Overseer— At West End Gallery in February
Time will say nothing but I told you so,
Time only knows the price we have to pay;
If I could tell you I would let you know.
If we should weep when clowns put on their show,
If we should stumble when musicians play,
Time will say nothing but I told you so.
–-W.H. Auden, If I Could Tell You (1940)
Just a day or two more of painting before I begin prepping my work for this year’s Little Gems show at the West End Gallery. This group represents the first real effort I’ve put forth since my diagnosis in the fall. It felt good to get back into the mindspace I occupy when painting, though it took a while longer than I hoped to get there. But at least I remembered how to get there and finally made it in.
Mission accomplished.
I am kind of sad about having to leave that mindspace, even for a short time, in order to prep this work. Once you’re in that space, you don’t want to risk not being able to get back to it again.
Feels kind of like Dorothy getting whisked away to Oz, not sure she’ll ever make it back to Kansas. Don’t know if that is a good analogy. Wouldn’t you prefer the vivid color and beauty of Oz to the stark, monochromatic landscape of the Kansas depicted in the film?
I don’t know about that. There are days when I am happy with either. That’s apparent in the group of new small work for this show. It’s a mix of both colorful work and work done in tones of gray and black, like the tiny piece shown at the top, Overseer.
There’s something in this little gem’s feel and tone that reminded me of a poem from W.H. Auden, If I Could Tell You. I came across a fine video with a reading of it by Tom O’Bedlam, whose readings I have featured here a number of times in the past.
Take a look if you are so inclined. I would stay but I have to get going or that ballon heading back to Kansas will leave without me. Or is it going to Oz this time?
Who knows? Not me, that’s for damn sure.
The annual Little Gems exhibit at the West End Gallery in Corning, NY opens Friday, February 6, with an Opening Reception that runs from 5-7 PM.
Redtree Times 