The Grange

“A grange was originally an area of land in Ireland some miles away
from an urban-based monastery where in medieval times
food was grown for the monastery. Though initially just a description of the
area of land used for food production,
the word ‘Grange’ often evolved into the name of the townland or
parish, replacing an earlier name.
Most Irish counties have a place called ‘Grange’; some have a number.”

“The Grange movement in the United States was a farmers’ movement involving the affiliation
of local farmers into area “granges” to work for their political and economic advantages.
The official name of the National Grange is the Patrons of Husbandry.
Founded after the Civil War, it is the oldest surviving agricultural organization in America.
Many small rural communities in the United States have a
“Grange Hall” standing on Main Street. The word “grange” comes from a Latin word for grain, and is
related to a “granary” or, more generically, a farm.”

I had known about The Grange “movement”
but it was interesting to read about the Irish Monastic connection.
Fitting, because I led a rather sheltered existence
for the month or more it took me to paint this portrait.
The shingles alone became a sort of meditation on order
and the repetition of each cutout on the miles of moulding
were a true test in patience and devotion.

In the off-season, when you walk past the Grange it is neat as pin and silent.
With all those delicate but rigid elements of structure standing firmly grounded for generations …
and all that stoic order …
I thought it needed the balance of a softly flowing skirt,
the chaos of an armful of it’s own market flowers,
and the random tick, tick ticking of a trailing twig.