RHENART
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friday, june 08, 2007
SOME OTHER BLUES
Just recently the painting entitled "Some Other Blues" was purchased by the Margaret Cuninggim Women's Center http://www.vanderbilt.edu/WomensCenter/ at Vanderbilt University. The staff of the center posed a question to me concerning the concept of the painting and I want to share the question and the response with you.
What does T.Y.L. stand for? And we were wondering if the woman depicted is both representative of the Catholic faith and the Muslim faith (or all
faiths, hence what you said earlier about all women being connected?)
as she appears in what could be seen as a habit or a burqa. That seems
to resonate considering you've written "peace" and quoted Coltrane as
"believing in all religions". I'm not sure if by asking you I've perhaps crossed the artistic line? You may feel you shouldn't answer the question and that the painting's interpretation is up to each viewer? :-)
RESPONSE:
Thanks for the questions. I love talking all things Coltrane. "T.Y.L."
is from John's handwritten "psalm" included as the liner notes to a
"A Love Supreme". It means "Thank You Lord." "A Love Supreme" is often
considered one of the seminal albums of all time. Here is an excerpt
from the psalm:
God Loves
may I Be Acceptable in Thy sight
we are all one in his Grace
The fact that we are is
Acknowledgement of Thee O LORD
T.Y.L.
As for "crossing some artistic line;" don't all lines lead to God? As
for the painting, it is what it is and sometimes my interpretation is
not necessarily the truth of the piece, but I will attempt to bring you
into my thought process for "Some Other Blues."
It was after Fallujah, and my heart was heavy from the attack and from
our response. It was neither appropriate or measured. As if there is
an "appropriately measured" way of eradicating human life. But, I
digress. There was an article about Fallujah in the New York Times
accompanied with a photo of three muslim women in burkhas walking past
a bullet ridden blood stained wall that somehow captured the entire war
for me, and thus made me sad. The three women became one, and as
you've noted seemed to represent other religions. Indeed, she could
have been any and all religions. Amidst the chaos, Coltrane's
universalist message (I believe in all religions) seemed appropriately
ironic and necessary graffiti for that wall. And so I painted what I
saw that day, that moment. And now it is in a space where women
gather, nurture and support one another. Seems appropriate.
Comments:06/13/2007 - WeachieEvery... single.... time I read something you have written...I wonder....who is this woman? You are so artistic, not only in your paintings, but in your writings as well. Written so eloquently, yet so simple, I actually understand. I am amazed at your ability to make me see thru your eyes so easily, what you see when you paint. I appreciate the knowledge, the awesome talent you have been given by God and I am so glad he put you and I in a family together. He knew I would need you just for this. Such Inspiration. I love and admire you girl...keep up the work you do. Post a comment |
