Unto the Breach— Coming to Principle Gallery, Alexandria VA
Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more;
Or close the wall up with our English dead.
In peace there’s nothing so becomes a man
As modest stillness and humility:
But when the blast of war blows in our ears,
Then imitate the action of the tiger;
Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood,
Disguise fair nature with hard-favour’d rage;
Then lend the eye a terrible aspect;
I took the title for this new painting from the famous lines from Shakespeare that has Henry V trying to fire up his troops as they head into battle. He tells them that being polite and civil is a wonderful trait in a man until the specter of war appears. Then it is time to set aside all civility and unleash their passion and rage.
Now, to be clear, I don’t see this painting as being as being about war in any way. No, for me it is more about embracing that same passion of which Henry speaks and setting it upon those things that give your life meaning and purpose.
Some of us at various times sense that something important is missing in our lives, something that gives it meaning and purpose. There is an emptiness or void.
A breach, if you will.
I see in this painting that once you find that singular things that might fill this breach in your life, take to it with all the passion and energy you can muster. Total commitment. Go all in and leave nothing behind.
As the proverb goes: Fortune favors the bold.
And this is certainly about that.
Here’s a song to go with it from Cat Stevens. It’s If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out. and it is about the endless possibilities open to us if we just take the leap into the breach. Longtime favorite of mine.
REMINDER/ IN THREE DAYS!
What: GALLERY TALK
Who: With GC MYERS
Where: PRINCIPLE GALLERY, Alexandria VA
When: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, Beginning at 1 PM
Why: It’s FREE and OPEN TO ALL, FUN, informative, and there will be a FREE DRAWING for the painting below, On the Rise–and maybe even one more!
All this and more!
On the Rise– You Could Win This Painting!
Redtree Times 
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