Redtree Times

Peace Passage— At the West End Gallery

The proof of apatheia [peacefulness of soul] is had when the spirit begins to see its own light, when it remains in a state of tranquility in the presence of the images it has during sleep and when it maintains its calm as it beholds the affairs of life.

–Evagrius Ponticus, The Praktikos

Evagrius Ponticus, also called Evagrius the Solitary, was a monk and ascetic. of the 4th century. He was considered one of the most influential thinkers and writers of that time, authoring many treatises including The Praktikos which was a guide to the ascetic life.

Though the word apathy is derived from apatheia, they have different meanings. Apathy is defined as being indifferent and impassive. Maybe even ignorant of whatever one is apathetic towards. Apatheia, on the other hand, is derived from the Greek, meaning without suffering or without passion. Or as Evagrius put it, peacefulness of soul.

It is the middle road where one doesn’t ignore the ups and downs of life but bears them stoically, getting neither too high nor too low in the face of such things. It is calm response rather than a passionate one.

I would like to think that’s what this new painting from my current show at the West End Gallery represents. That’s what I see in it– a calm middle passage, neither too high nor low.

The line separating the yin from the yang.

Just something to consider on a lovely Sunday morning with a cool respite from the heat in the air.

Here’s the selection for this week’s Sunday Morning Music. It’s from Dan Reeder who I have featured here before. He was the first artist signed by John Prine when he formed his Oh Boy Records label more than 40 years ago and has been making his uniquely idiosyncratic and often humorous music for that label ever since. This is his cover of the Moody Blues hit A Whiter Shade of Pale.

Growing up in the 60’s and 70’s, this song was a staple of FM radio and high school proms everywhere. Reeeder maintains the feel of the song but in a more stark and simple way. It feels good to hear this morning. Hey, I was going to play his Work Song, which has a decidedly different feel with its stark and simple but explicit lyrics. Great song for some mornings, to be sure. But the song below fits the painting and the morning much better.