diversity and health of all. One would not wish to go to a paint store for green paint, and be told that it was thought it might be unfair to the other colors if they could not be in the same can, so instead of diverse choices you were left with only a pinkish puke grey in every can. Equality murders diversity. This sentiment was also expressed by another of my favorite authors, Heinrich Heine, a jewish author I have often quoted to those who seem to fall into what I call aryan zionism. To overcome the global cancer of multinational capitalism it may take a new multinational socialism, where upright nobles of all races unite to secure a world that honors differences without losing them. All that was good from the past is holy in such a cause, beyond fear and greed. Supression of symbols or aesthetics because of past misuse would put the christian cross on the top of the list if one went by body count over time. An amusing quote by that pioneer of family values, Charles Manson comes to mind; " the cross of iron is above and beyond the cross of wood." One does not overcome the past by allowing it to determine the future. Compromise corrupts.
AS: Your poetry echoes a cynical bent. Is this based on your observations and experiences, or is it wrought from similar thoughts other like-minded philosophers such as Nietzche, Ayn rand and others that you happen to agree with? HM: I do not consider myself cynical, for the cynic is the smug accessory to his own murder. Humility forbids pessimism, success demands realism. One must not make a fetish out of a heartbeat if one is to serve quality and thus life in it's highest potential. Nietzsche was exposed to me in high school by an instructor who thought much I expressed by my nature to be similar. My favorite Nietzsche quote; "one must have chaos in ones self in order to give birth to a dancing star." Rand is good in only some respects, the value if the individual's authenticity especially, but is a bit too materialistic in other ways. My favorite Rand quote; " the first person who invented fire was probably burnt at the stake he taught his brothers to light." I appreciate even those who I do not agree with if they are true to themselves. To quote Blake; "opposition is true friendship." Or Nietzsche; "the surest way to corrupt and destroy a youth, is to teach them to hold in esteem those who think alike rather than those who think differently."
AS: Does the work of H.P. Lovecraft play a role in your sculptures beyond your excellent examples of C'thulhu as you see him? HM: In sixth grade I discovered Lovecraft and often was inspired to do my best to render his visions in visual mediums. Later I found we were of similar perspective on other matters. My favorite Lovecraft quote; "art is not something we set out to do, but something that sets out to come through us."
AS:Your women are usually depicted of the era of a Weimar Republic cabaret and many others share the sentiment that this type of woman is the ultimate in an erotic archtype. Care to elaborate? HM: I feel that many of my images are not of that timeline, especially the more mythological ones. I see the dance of the femine through time, and value the most what I define as the solar woman who do not need to revolve around another for an identity. The light of the soul is one, but the moon steals hers from the sun. I try to be compassionate for those whose character is limited by evolutionary biology, but they can end up hating me for seeing past their clitoral flatulance. The exception is what I try to define woman by, as bad painting should not define art. When disappointed bu cannabelles I have wondered if; man has soul, woman has spirit, women eat souls, so men drink spirits. Or if carnivorous plants wre named after venus for a reason. I am eternally grateful to the exceptional women I know who deliver me from misogny. Nor am I less critical of lunar men, and harshest of all towards my own faults, this harshness likely being another fault. If I did not have a sense of humor I would have a body count, though one can have both. Regarding any erotic archetype or ideal, the following thoughts come to mind. Form should serve content, not be its substitute. There is no beauty without depth. In art one may arrive at certain preferences as to form, but in life I would rather deal with someone thick in the waist than thick in the head. Night clubs can be be populated with retarded barbies that seem like the nature channel meets special olympics, bringing to mind Oscar Wilde's definition of fox hunting; "the unspeakable in pursuit of the uneatable." Though some barbies have neglected depth, and there are gothic wax apples with none. Union should not be a freudian farce but give birth to new ideals specific to the essence of both individuals, all else is a sad meat puppet role playing game for the weak of mind and shallow of heart. Love should be a windstorm that overpowers prior notions like so many leaves, where only what is false is sacrificed, and the ego is left at the temple door.
AS: In other interviews, you seem compelled toward the subject of your own demise. Does this translate into why you create as a juxtapose to your own destruction? HM: I find that when one is fighting for life and closest to death, you can reach past life to the starry dance of the archetypes. A passion for self destruction was mine from birth, and from this tension I create my best work. I often feel like a pearl diver who never knows if I will make it back to the surface every time I begin a work. One must know hell to create heaven. Lao Tzu once said; "yearn for death with your whole heart, and live forever." Or the often misrepresented Crowley; "die daily." Or to qoute Lautremont; " the charm of death exists only for the brave." Or Baudelaire; " stoicism is a religion with but one sacrament, suicide." Let the one without neurosis cast the first diagnosis.
AS: What does the future hold for you as an artist and is there a place for Harold Arthur McNeill as a person in this world of the present and the future? HM: Undetermined, as yet. I sometimes have enough mood swings for a god's playground, and am not suited to exist for only my own sake. I will likely endure as long as I am of value to those I can respect, and have as many defined concepts for future governments as any other medium, and as with any medium all is determined by the quality of available materials. An authentocracy may elevate America above the corperate two step of the degenocrats and ripofflicans. When nations capitols are no longer red light districts where whores run for office, leaders may come to power. Serving the interests of all that is best in true mankind is a sacred cause. To quote Theodore Roosevelt; "the greatest good for the greatest number also applies to the unborn in the womb of time, of which the present generation is an insignificant fraction." I have mentioned many quotes to share value and enfranchise others to that value given public education, no author represents myself totally or I would not be an individual. I will finish with two by Napoleon; "war is the cowards solution to the problems of peace." And lastly by Napoleon; "imagination rules the world."
Exerpt of my writing from local magazine article:
I often ponder whether humanity is a function of mere biology or character, and whether it is meaningful or something to be transcended. It is clear that fools outnumber the wise, though I am not always certain as to which category I belong. Those who can admit their folly are more likely to attain wisdom. I do love people, one can make so many neat things out of them. Seldom are the stable creative. To break through often involves some breaking down. The stars shine brightest from the abyss as one arises from it. In a world that can seem to be overpopulated with walking landfill, it is best for the authentic soul to resist reactive misanthropy. There is never victory in reaction any more than one can lift a chair while sitting in it. Impatience is a barren tree that seldom bears edible fruit. I mention these things as many who connect with my art also share some of my dilemmas. Regardless of the direction history may take we, can either become the kings of a new heaven or the demons of the new hell; there is much to be done. In some ways, I am my own worst enemy as it concerns the promotion of my art, yet still it has ended up in the homes of Geiger and Chris Stein of Blondie. It has appeared in a variety of contexts ranging from the Magic the Gathering and Vampire/Jyhad card games, for which I also designed the snakes logo, to the cover of of a Death in June seven inch titled WE SAID DESTROY. I also created the cover for Charles Manson's Commemoration CD, inspiring his prison self portrait on my Man Son, being one of my stranger collaborations, excluding past lovers. This image is also now the cover of a recent new right work; Homo Americanus. Other notable applications of my my work include its use by Laibach/NSK for an embassy opening, its appearance in Apocalypse Culture II, and its application by Michael Moynihan of Blood Axis and the Men Among the Ruins CD by the group Changes. I am self-taught and my most substantial interaction with an art school was briefly as a janitor for Cornish School of the Arts, an oddly appropriate arrangement. My work was also applied in the recent award-winning black and white silent film THE CALL OF CTHULHU, which I was priveledged to contribute to. It was tastefully produced in the manner of early expressionist film, a'la THE CABINET OF DOCTOR CALAGARI, with a touch of the original KING KONG. Only a portion of my work can be viewed on my website, thirdcamelot.com alternately known as haroldarthurmcneill.com, for those who like my leatherbound book designs they can ordered through arsobscurabookbinding.com as either blank or to rebind such as Crowley, Lovecraft, ect. I can be contacted by email [email protected] though the email links on site are temporarily disabled and do not so advise, thus do not use them but email direct, I always appreciate worth-while communication.