Redtree Times

Waiting For the Light– At the West End Gallery

Reality cannot be found except in One single source, because of the interconnection of all things with one another.

–Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (1646-1716)

Excellent opening last at the West End Gallery. Many thanks to all who came out and special thanks to Jesse and Linda Gardner at the gallery for the hard work put forth in making it come out so well.

It was a busy night with a very good crowd with faces toward the work, which is my barometer for how well the work is engaging with the attendees. If people are standing in the inward facing circles and not looking at the walls, then I haven’t done my job well enough. It was great to see many old friends, some who I had not seen in several years, as well as a sizable number of new folks including some who had been collecting my work for a while. Had a number of good conversations, though they were much more abbreviated than I would like due to the lack of time and the number of folks that I needed to speak with.

It was, overall, just a fine evening. Hey, I was even gifted with some great dill pickles! How can you beat that?

One of the things that I have missed during the pandemic years was the interaction with viewers of my work and the feedback they give. Their views on the work often provide new perspectives which, in turn, can sometime change how I see a piece. It’s as though they can sometimes see the work clearer than I.

And that is exciting for me.

I had such a moment last night. I was approached by a lovely woman named Angelique who told me she was visiting Corning with her sister. They had spent the day going up and down Market Street, in and out of the museums and shops. She told me she had been drawn into the gallery by my work in the window during one of her trips and found herself entranced by the Red Tree. She told herself she had to come back during the opening to ask more about the Red Tree, even though she came without her sister who was worn out from their busy day.

She approached and asked me what the meaning was behind the Red Tree. I explained how it had come about and the several things it had come to symbolize for myself and others who shared their views on it.

She asked if I wanted to hear her thoughts on it. I said that I would love that.

She said simply, “It’s the Root.”

It stunned me a bit because the word set off all sorts of connections in my mind, as though it was catalyst for organizing frayed bits and pieces into a coherent concept. It made sense instantly.

I told her I liked that very much then she asked if wanted to know why she thought it was the Root. I said that nothing could please me more.

She explained that the Red Tree was almost always on a mound (she’s correct in this) which to her was like a root mound where you see only the plant above ground but below the earth its roots run deep and wide, creating and feeding everything– the houses, fields, etc.– that surrounds it.

It was the Root of all our connections to this world.

As I said, I was stunned. Angelique (don’t know if the spelling is right) had never saw my work nor read my blog but in a short time had cut through everything to see what was at the core– or root– of the work. I had never thought of the Red Tree’s roots being the unifying agent in this work and it made me look at every piece a bit differently. Maybe with even a bit more appreciation, if that is possible.

It made a good night even better. Thank you so  much, Angelique. Glad you stumbled upon the West End Gallery yesterday.

And again, many thanks to all who came out to the West End Gallery last night. It was more than appreciated.