Redtree Times

The Elevating Eye– Now at West End Gallery

Though my life is low, if my spirit looks upward habitually at an elevated angle, it is as if it were redeemed. When the desire to be better than we are is really sincere we are instantly elevated, and so far better already.

–Henry David Thoreau, Journal

The mind will follow where the eye takes it.

Trash in, trash out, as they say.

Hmm.

This idea of aspiration through visualization is a concept that appears in a lot of my work. It might even be the most prominent of the ideas that I see in it. Maybe I use it as a reminder to not fall into the trash in, trash out mode of thinking. To keep my spirit habitually at an elevated angle as Thoreau put it.

This idea is definitely the engine that drives the painting above, The Elevating Eye. It is included in the Eye in the Sky exhibit of my new work that hangs at the West End Gallery until August 24. The Red Tree certainly rises above its surroundings and declares its newly found elevation plainly and boldly. 

It reminds me of a few lines from Walt Whitman and his Song of Myself: 

I too am not a bit tamed, I too am untranslatable,
I sound my barbaric yawp over the roofs of the world.

These lines have been echoing in my mind for much of my adult life, since long before I ever considered being an artist. They were a constant rejoinder to myself that I wanted something more from life, wanted to be better than I was. That I wanted to sound my own barbaric yawp.

Remember that. It may come into play later.

This week’s Sunday Morning Music is a perfect fit for today’s theme. It’s Lift Me Up from Moby, the Dance music artist who took his stage name from his familial relationship (he’s a 3rd great nephew) to Herman Melville. The song was written as a protest to the rise of the worldwide intolerance and fundamentalism that he saw taking place in 2004 and which has only grown in the years since. I am playing two versions of the song here. The first is the original version with the normal Dance music instruments– drum machine and synthesizers– while the second is performed with orchestral and choral arrangements. I find it always interesting to see artist’s interpretations and variations on their own work. Both are the same here yet very different.

I invite you to hear for yourself.

IMPORTANT UPDATE FROM WEST END GALLERY:

All seats are filled for the GC Myers Gallery Talk on Saturday, August 19th from 11am-Noon. Any remaining availability will be STANDING ROOM ONLY, up to the point of maximum building occupancy.

WAITING LIST: Please use our Contact Form, if you have not already done so, if you would like to be added to the WAITING LIST for a chair in the event another attendee cancels. Link provided below. On the form, please provide your full name, contact information (where we can reach you on the day of the event), and the names of any guests that may accompany you. You should receive a Confirmation Email to be added to the WAITING LIST within 24-48 hours after you have filled out the form: https://westendgallery.net/contact/