Up early listening to old jazz. It puts an image of high contrast black and white films in my mind. Rainy night street scenes from a 1950’s NYC. Neon lights reflecting on dirty puddles. Brakes lights from rows of cabs glowing and steam rising. A rich stew of smells, alternating from sweet aroma to stench. People with their heads down, scurrying through the bustle of light and dark, roars and rhythms.
Lots of raw energy buoyed by the possibility of self-invention. Images that create an odd sense of romance.
Here’s an example. The classic Moanin’ from jazz legend Charles Mingus. Keep up the energy and have a good Saturday.
Yesterday, I watched a man painfully talk about his son being shot down in the massacre at the Borderline dance club in Thousand Oaks, California. It was painful to witness the form of pure and primal grief he was expressing with his cries and his heaven-sent moans.
It was a moment that most of us hope with all our souls we would never have to share on a national platform.
He wasn’t alone. 12 died, mostly young people along with a 29-year police veteran who quickly responded to the shooting. All of their families were forced to go through that same gut wrenching agony and sense of loss.
It was the deadliest shooting in–wait for it– 12 days.
It had been only 12 days since the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting that killed 11.
I am hoping the death total from this latest shooting stands as the most for the rest of our lives. But this America so I am not confident in saying that it will even last another 12 days. I may not be exact in this figure but I believe it is reported that there have been 307 mass shootings here in the 314 days of this calendar year.
American exceptionalism, my ass.
Then I wake up this morning to see the tweet from the NRA where they tell doctors to “stay in their lane” and stop talking about gun control.
Yeah, the doctors who are often wrist deep in the blood and gore of gunshot wounds should shut their yaps and do their jobs
Patch’em up or sign the death certificates.
Perhaps they should thank the NRA for job security they provide in the form of the multitude of victims coming their way?
American exceptionalism, my ass.
I can’t offer any answers. I am just angry and tired of the carnage. And especially tired of those who say more guns are the answer and that grade school teachers and rabbis and bartenders and dishwashers and cabbies and every other person in this goddamn country should be packing sidearms.
I just know we can do better. When I think of American exceptionalism I am saying that we have that ability to rise up and do better.
That is, if we want to. And maybe we won’t have the desire and will to do something truly tangible until this scourge touches every family, every school, every church, and every public place.
Until we all experience the sheer and awful agony of that father yesterday.
Maybe then we will be better, will do what is right and necessary. Then we might be able to see ourselves as exceptional.
Until then, I say American exceptionalism, my ass.
Here’s the title song from the 1993 album Across the Borderline from Willie Nelson. I chose it because it’s a beautiful song but mainly because it contains Borderline to honor those folks who died in that club. The song was written by Ry Cooder and has a message and tone that is so pertinent for these times. The phrase broken promised land just jumps out at me.
Give a listen. Maybe tomorrow we can get back to art…
As an artist I have always tried to be faithful to my vision of life, and I have frequently been in conflict with those who wanted me to paint not what I saw but what they wished me to see.
–Diego Rivera
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Big fan of the work of Diego Rivera (1886-1957), the great Mexican painter/muralist and husband of Frida Kahlo. There is much I love in his work such as the way his colors harmonize and soar off the surfaces, the sheer brilliance of his compositions, the scale and breadth of his murals and the fact that his work was beautiful and powerful in whatever genre or style he chose at any given moment. He was also fearless in expressing his political and philosophical beliefs in his work, often becoming a strong element in his work.
I also admire his absolute devotion to his own voice in his work, as noted in the quote above. He painted his own vision, not what others desired him to see. That’s a big thing for any artist and not something easily done. Too often artists try to work for the approval of other eyes, for people who want their work to remain as they have always known it.
It’s understandable from the perspective of a viewer to want an artist to remain in that space that first attracted the viewer. They know and like the work as it is and perhaps can’t imagine it becoming more than it is if it somehow evolves or changes. Or they fear it will become less or something that doesn’t speak to them in the same way. As I said, it’s understandable.
But from the artist’s point of view this present a threat in that this may stop them from expanding their creative vision. They begin to be afraid to go off their own beaten path, to try new things, to move out of their comfort zone to challenge themselves, and to grow their self-created universe. They remain in a known space and may never know how expansive their vision might be if they only tried.
From what I know, Diego Rivera always moved to new creative spaces with his work. He painted with his own voice, even in his commissioned murals. I still stumble on pieces of his that surprise me.
A true inspiration.
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Diego Rivera’s Mural at the City College of San Francisco
Well, the election is somewhat over. A few races are still undecided with votes still being tabulated and some with perhaps recounts ahead.
All in all, I am satisfied. If you watched only the races that were in the headlines nationally, a Dem might be crestfallen that their rock star candidates — Beto in Texas, Stacy in Georgia and Andrew in Florida, for example– couldn’t break through. They were the emotional magnets for a lot of voters and to see them go down, even in an extremely close battle, hurts a bit.
But when I step back and look at the results and the repercussions of these elections, I am pleased.
First, the House of Reps moved blue with a Democratic majority now in place, providing a clear check on the president*. Committee leaderships move to the Dems now and they can set the agenda for how the president*’s actions are handled. They now have investigative and subpoena power as well as a check on the Senate.
This Blue move includes over 100 women being elected to the House last night. The class picture for the House Dems is a very diverse one that now includes more women, Native Americans, Muslims and people of color. That is fantastic and provides us with a voice that better reflects this nation’s multitudes.
Secondly, a large number of states’ governors switched to the Democratic side. This is a huge gain, especially in the fight against the gerrymandering of districts which is pertinent as the 2020 census looms with the redistricting that comes with it.
I am also pleased that overall, Dems outvoted the GOP by between 7 and 8% nationally. The voters came out. I hope those young voters who invested so much in races that may not have gone their way, such as the Parkland students in Florida, are not disheartened and turn their backs on future political involvement. They made a difference in our political discourse and are close to changing the face of our political class forever, if only they continue their fight.
In the Senate races, the Dems won by more than 12%– but still lost at least 3 seats. We are still strongly divided but the fact that the gaps in races in historically red states are closing gives me optimism.
On the downside, voter suppression remains a problem in many areas and is something that needs to be addressed on a national level. There are obviously systems available that would allow all eligible voters to easily register and cast their vote. Voting should not be set up as a series of hurdles to be overcome. Each citizen deserves to have their vote counted.
While I would loved to have seen a blue tsunami across the board, I believe overall it was a pretty good day for America. It moves us in a more positive direction, towards a government that represents all of our interests.
But to get that point, we have to stay aware and involved. Political change is sometimes slow and incremental. It is not always easy to keep up the energy needed to create change.
Do not be distracted. Keep your eyes and ears open. Stay involved and hold those in power accountable.
“I don’t look to the teachings of Jesus for what my political beliefs should be.”
–Jerry Falwell, Jr., NY Times Interview
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I think the quote above from Jerry Falwell, Jr. pretty much sums up the importance of this election. If a man who has based his whole life and persona on the teachings of Jesus is willing to set them aside for political expediency, there is a lot at stake. Not being able to adhere to those teachings– concepts like compassion, charity and truth– to uphold his political preferences says even more about what we are facing.
Today’s election is, above all else, a referendum on whether we continue to follow our worst inclinations into the ditch of history or whether we can steer ourselves back to the road we have long followed, one that marks us as a generous, compassionate and welcoming people.
We cannot survive long as a nation that is based on policies that reward greed, hate, fear, corruption, victimization, and deceit.
A lot of people say, “Sure, all of these bad things are taking place but look at the economy, look at the numbers!”
Myself, I knew that when this president* came into office that he would be able to ride the strength of the then percolating economy for maybe two more years before it began cycling downward. The GOP made a calculated risk in enacting a massive tax break that was designed solely for the wealthiest among us, believing that supercharging the economy for the short term would blow them past this election before the consequences of such an irresponsible action would begin to appear.
But the bill will soon come due. The economic signs are appearing now. Tax revenues are down. Deficits are ballooning. Job growth, while still fairly strong, has lessened in the past two years and will continue to do so, partly because with decreased immigration, there is not the available population to sustain continued job growth.
To think that an economy at the apex of its cycle is enough to overlook the damage being done to our nation’s citizens along with its reputation and honor is a massive mistake.
Today is an opportunity to begin to set things right. It is a chance to shock the world and forcefully tell the other strongman autocrats out there that we reject their worldview.
To show that we deserve to be the beacon of hope once again.
You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment.
—-Henry David Thoreau
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Really felt like looking at some of my favorite Japanese prints from the 19th century this morning, mainly from Hokusai and Hiroshige. There are a couple here, including the one above, that led to the iconic Great Wave from Hokusai, shown just below.
With their great rhythm, harmony, and force, I could look at these pieces continuously and never feel like I’ve looked enough.
As for the symbolism of the wave today, you can plug in whatever meaning pleases you.
I know what it means for me today. And, with a bit of hope, tomorrow.
Hokusai- The Great Wave
Hokusai- Feminine/Male Wave Kammachi Festival Float Ceiling Panels
Feminine Wave – From Float Panel Hokusai
Hokusai
Hokusai
Hiroshige- Navaro Rapids
Hiroshige- Sea Off Satta Point
HiroshigeThe Wave 1859
Hokusai- View of Honmoku off Kanagawa
19th Century Japaneses Woodblock -Artist Not Indicated
Feels like we’re kind of in the calm before a storm. There’s a sense of pent up energy just waiting to be unleashed and the only question is how it will all unfold in two days, what kind of damage will be done.
Or undone.
It’s a schizophrenic time filled with high moments of excited hopefulness followed by lows that are comprised of doom and gloom. I dislike both the highs and lows of this time. The highs because I fear I am just kidding myself in thinking that the best thing might happen and the lows because of the future the worst case scenario presents.
All in all, it leaves me, and I think a great many others, exhausted from walking this ragged edge of social/political schizophrenia.
So finding this video this morning was just what the doctor ordered for me. I don’t exactly know how I got to it. I started with watching Lolafrom the Kinks, moved to a Spanish group named Cafe Quijano doing a song called La Lola— great song, kind of sexist video–then took a couple of turns and there was this.
It’s from a group called Too Many Zooz. It’s three guys– Matt “Doe” Muirhead on trumpet, Leo P on baritone sax and David “King of Sludge” Parks on percussion– who started performing as subway buskers in NYC. Their call their genre of music brass house, a mix of house music, Afro-Cuban, and jazz. I think we can dispense with labels and just say that it is high energy.
They have taken off in recent years as a result from a video that went viral that was shot by someone watching them perform on the Union Square platform in NYC. They have performed around the country and in Europe and Leo P, now widely known for his frantic dance moves, even did a performance on the BBC Proms with a full orchestra. They are currently on a European tour but will be back in the states next month. I see they are appearing not too far from me at The Haunt in Ithaca in December.
This video is called Bedford and was shot on the Bedford subway platform in Brooklyn at 3:33 AM. If anyone was thinking about going to bed at that point, this most likely woke them up.
So, if you find yourself in need of a pick-me-up, take a look at this.
As John Lee Hooker once said, “If you can’t dig this, you got a hole in your soul– and that ain’t good.”
Then take that energy and get out there and vote. Vote. Vote. VOTE.
If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is – infinite.
― William Blake
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On yet another gloomy morning in what seems to be an endless parade of gray and rainy days, the only infinite this morning I am seeing is infinite dreariness. On a morning like this, a few pieces from William Blake seem like the right choice to ponder.
The work of British poet/printmaker/painter William Blake (1757-1827) seems drastically different from the work of his contemporaries in the early 19th century. It went beyond representation and dealt with a metaphysical reality/unreality with which most artists of the time were not dealing. Much of his work deals with a complex mythology revolving around Urizen, a godlike figure representing reason and law. He is shown in the famous image shown at the top of this post and in the first below.
To be honest, I can only pretend to understand his work at the most basic level. But his visual work and his writings have a definite attraction for me. It remains vital and interesting work, forever tinged with the mystery of the ages.
And that mystery is something to ponder, especially on a dreary, rainy morning.
Maybe this rain is attempting to cleanse those doors of perception?
We are coming up on the final weekend of what promises to be a pivotal election in the history of our country. It is ugly right now with a president* spinning out of control, spewing a constant and wide river of lies, fear mongering and racial slurs, both of the dog-whistle and overt variety. It is a campaign based only on fear, division, and threats, one that needs to create enemies to fear and despise. Instead of of offering a unifying vision, one party looks to aggressively suppress the vote. There is not a positive vision or an iota of hope involved. It is a tremendously dangerous onslaught and it is positively un-American and un-democratic.
It made me think about my own beliefs and how I was viewing this election. I found that while there is fear and anger driving my response to this election cycle, it is my liberal beliefs that still inform my actions. They are overwhelmingly positive positions that aim for greater equality and an even playing field for all people in this country. They are positions that are looking ahead to a better country and a better world for everyone, not just the wealthiest and the privileged.
Positions that say how we treat the least among us says the most about us.
It reminded me of a post from back around this time in 2012. It lists how liberal thought has created most of the benefits of modern life that many of us now take for granted. These are things that were accomplished through brutal, and sometimes lethal, battles fought by those with progressive ideals.
This country’s greatness is based on the idea of the idea of America and that is a product of progressive thought.
You must vote in this election. To not be involved is to cede your future to others who may have a darker future in mind. I can’t tell you how to vote. You vote for the future you want. I will tell you that I am voting for a more hopeful and inclusive future. Progressive and looking forward.
Here’s my post from 2012:
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Republicans have been accused of abandoning the poor. It’s the other way around. They never vote for us.
–Dan Quayle
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I don’t know why I used the quote above from Dan Quayle except that it made me laugh when I stumbled across it. This has been a particularly long and tough political season and Quayle’s clueless words made me step back from it a bit to give a chuckle. As though the poor owed the GOP something!
Though I consider myself an independent, I am definitely liberal in my political leanings and always have been. There have been points in my life, especially now in the time of the ideologues, when liberalism has been portrayed as some sort of anarchistic/atheistic/communistic movement with the word liberal being thrown about as an insult. That bothers me because I have always been proud of the accomplishments of those people who came before me who carried the banner of progressive thought with honor.
Early Suffrage Poster
They were extraordinarily brave people who spoke out against the outrages of the day that stood in direct contradiction to the liberal belief in equality and liberty for all. They were the abolitionists of the 1800’s fighting the heavily moneyed institution of slavery. They were the suffragettes who fought so that women might have voting equality and the union organizers of the early 1900’s who fought for safer working conditions and fair pay and against child labor. They were the people, the anti-Fascists, who stood against the authoritarian movements of Europe in the 1930’s and 1940’s. They were the civil rights activists who marched and died so that civil rights were for everyone. They were the environmentalists who brought back the clean water and air we now enjoy. There was a time not too long ago when clean water and air was not a sure thing.
They were the people who sought to clean the stains of these inequalities from our flag and in every case they came up against conservative opposition. There was always a group who tried to maintain the status quo, to protect against what they felt was an attack on their America, even though their America was one based on injustice and inequality. Can you imagine an America without these ideals that Liberalism has championed, a world where the conservative thought of the day had somehow persevered? Sure, it’s easy to say that slavery would have ended or that women would have received the vote anyhow on their own but there was no guarantee. Just the fact that it took until the 1960’s that a hard won Civil Rights Act was enacted is proof of that.
Think how your own life might be different without liberal thought and action. I can guarantee you that it would not be a better life or a better world.
Looking through some older work, I came across this piece from January of 1995. It was from a time just before I first showed my work publicly. It seems like just yesterday in some ways but a hundred years ago in others. I was just finding voice in my work but still had some work to go before I could fully utilize it.
This is called Outside Shakeytown and it’s obviously watercolor on paper. Shakeytown was the name I used sometimes at that time for a mythical dark and dank town that hovered under dirty gray skies and sooty foundries and factories. It is a name that could be used in place of any number of small Rust Belt cities and towns that have seen industries disappear over the past 40 or 50 years. These often impoverished towns often still have shuttered factories that stand like ugly monuments to a long gone past as they struggle to find a new identity in a modern world.
It can be a compelling setting, one filled with deep darkness that give rise to startling and dramatic contrasts. One of the birthplaces of art.
This piece is a favorite of mine, one that checks a lot of boxes in a list of what I want to see in my work. It always sends off sparks within me when I pull it out. For me, it acts as sort of a creative terminus from which all sorts of paths depart.
And like the beginning of any journey, it fills me with excitement and a bit of dread.
And those are good starting points for new work.
While I never had plans of showing this publicly, I had to laugh when I looked this morning and noticed that I had signed it twice. The one on the left is the original and the one on the right is from what I think is a much later date when I must have not noticed the other signature. They are both in pencil so I could just erase one but I am going to leave it as it. That way, a couple of hundred years in the future maybe someone will stumble across it– in a gallery or a junk shop or a junk heap, who knows?–and will wonder what was meant by the two signatures.
I won’t be there but I can chuckle at the possibility of it now.
And these days, here in Shakeytown, that’s a good thing.
Up early listening to old jazz. It puts an image of high contrast black and white films in my mind. Rainy night street scenes from a 1950’s NYC. Neon lights reflecting on dirty puddles. Brakes lights from rows of cabs glowing and steam rising. A rich stew of smells, alternating from sweet aroma to stench. People with their heads down, scurrying through the bustle of light and dark, roars and rhythms.
Redtree Times 