(Imagine)What John Knew, 48x36in, acrylic, paper, wax pastels, graphite, French flash cards, packaging materials, bandaid wrappers,paper bags, fabric and more...
I have struggled with finishing this painting for the last several weeks and let it marinate in my studio—until this morning. It’s the day after the terrorist attacks on Paris and my thoughts have not been far from considering the horror of the event.
I visited Paris a few years ago and fell in love with the city and its people, as I did the whole of Europe. And to consider this awful attack, not far from where I stayed was beyond comprehension. After I woke up, I made a beeline for my studio…my way of processing.
I first pulled out my computer and searched for words of meaning and inspiration—anything that could guide and encapsulate the internal turmoil I was feeling. I landed on John Lennon’s words:
Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today...
Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace...
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one
Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one
Of course I knew most of the words by heart, but this time I studied them and they meant more to me today. John’s thoughts of erasing all the lines that divide us spoke to me today. And I took that inspiration to my canvas.
This is a painting that started as a metaphor for reconciliation. Today it stretched deeper to include the desire to connect, support and unite with others.
Not sure if I’m done with this piece, but I wanted to begin my connections by sharing.
This is what I wish for today—to go a little softer and remember that life twists in sudden ways in which we have no control.
Our control is only how we respond. In the spirit of John’s words, I will work to remove the things that create division. I will practice kindness and send the most loving, healing energy to Paris, France, Europe and beyond. Namaste.
I visited Paris a few years ago and fell in love with the city and its people, as I did the whole of Europe. And to consider this awful attack, not far from where I stayed was beyond comprehension. After I woke up, I made a beeline for my studio…my way of processing.
I first pulled out my computer and searched for words of meaning and inspiration—anything that could guide and encapsulate the internal turmoil I was feeling. I landed on John Lennon’s words:
Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today...
Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace...
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one
Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one
Of course I knew most of the words by heart, but this time I studied them and they meant more to me today. John’s thoughts of erasing all the lines that divide us spoke to me today. And I took that inspiration to my canvas.
This is a painting that started as a metaphor for reconciliation. Today it stretched deeper to include the desire to connect, support and unite with others.
Not sure if I’m done with this piece, but I wanted to begin my connections by sharing.
This is what I wish for today—to go a little softer and remember that life twists in sudden ways in which we have no control.
Our control is only how we respond. In the spirit of John’s words, I will work to remove the things that create division. I will practice kindness and send the most loving, healing energy to Paris, France, Europe and beyond. Namaste.
