A Higher Way– Part of the upcoming West End Gallery Show
Thinking is learning all over again how to see, directing one’s consciousness, making of every image a privileged place.
― Albert Camus, The Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays
This new painting, A Higher Way, continues the theme of my upcoming West End Gallery show that sees humanity continually existing near the dividing line that separates chaos and order.
One aspect of this theme I have yet to mention is that we normally have a foot on each side of that line. I tend to believe that we need to have a bit of both in our lives, that chaos is the source of creativity and innovation while order creates a livable and sustainable structure. But skewing too far toward either side creates extremes forms of both chaos and order.
A sense of equilibrium is required and sustaining this sense of balance between the two states is dictated by our thought and perception.
And what I see in this painting is the Red Tree standing clear of either side. It is set apart the gathered factions of order that are symbolized here in the massed trees surrounding it below as well as the flower beds. But it is not fully part of the chaos that is the sky.
It still has an existence in both sides yet maintains its sovereignty of thought, aware of but free from allegiance or influence.
I am just knocking this off the top of my head early this morning so bear with me a bit. I can never be sure if these things make sense when I am writing. But I have reread it a couple of times and it still makes some sense. That is encouraging.
One observation after doing so is that this reminds me very much of how an artist distills their concepts and thoughts. Keeping a foot in both chaos and order, they take in source material– words and thoughts, images, sounds, emotions, movements, etc– then incorporate this information into something that is hopefully unique and of itself.
It has influences and a basis in what lies beneath and above it, yet it is now something unlike and beyond those influences.
It thinks and feels freely of its own accord.
So, maybe that is a higher way. Hmm…
A Higher Way is 24″ by 24″ on canvas and is included in, Chaos & Light, my annual solo exhibition at the West End Gallery in Corning, NY. The show opens Friday, July 22, 2022.
Redtree Times 