Tea with the Prophet

Tea with The Prophet  –  16 x 20

In a year of fundamental and existential shifts
one of the most profoundly traumatic and transformative
was the untimely passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

In a year when not a day went by without weeping that day,
we heard the news, was truly the nadir among all the trials and sorrows.
A test from the Stoic Gods at war with the Muses.

Tribute upon tribute recorded her legacy as a “Prophet of Justice”.
That was a fine place to begin.

The hand painted teacup is among my finest
Her two gilded handles…the scales
The stalwart facade of the wooden bench
flanked by a single marble column…on the left
Iron clad lace trimming a plain muslin cloth
and the beaded stars heavenly hung in dissent
and wisps of whimsy trailing notes of the sublime

Dearest Prophet…may flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.

Tempest in a Teacup

Tempest in a Teacup  – 12 x 13  Available at the Granary Gallery

Shivering here in the studio
the winter winds are swirling about
and a storm is brewing just over the horizon…

in a teacup ?

There is nothing that makes me happier than a monster snow storm in the forecast.
So, as  I prepare to batten down the hatches for the Nor’easter predicted to hit us soon..
I’ve created a tiny video for you to get a closer look at this temped tossed teacup…stay safe and SHOVELS UP !!!

All those damned Teaspoons

All those damned Teaspoons  –  18 x 26  Available at the Granary Gallery

I have Pete Seeger to thank for this one…and for his lifetime of advocacy and good trouble.

The aging hippie that I am was raised on ’60’s folk music
It runs through my veins and wallows around in my soul
While my fingers can still strum it plays out on my guitar

The aging artist that I am is informed by those chords
And accompanies those rhythms tapping brushes on teacups

Among the many tributes to Pete upon his passing to that big sing along in the sky
were many references to his activism. Lending his powerful musical voice to social, political and environmental justice inspired many a generation.

But this particular parable…inspired my Muses…

Parable of the Teaspoon Brigade

Imagine that there’s a big seesaw. At one end of it is a basket half full of rocks. That end is on the ground.

At the other end is a basket one-quarter full of sand. And a bunch of us with teaspoons, we’re trying to put sand in that end.

A lot of people laugh at us, they say

“Oh, don’t you see, it’s leaking out as fast as you’re putting it in.”

Well, we say, “It’s leaking out, but we’re getting more people with teaspoons all the time. One of these days, you’re gonna see that whole basket with sand so full that this seesaw is going to go zoooom-up in the other direction.”

And people will say, “Gee, how did it happen so quickly?”

Us and our damned little teaspoons.  

I don’t remember where I lifted this from but it has been carried over from one sketchbook to another and another for years until…

the Muses decided it was time
the silver topped stick was Ted’s
the well worn cane came by way of my great grandfather
the teaspoons sat in Jane’s shop
the teacups from my shelves…
the magic
the determination
the hope and the joy…
that’s all Pete…
will you grab a teaspoon
and join us ?

Feathered Harvest

Feathered Harvest  –  18 x 24  Available at the Granary Gallery

As we walk softly into these longest nights of the season
my heart skips lightly back
to the remembered warmth
of a late summer day
when there were just enough
ripened green beans
to make a supper’s serving
for two.

Calling All Muses

Calling All Muses – 16 x 20   Available at Gallery 1261 in Denver, Colorado

When I found my way back to the easel chair in early September I asked the Muses for help and boy did they come running. They are calling me back to the easel as I write…so stay tuned and stay safe !