Out to Pasture

2009

48" X 24"

Oil on Panel

Original SOLD...but Prints are Available

When you’re raising a Bernese Mt. Dog puppy the old adage
a tired puppy is a good puppy is a good thing to have taped to your forehead.
Because when that dear little bouncing ball of furry happiness
starts to rattle her kennel at the very first peak of sunlight
in the wee small hours of the morning
well… it can seem like maybe sleeping a little longer
might be better than taking her for a walk.
It’s not.

So it was that Finnegan and I got into the routine
of heading out to the park before breakfast
to corral that young energy and to beat the summer heat.

I like to take the back roads.
Just up and over the hill from our log cabin home there is a windy stretch
that has miles of farms on either side.
At the top of the crest you can see the patchwork of fields
of corn and soy, cattle and hay,
and on alternate years…sunflowers.

One morning we came over the crest and saw that the farmer
had moved this old truck into a sliver of fallow field between the rows of corn.
Every day for a week, in those early hours
when the sun starts to warm up the cool damp night air
we would come upon the light silhouetting the old workhorse
and illuminating its misty cab
with all the colors of the muted summer sky.

I did some research and found out that there was indeed a Circus Kirk
run by a local college professor back in the 70’s.
He hired students on their summer break to perform
and they toured all over this area and up into New England.
Must have had some adventures to write home about then.

Now it’s used to haul pumpkins for Farmer Dan’s stand every fall
and to help this artist welcome in the new day.

Update Feb. 2021
In the years since I exhibited this truck
some of those long ago summer students
have found their way to this painting
and have shared many stories
of their circus days.
Their camaraderie was strong
and it every now and then another of them
will click on the prints page
to bring a likeness of their old pal
into their home.
I have a special discount for Circus Kirk members.
And they have a special place now in my heart.