The Attunement– Now at Principle Gallery
A thrumming of piano-strings beyond the gardens and through the elms. At length the melody steals into my being. I know not when it began to occupy me. By some fortunate coincidence of thought or circumstance I am attuned to the universe, I am fitted to hear, my being moves in a sphere of melody, my fancy and imagination are excited to an inconceivable degree. This is no longer the dull earth on which I stood.
–Henry David Thoreau, Journal, August 3, 1852
Just this morning I realized that I had not shared this image of the painting, The Attunement, which is part of my solo exhibit at the Principle Gallery that opens Friday. This surprised me since I consider it one of the anchors of the show since it’s a bigger piece coming in at 40″ high by 20″ wide. It should have great visual impact on the wall of the gallery.
But more than that, I consider it an anchor because it so well captures the spirit and tone of this exhibit, which is titled Flow. I chose the title originally as a way of describing how my work has evolved and changed over the past thirty-plus years while still maintaining its identity.
Water in a small mountain stream eventually becomes part of a river and that river soon becomes the sea.
It is different but the same.
I believe that The Attunement maintains this theme very well while bearing my own personal meaning, that being the interconnectedness of all things. It is a theme that has come to the forefront in my work in recent years though it has been present to a certain extent from the very beginning.
It feels like a very autobiographical piece for me. I can see so many things in it that pertain to my own life’s journey, my own personal flow. My own desire to find sort of harmony with the greater forces of nature and the universe and my place within it.
I say autobiographical but, as I have pointed out before, most art ends up being autobiographical to both its creators and those who appreciate it most. Any work of art connects because the viewer senses themselves within it.
There is even an attunement in that way.
I could write much more about this painting, but I think that would be a disservice to it. It says what it needs to say without explanation.
It is on its own.
All I can ask of any piece of mine.
Here’s a tune, Turn Me Loose, from The Record Company. It probably has nothing to do with this painting or post, but it felt pretty good when it came on while I was writing this, especially this section of its chorus:
Why don’t you turn me looseSo I can run away?Why don’t you turn me looseSo I can run away?
Maybe it does fit this painting, after all.
You can see The Attunement now at the Principle Gallery in Alexandria. If you wish, you can tell me what you see or don’t see in it at the Opening Reception for my exhibit, Flow, on this Friday, June 12. Starts at 6 and runs to 8:30 PM.