Redtree Times

“Memoir” – At the Principle Gallery

Everybody needs his memories. They keep the wolf of insignificance from the door.

–Saul Bellow

On the road today, delivering a group of mainly small pieces to the Principle Gallery for their annual Small Works show. It opens Friday, December 4.

Feels a bit weird to be on the road again. This was a trip I made several times a year for many years so the route and trip routine is almost ingrained. But with the pandemic  and the cancellations of the last two Gallery Talks and limited show openings, these trips have been much less frequent.

But it feels good to hit the road once again and be able to see some of my favorite folks at the Principle Gallery. Maybe catch up a bit. That would be a return of some small degree of normalcy.

And that would be good.

One little piece going down is Memoir, shown above. Since I am short on time today– actually, this is from last night– I thought that a pairing of this little piece with some sage words from Saul Bellow and a song from Nick Lowe would be appropriate. Here’s When I Write the Book. from many moons ago.

It plays pretty early on in my memoir.

See you somewhere down the road…

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Across the Continuum– Soon at the Principle Gallery

There are no telegraphs on Tralfamadore. But you’re right: each clump of symbols is a brief, urgent message– describing a situation, a scene. We Tralfamadorians read them all at once, not one after the other. There isn’t any particular relationship between all the messages, except that the author has chosen them carefully, so that, when seen all at once, they produce an image of life that is beautiful and surprising and deep. There is no beginning, no middle, no end, no suspense, no moral, no causes, no effects. What we love in our books are the depths of many marvelous moments seen all at one time.

― Kurt Vonnegut, Slaughterhouse-Five

I love this description of how the inhabitants of Tralfamadore, those strange looking characters that appear in several of Vonnegut’s books, read. The idea that in a single glance they can see the entirety of whatever they are looking at, all its depth and breadth, every moment, is a fascinating one to ponder.

Even more so as an artist. We (I’ve decided that for the purpose of this blogpost will identify myself as an artist) often describe our works in terms of capturing a moment, a specific instance, in life. I think it’s just an easy answer, one that we can pull out quickly when asked.

And sometimes, it is certainly the case.

But many times we want to capture an image that a Tralfamadorian would feel right at home with, something that has no beginning, no middle, no end. One, that with a glance, the viewer knows everything they will ever know about that image.

An image of life that is beautiful and surprising and deep, as Vonnegut wrote.

I sometimes  refer to this as us trying to capture the continuum of time and space, of which we all are part.  It is that plane of existence that we inhabit in some form or another, perhaps sometimes only on the molecular level, for eternity.

Wouldn’t be nice if an artist could capture that in an image, one where the viewer felt this entirety of the continuum, all its depths and beauty, and how they belonged as part of it?

It’s an impossible goal, of course. Especially so when it becomes the stated goal. Then it becomes too thought out, too enmeshed with a particular thought and moment and idea. I am not saying that it can’t still be beautiful and emotionally powerful and filled with depths.

It just doesn’t meet the high bar set by the Tralfamadorians.

But what does?

The new piece shown at the top, headed down to the Principle Gallery in the next day or so, is called Across the Continuum. The fact that I used the term continuum in its title tells you that it struck a chord with me personally, that it captured my own sense of this ethereal and timeless plane of being.

Again, my own sense.

I am seeing with the knowledge and understanding of my other works through the years, all that has come before it. With a glance it captures the entirety of that connection to the whole, all its depths and surprises and beauty of that totality for me.

So for the purpose of this painting and blogpost, I am, in effect, a Tralfamadorian.

Of course, you most likely are not. You are probably human so you will probably not see this in the same way.

And that’s just fine with me. I’m just glad you came through this post this far.

I appreciate that. No matter what, if anything, you see in this painting, you are okay by me.

At least, as far as humans go.

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Light Exaltation— Coming to the Principle Gallery

I’ve run the gamut, A to Z
Three cheers and dammit, C’est la vie
I got through all of last year, and I’m here
Lord knows, at least I was there, and I’m here
Look who’s here, I’m still here

— Stephen Sondheim, I’m Still Here, Follies

Another new piece headed to the Principle Gallery for their annual Small Works show, opening this coming Friday, December 4. This painting is titled Light Exaltation but it could well be called I’m Still Here, which is this week’s pick for Sunday Morning music.

As you may know, Stephen Sondheim, the legendary composer and lyricist, died this week at the age of 91. This song, I’m Still Here, might be my favorite of his many great songs.

The song is from his 1971 show Follies, which is about a reunion of a group of former showgirls in the old theater, scheduled for demolition, where they once performed in the 1920’s and 30’s as part of the Weismann’s Follies.

Many great songs in this show but I’m Still Here really stands out for me. There’s something in its themes of endurance and almost defiant persistence through a life filled with highs and lows that really strikes a chord with me. It’s like: you hit me with everything you’ve got and I am still standing.

Though Sondheim based much of this song on the long and enduring career of Joan Crawford, I think  the 60+ year career of Elaine Stritch makes her a perfect match for this song. There are lots of more polished versions out there but this performance just kills me every time I hear it. The humor is spot on and her gruff, defiant attitude jumps off the stage.

In our lives, we all have many high and low points and it takes a toll. We all get beaten up a bit. I think we need that bit of defiance and ability to laugh at it all, both the highs and the lows. The song’s last verse, shown at the top, could have been wrote for this very moment.

Glad you’re all still here…

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The Understanding– At the Principle Gallery

Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.

–Marie Curie

This is a new painting that is headed to the Principle Gallery in Alexandria this coming week for their annual Small Works exhibit which opens Friday, December 4. It’s on the upper end of small, coming in at 10″ by 20″ on canvas mounted on aluminum panel.

I call this piece The Understanding. The thought behind this title is very much in line with the words at the top from Marie Curie, the legendary scientist and first woman to win a Nobel Prize.

And her words certainly apply any periods of great unrest and trouble throughout history.

Fear is our greatest enemy.

It lacks knowledge and, most importantly, it lacks the understanding of how things operate and occur. This in turn prevents one from addressing the problems at hand, from diagnosing what has happened, how to repair the damage done and how to move forward without the problem arising once more.

Sounds like the work of a mechanic, doesn’t it? And maybe in simple terms it is a good analogy.

A mechanic, after all, has understanding of how things are put together, how things operate. The mechanic can look at a problem and know immediately what may have caused the problem and affirm that with a few tests or by examining the potential problematic element. He can then figure out what went wrong and what needs to be done to fix the situation.

Everything is done with clarity and calmness because the mechanic has an understanding of his field.

None of the fear and worries and hand-wringing that someone without this understanding goes through when faced with the problem at hand.

When we experience fear, it is generally because we lack the understanding of what has brought about the situation, how it must be dealt with, and how to prevent it from re-occurring at some later time.

In may cases, we have become so used to others– other mechanics, if you will– taking care of our problems without us needing to understand anything, without us lifting a hand to help things along. But sometimes, the problems are large and require time and patience. These are things that we often fail to grant without at least a basic understanding of how things work.

Without it, we become anxious and fearful. Reactionary and impulsive. We begin to question the knowledge and honesty of the mechanic, demanding fixes that don’t fit the situation.

Okay, it’s still before 7 AM so maybe I am torturing this analogy a bit. It feels like it’s one that could be played out into infinity. Let’s put this one to rest, okay?

But it seems to me that so many of our problems result from so many folks are stirred to fear because they have little or no understanding of how things operate. Nor do they have the willingness to try to obtain true understanding. They want things to go as they desire without their input or assistance.

The idea, or at least the feeling, behind this painting is that when one has patience and a bit of understanding, the way the world operates and is put together becomes more apparent. As a result, one becomes less fearful and more open to gaining even more understanding.

Understanding shows us the answers, gives us ways to move forward.

Fear is a hammer that breaks everything apart. Understanding is the glue that holds this whole crazy contraption together.

Understanding is fearless…

Thank you for your patience and understanding this morning!

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A Perfect Love — Soon at the Principle Gallery

How very lovable her face was to him. Yet there was nothing ethereal about it; all was real vitality, real warmth, real incarnation. And it was in her mouth that this culminated. Eyes almost as deep and speaking he had seen before, and cheeks perhaps as fair; brows as arched, a chin and throat almost as shapely; her mouth he had seen nothing to equal on the face of the earth. To a young man with the least fire in him that little upward lift in the middle of her red top lip was distracting, infatuating, maddening. He had never before seen a woman’s lips and teeth which forced upon his mind with such persistent iteration the old Elizabethan simile of roses filled with snow. Perfect, he, as a lover, might have called them off-hand. But no — they were not perfect. And it was the touch of the imperfect upon the would-be perfect that gave the sweetness, because it was that which gave the humanity.

― Thomas Hardy, Tess of the D’Urbervilles

I love this paragraph from Hardy and, in particular, that last sentence:

And it was the touch of the imperfect upon the would-be perfect that gave the sweetness, because it was that which gave the humanity.

It might well be the mission statement I might give for my own work, if asked.

Viewing it as a sign of our humanity and vulnerability, I almost strive for imperfection, though I never do so consciously. I just know that if I try to do my very best, to try to reach my own pinnacle of accomplishment, that somehow my own imperfections will find their way into that work and show through.

And in doing so, I find that when I notice these imperfections that they seldom seem to detract from the work. No, like the words from Hardy, they enhance the work for me.

They add the sweetness of humanity.

That brings us to the painting at the top, a new piece headed to the Principle Gallery for its annual Small Works show which opens next Friday, December 4. The painting is from my Baucis & Philemon series, based on the Greek myth that had an poor, older couple who had pleased Zeus with their open-heartedness and generosity, granted an eternity together by him as trees bound as one.

I call this piece A Perfect Love.

The title refers to the wish of Baucis & Philemon, of course. But it is actually a bit tongue in cheek because of the imperfections that clearly show in this piece.

A Perfect Love detail

There are bits of broken bristle from a worn brush embedded in the dried liquid of the inks I use. A tiny hair here and there, probably from an eyebrow as I hover over the piece. The rough edges of the paint layers. A constellation of pinholes in the underlying gesso.

All these things I seldom see while I am at work. My attention is on the whole of it and capturing some from of energy that will bring it to life. It’s only after it is done– unless it’s such a large flaw that it detracts from the whole– that I notice these things.

And, as in this piece, they bring me joy. They are striking evidence of my humanness, my flawed existence on this planet. I would like to think that sometime in the future someone might look on these imperfections and think about how they arrived there, imagining an artist standing over this surface with brush in hand at the moment that the energy of the painting emerged.

They’ll be able to see the hand ( and maybe the hair and sometimes a bit of spit or blood) of the artist in the work. And I like that, disgusting as it may sound to some.

It’s human. Imperfect.

And that is, in its own way, perfect.

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The unthankful heart discovers no mercies; but the thankful heart will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings.

― Henry Ward Beecher

Thanksgiving 2021.

Even in a crazy, upside down world, I find there are many things for which to be thankful. Most are small and simple things. My wants and needs are not big nor extravagant.

But mainly my list is comprised of people. Friends and family and some folks who are strangers to me, people who have shown me kindness for only the sake of being kind.

I am thankful for those of you out there who read this blog or come to simply look at the paintings. Either way, it means the world to me and I can’t thank you enough.

Oh, and a special thank you, as always, to Snoopy. He was the first thing I learned to capably draw as a kid, from another kid on my school bus. Without Snoopy and that kid on that bus, my life would no doubt be much different.

Certainly not as good.

So, on this day of thanks, I hope your hearts are filled with gratitude today and that you recognize the blessings that surround you.

And be kind to others.

Have yourself a Happy Thanksgiving.

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They who give have all things; they who withhold have nothing.

–Hindu Proverb

Today’s virtue is generosity. I am running sections of a post from back in 2014 that dealt with giving of yourself. In this case, generosity was represented in the paintings I have given away over the years at gallery talks and the paintings I have donated to raise money for a variety of causes.

I have described this as an act of gratitude towards the folks who have supported me so well through the years, buying my work and following its growth in the galleries and here online. This is true, it is an act of gratitude. But it also has more meaning than that for me.

It is a small act of giving that is part of a larger battle against the selfishness and meanness of spirit so evident in the world. I am not talking about only others here. I am not exempt from selfishness. I have certainly been a selfish person in my life.

More so than I like to admit or let on. And I will probably be selfish in the future even though it is something I actively try to avoid.

But I find that with each small act of giving, of parting with something that I could easily hold onto covetously, something that feels like a part of me, there is a lightening of my burden and my spirit.

Generosity forces down many of the meaner parts of myself and creates space within for those better parts to expand and show themselves. It is an exhilarating feeling, a feeling of liberation from my baser self.

Even more so when I am giving something I consider a part of myself, something derived from my heart.

So much so that these events where I give away paintings have become the highlight of my working life.

I think that is why I take so much time and effort in choosing the painting to be given away. I have to find that piece that has a very personal meaning and attachment for me, one that I could easily hang onto for myself. It has to make me twinge a bit, make me a little uncomfortable to give it away. But once that decision has been made, the lightening begins and I am eager to see where the painting will find a new home.

Of course, this is only one form of generosity. There are many others, including a generosity of spirit, of reaching out and giving time to people in friendship and love.

The point is to give to others of yourself.

And hopefully, they will pass it on in their own acts of generosity to others. And then maybe the world will begin to be the better place we all know it could be.

That has to start somewhere, right?

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Night’s Desire— At the Principle Gallery, December 4

The world is little, people are little, human life is little. There is only one big thing — desire.

― Willa Cather, The Song of the Lark

I guess this is a little departure from a Thanksgiving week of virtues. Desire, to some, might even qualify as a sin along the lines of envy or avarice. And I guess in many instances that might be true.

But here, for the purpose of this new smaller painting, Night’s Desire, that is not the case. At least, not as I see it.

The desire I see here is not carnal nor is it one of greed or selfishness. It is that desire that will not let one settle for things as they are, to be content when they can plainly see there is more at hand to be uncovered.

That there are answers and truths to be found out there beyond the horizons of one’s own little world and life. 

This is not about not feeling gratitude for that which we have. That should always be the case. For me, it’s more about questioning why we can’t make this world a place where everyone can rightfully be content with their lot in life.

A world where everyone has something to be thankful every day.

There is surely no easy answer but the desire to find one remains. 

Maybe desire can be a virtue, after all.

This new piece, Night’s Desire, is a 9″ by 12 canvas painting that will be headed to the Principle Gallery in Alexandria, VA for its annual Small Paintings show, opening December 4th.

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The Universal Symbol for Empathy

Resolve to be tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and the wrong. Sometime in life you will have been all of these.

― George Washington Carver

Let’s continue this Thanksgiving week’s stream of virtues with a biggie: empathy. The ability to put yourself in someone else’s shoes or see through their eyes. To feel their emotions, to try to perceive the circumstances of their life.

As Walt Whitman put it in the immortal Song of Myself, describing his time as a hospital aide during the Civil War when he nursed severely wounded Union soldiers:

I do not ask the wounded person how he feels, I myself become the wounded person.

It seems like a simple thing, a natural reaction for most decent people. But it is, unfortunately, becoming a more and more scarce entity. It sometimes feels like there is a total absence of empathy in this world with some folks. Or maybe it’s that they have managed to lop their empathy into smaller bits, reserving it only for people who look and speak and think like themselves.

Empathy is sometimes even mocked these days, derided as a symptom of weakness or softness, something to be exploited. My persona view on this is that empathy is actually a strength, something that allows you to feel compassion with those in need while at the same time giving you the ability to understand and perhaps predict how your adversaries might act.

In this case, a lack of empathy is actually a hinderance to those with less than honorable intentions.This thought takes me back to the words of Gustav Gilbert who was the psychologist at Spandau Prison where the Nazi war crimes defendants were held in 1945:

I told you once that I was searching for the nature of evil. I think I’ve come close to defining it: a lack of empathy. It’s the one characteristic that connects all the defendants. A genuine incapacity to feel with their fellow man. Evil, I think, is the absence of empathy.

Conversely, goodness would include the presence of empathy.

Most of you out there reading this are empathetic folks. If not, you most likely wouldn’t have read this far or be following this blog. So, this is just preaching to the choir. But can you make others feel empathy or, at least, more empathetic to a wider range of others?

I would guess that this can only occur through a willingness to display your own empathy with patience and grace. Much like the words of advice at the top from George Washington Carver.

Do I know this for sure?

No. But who or what can it hurt?

It can only help in some way or another. Try it…

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Last Kind Words– Headed to the Principle Gallery

No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.

― Aesop

I am going to focus on positive things this coming week, a small nod to the spirit of Thanksgiving. After all, it is a holiday that is based on gratitude, which Cicero called the mother of all virtues.

Smart guy, that Cicero. I have to agree with him.

Gratitude begets all good things. It certainly leads to kindness. Kind words and gestures. It’s a virtue that is often lacking in the world these days, much to my dismay and consternation. After all, our reactions are choices and it puzzles me that so many so often choose cruelty over kindness. 

I have been the recipient of many kindnesses in my life, probably more than my fair share. Many came at times when I was at the lowest points in my life. Gestures and kind words, sometimes so small that the folks doling them out probably didn’t even realize the power they possessed, changed my attitude and the direction of my life. They made me feel vulnerably human and gave me hope that the darker days would soon be over.

I am forever grateful to those people in those instances. My hope is that some small word or act of kindness of mine will serve someone else in the same way.

It doesn’t take a tremendous effort to be kind. We sometimes become hardened and our reactions become coarse and cruel. We forget that kindness is always an option.

I certainly feel better when I make that choice.

That brings us to this week’s Sunday Morning Music which is accompanied by a new small painting at the top, from the upcoming small paintings show at the Principle Gallery, that has borrowed the song’s title for its own. The song is Last Kind Words Blues from Alison Kraus and Robert Plant, off their new album, Raise the Roof. The two have great chemistry and their collaborations are always something special.

The song was written and originally recorded by Geeshie Wiley in 1930. Most likely you don’t know the name. Few do. Little is known of her. No known photos or biographical details. All that people knw for sure is that she wrote and recorded six songs for Paramount Records. But even that small sample left a powerful legacy, with some Blues historian calling her perhaps the greatest singer and musician from the rural South. 

Last Kind Words Blues is certainly a powerful song. I am putting the original from Geeshie Wiley at the bottom.

So, give a listen and don’t let your next kind words be your last.

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