Change One Thing

I have a great attraction to seeing things I am familiar with out of their usual environs, simply because I barely recognize  them. The other night after quite a few champagnes, I must admit, I was introduced to a young woman to whom I politely greeted and introduced myself. The problem was that I am currently making her engagement ring, we have had three meetings and most importantly I really admire her work as an art curator and am an overall fan of hers. One would think that I would have instantly recognized her, think again. The problem was that the other night we were in a honky tonk in uptown NOLA and our meetings have taken place in New York and Jackson Hole under more formal auspices. Obviously she has not changed that much recently, however she seemed like a completely different person, by changing venue.

The following day I got in the car and made a small road trip to the Angola prison in Angola, LA. The Angola prison is commonly referred to as the most dangerous prison in America. What a great place for a rodeo. Every spring and fall they hold one of the most interesting rodeos on the planet. The prisoners that have behaved well enough to be included serve as the cowboys as well as hold a craft day where many of their works from the woodshop are sold in a fair environment. I enjoy the event along with a large crowd that always attends. As a side note, the rocking chairs I've purchased there are the best ones I've ever seen. The rodeo is a no-holds barred affair. The bulls are as rank as any national finals bulls in Vegas, Mississippi, or Colorado. However the cowboys are not professionals and the tenor of the proceedings live up to what one might expect. Think Cool Hand Luke meets Ty Murray. The cowboys are all wearing the black and white stripe uniforms and game as it gets. There is no rodeo I enjoy anymore than this one; once again because when you change one simple ingredient expectation is removed and one can see something with fresh eyes.  Its almost like I am watching rodeo for the first time. This year I did happen to see three monkeys riding border collies in chaps herd four goats. That was a first.

I imagine that to most people the previous two situations might seem like a bit of a mess. I agree. However from any mess  magic can occur. My renderings usually turn out well when the desk  looks like a bomb went off on it. The paper becomes the focal point, all my energy is present on the clean black paper. The last couple of days has been very strong creatively for me.  I include a photograph of the desk.