Redtree Times

Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work at hand. The sun’s rays do not burn until brought to a focus.

—Alexander Graham Bell, Bell Telephone Talk (1901)

In the final days and stages of prepping work for my upcoming Principle Gallery show, Continuum: The Red Tree at 25. It feels like there’s been a lot more work for this show than most of the many shows I’ve done in the past. I can’t say if there truly has been but every day this week has felt like a marathon session. I thought I’d be close to done by now but I have at least two more full days before packing them up for delivery on Sunday.

So, this morning I am going to be short and just share the image at the top with two new paintings, a song, and the words of Alexander Graham Bell. I am aiming to get to work and focus in just a few minutes. Hopefully burn like the sun’s rays, as he wrote.

The song is fittingly titled Work Song. It was written by the brother of jazz great Cannonball Adderley, who originally performed the song as an upbeat jazz piece. But it has been interpreted by a number of artists over the years, some to great effect. Others, not so much to my taste. But one of my favorites is from one of my guilty pleasures, Tennessee Ernie Ford.

He certainly doesn’t seem like a “cool” choice if you remember his public persona in the 50’s and 60’s as the goofily naive but affable hick from Bristol, Tennessee. He was hilarious as Cousin Ernie on I Love Lucy. I enjoyed that caricature as kid but it was his music that hooked me. He had a deep and mellow voice and a knack for choosing songs and arrangements that fit him perfectly. His series of country boogies were great and his 16 Tons is a classic. His version of this song is a great interpretation, spare and deep felt.

Now, leave me be. I got a lot to get done and you’re holding me up. Git!