August 7, 2008

Not Quite Dead
2008
6" x 12" x 10"
Acrylic on metal file box with fimo, moss, string, metal bell, foam core,wood box, silk

I am nursing a pinched sciatica today which was caused by stressing my left hip to such an extent that it went out causing a pinched nerve as a result. After a trip to the chiropractor I optimistically though I would be "fixed" and today I could resume my rigorous schedule of gardening, hiking and berry picking but my 50 year old body tells me otherwise.

So faced with another day of sitting still, which I do not do very well, it occurred to me that I could start a new painting. Several hours later I am still figuring it out. I have the sense of what I want to do subject wise and will wait patiently for a "cartoon" of the painting to appear in my head.

While waiting I figured out that kneeling does not bother your sciatica and I managed to weed the garden a good bit. Today the only preparation for the upcoming show will be to paint the "Not Quite Dead" pedestal with a fresh coat of white. I made the pedestal for this piece so I could have a small pocket for handouts concerning this piece and my inspiration for creation. Since "Not Quite Dead" uses the "N" word I didn't want to give the impression that the piece was a hate piece. It is about hate words and how they still exists and will do so until we all accept each other as we are without unwarranted malice, hate or fear.

April 15, 2008

I decided to create "Not Quite Dead" after reading an article about a funeral for the word "nigger" that was held at the Detroit Memorial Park Cemetery in July of 2007. The NAACP orchestrated this funeral to "put to rest a long-standing expression of racism". The coffin was carried by eight pallbearers as a local church choir sang. Although I like the premise of this event it has done nothing to eliminate the use of the word. In fact I find "Nigger" used more often in rap songs, in podcasts and by comedians. My personal opinion is that it's not any particular word that is a problem just the state of our country that find abusive words necessary to get a point across. Not sure if it's fault rests with disfunction families, education or the state of community where it's members see no alternative but to live a life full of negatively. While the word "Nigger' gets the most reaction because of its racial undertones I find "Cunt, Fag, and shit-head equally offensive. It is my hope that some day these words will fall by the wayside and we will have no need for artificial funerals and hurt feelings. In my next blog I will further discuss the purpose behind the bell and string tied to the coffin in this piece.