One Tree – Sad Plight; detail
People often wonder about the titles of my work but they can’t find out unless they see it up close and take a good look. But for those who can’t here is a detailed image and a detail about the image.
A horse broke my nose and during the unplanned trip to the hospital, I was visually struck by a tree in someone’s yard. The sun was much higher in the sky than it usually is when I am outdoors, so my visual and mental perspectives were different. I had been thinking about my nose and the state of my life.
I was becoming increasingly frustrated in a romantic situation. Everything was on hold, and had been for some time because the gentleman involved was unable to afford to do what he needed for us to move forward.
Leafing through the pages of an old New Orleans newspaper I saw an advice column in which a young man was distressed that the woman he loves was going away for the summer. He is afraid he would loose her. A few pages later there was an ad for two cars for the price of one, and for a bank that would loan anywhere from $30 to $300. One of the movies in the theatre at the time was Romeo and Juliet.
I didn’t really get any emotional resolution for my situation because I could still see both sides of the story. Money is needed, things are advertised as affordable, but they aren’t always as affordable as they appear; and yet, can’t the young man quit his whining and go get the girl? It’s a Sad Plight.
I did not even notice the message in the clippings incorporated into this piece when I first looked at it, despite it immediately drawing my attention at the show. Hearing the story behind its creation completely changes your perspective of the art. It’s really interesting.
Thanks. I admire the courage it takes to expose part of yourself through your art.
What strikes me about the article is that I believe the author already knows the right answer but can’t accept it.
I know! Isn’t that just great? What is his deal? But aren’t we all kind of like that? There is a great quote from The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara, here it is: Page 268: “Longstreet thought: you always know the truth; wait long enough and the mind will tell you.” If there isn’t something personal in my fine art, than I might as well be back at the office. All of them have a bit of my soul in them.