David Lee Pancake,
by Chris French

I have known David Lee for several years now, after having met by chance and engaging in a long and ongoing philosophical discussion. A friendship was sparked and we have since become motorcycle riding buddies and hit the road any chance we get, typically ending the day by pitching tents and sitting around a fire continuing that philosophical talk we started long ago. For a long time, I didn't know David Lee was an artist. Like many aspects of David Lee's story, I just got a piece here and there and the picture that forms just gets more fascinating.

The first time I learned that Pancake (that is what my family and I affectionately call him - an unusual last name you won't forget) was an artist was the first time I visited his home. Sitting on his table, surrounded by a mess of sculpting tools, was this naked angel wrapped in chains. She was amazing. And as he showed me around I saw several sculptures and paintings and drawings that Pancake had done over the years and I was fascinated that this motorcycle riding, whiskey drinking, deep-thinker was capable of creating such magnificently detailed artwork.

Pancake is more of a "here and now" kind of person and topics rarely wonder to "remember when" which makes it difficult to write a biography of sorts. Through our discussions though I learned that he was raised within a strict religious regiment that in later years he broke from in search of higher truth. The relevance of sharing this is the impact that knowledge had when I first laid eyes upon the bound angel and realized how much of Pancake himself was rendered in that sculpture. At least that was my interpretation and Pancake's views are that each piece is up to the viewer's interpretation - if he told me what he was thinking when he sculpted it then he'd be cheating me out of a chance of an original impact.

The religious view was one piece of the puzzle. A love of science was another. Avid reader; fascinated by the brain and thought processes; obsessed with origins of creativity; tinkerer; outdoorsman; sci-fi aficionado; wizened mentor; ageless wild man... The list goes on and I see aspects spill over into the art created and that is part of the appreciation I've developed for both man and art. Some depths are uncovered and mysteries revealed while new ones spill out. Sometimes there appears to be deep meaning and other times shear playfulness.

I encourage you to read his blog and get to know more about the man behind the art. The living biography will enlighten you more than the words I can share.