Redtree Times

A Little Peace in the World— Coming to Principle Gallery

Peace is not an absence of war, it is a virtue, a state of mind, a disposition for benevolence, confidence, justice.

–Baruch Spinoza, Theological-Political Treatise (1670)

I was surprised this morning to find that I had never shared this painting, A Little Peace in the World, on this blog. Though it has been around for a while, it is one of those pieces that jumps out at me– simple but with a strong profile and immediacy of message. But it somehow existed under the radar at the few galleries where it had shown.

When it recently came back to me after a long sojourn out of sight in storage at a distant gallery, I was thrilled to see it again.  I knew immediately that it had to be part of my June solo show at the Principle Gallery, especially since the show is a hybrid retrospective, combing new and older work. It fits perfectly as when it was painted in 2008, I had been painting a small series of similarly composed pieces. It well represents that time and the work I was then producing yet fits snugly in the continuum of my work. That makes sense as that is the basis for this show, titled Flow.

When it was painted, the overwhelming feeling I took from this was one of calmness and a peace of mind. I still get that feeling from this painting, along with a sense of a warmth of spirit. The Red Tree here actually has a more golden appearance, as though the years it has seen have awarded it a precious sort of wisdom. I don’t know that I saw it that way when I painted it. It was 18 years ago so I was still but a child, as far as wisdom is concerned.

The attitude of the Red Tree here reminds me greatly of the state of mind mentioned in the passage above from Spinoza— a disposition for benevolence, confidence, justice. I would like to say that same disposition applies to myself and all my work but one can never be sure how one comes across, both as a person or in a painting. My painting definitely displays more confidence than I do most times, but I would like to think that most of it possesses a warmth of spirit.

Getting back to Spinoza’s words, the world would be far better off if more of us, particularly those we choose to lead, this virtuous state of mind. There would certainly be more peace, both in the absence of war and in the state of mind of most people.

Imagine a world where benevolence, equality, tolerance, and justice were the ruling passions.

It seems like such a far-fetched notion at this point, doesn’t it?

But it has to be kept in mind as an ideal and a goal if we ever hope to achieve even a fraction of such a world. And we will have to accept that small fraction with gratitude. Such a transformation only occurs one person at a time.  Humans, as we know all too well, generally learn and follow the behaviors they witness. Let Spinoza’s disposition for benevolence, confidence, justice be that example we follow.

Like a pebble thrown into a vast pond, its ripples will spread and reach others, causing more pebbles to be tossed into the pond. Soon the ripples will cover the whole pond.

Sounds like a plan to me.

Okay. Let’s attach some music to this thing, shall we? Here’s a longtime favorite from Cat Stevens that, like this painting, I am surprised to have never shared here. This Peace Train from 1971.