Purpose Bound— At Principle Gallery
I don’t think life is absurd. I think we are all here for a huge purpose. I think we shrink from the immensity of the purpose we are here for.
–Norman Mailer, Interview in American Way magazine (1995)
The way I see it, this new painting, Purpose Bound, is very much about going all in once one’s purpose and mission in this life has been revealed to them. About embracing one’s purpose and not shrinking from the responsibility or toil required.
It’s about determination and fortitude, about persisting in a world that often seems single-mindedly hellbent on keeping you from accomplishing that mission.
It’s about converting that outer resistance into a rhythm and a harmony, about finding beauty and meaning in the struggle. About obtaining some form of grace.
Though that sounds like this takes place in the province of heroes, it most often exists on a much more everyday level. Simply leading a life of purpose is an epic task. The world and the lives we lead are often filled with challenges. That is just part of the admission price for having the privilege of being alive.
We can try to run and hide from those challenges, but they will still be there waiting for us. Or we can strap ourselves in, set our minds to the task, and run headlong into them.
And that’s what many of us do on an everyday basis. We might not even notice it in others but there are plenty of folks living heroic lives among us. They are out there quietly fulfilling their purpose and mission, taking on the many challenges being thrown at them.
Who knows, it might be you. You might not even recognize this in yourself. Sometimes, the hero’s journey or the purpose of one’s life isn’t evident until it has reached its end.
As you can tell by my words, this piece really hits the mark for me. It’s been an eye magnet here in the studio and sets off all kinds of feelings and thoughts with every look.
Purpose Bound is 14″ by 14″ on canvas and is headed with me to the Principle Gallery for this Saturday’s Gallery Talk. The Gallery Talk begins at 1 PM and includes, as you might be aware, of a drawing for one of my paintings. There are usually also a few other surprises, so I wouldn’t be surprised if that is the case on Saturday.
Hope to see you Saturday at the Principle Gallery!
Redtree Times 