"Man
is but a little god, imitating the Almighty Great Spirit by creating
things
from Creation.This,oddly enough is sometimes refered to as
recreation,sometimes
science,sometimes art,sometimes growth ,sometimes destruction.If the
Universe
were all clay, then man grabs a bit of it, makes a nose ,two eyes and
a
mouth and if he's good at it ,it lives,(and sometimes talks back!)At
some point however, he or she looks up and realizes that something
larger
than himself reached down into the clay and made him,or her or
whatever
entity you will.Then comes a moment of awe and wonder ,and hopefully
a
desire to create in such a way as to harmonize with creation while
expressing
his love for it ,and experiencing the exuberance of creation at the
same
time. He stops, he falls into pondering,and perhaps also a pond.He
thinks
pithy thoughts."Why are we here? Does Man have a soul,or does a soul
have
a man?And what of the animals and plants? Just because they
don't
have apposable thumbs and therefore are unable to wield a hammer and
destroy
the environment just to prove what a "man" they are, or have lips to
speak
with or tear ducts as we do, does this mean they do not feel, or
cry when you take away their home and children ? Or does it
mean that if you took time to listen to them you'd find more joy and
wisdom
then ever you could buy with all your money or gadgets?
Of course
gadgets
and man made things can be fun and good and bring great joy, but only
in
so far as they exist in harmony with the very creatures who inspired
them
in the first place,the Cougars, the Impalas ,the Thunderbirds,the
Baracudas
, (and whatever classic car you care to name) . What MADNESS it is to
rev
up your engine to trample the beautiful little tortise crossing
the
road.Could you make it across if YOU were a tortise? Indeed,could
you even MAKE a tortise?Are you proving your strength because you
got inside some machine? Better to go ride a bull ,then you'll KNOW
something
of nature.And what of the great corporate executive who
actually
appreciates nature and beauty when he gets home but kills himself
and nature too while on the mad rush for his bottom line,perhaps
to satisfy a wife who also drives him to unnessary materialism.If
you can't enjoy the sweet air and nature, what use is all the
money?At
some point, in some life, a man or woman comes to love the world
so as to want to draw, paint,sculpt,compose music or otherwise
"make
something",to get out in the garage and "mess" around with
junk,making
wooden whirlygigs,or pick up needle and thread and sew wonderous
patterns.If
the artist bothers long with all these pithy thoughts,they finally
overwhelm
him and he tires.He needs to get physical! He realizes all he's got
to
work with is the clay.And so he grabs a blob and starts again. In
time
he too becomes clay.But he is not alone."- The Shade Tree Philosopher
The above mural was painted for the
Richmond
VA Chapter Sierra Club in support of saving
the Mattaponi River and it's wetland eco-system (Pocahontas's
birthplace),from
senseless devastation at the service of more senseless urban sprawl
in
New Port News VA.It now resides on display in the Pocahontas
State Park Nature Center in Chesterfield County just south of
Richmond.To
support the on going fight to save the Mattaponi, (the last unspoiled
tidewater
river in Virginia and home to the Mattaponi Indians),please
contact
the Sierra Club in
Richmond
VA. at 804-225-9113.
| The above piece was done for the
Sierra Club
a few years ago in the ongoing fight to save the Mattaponi.It was
successful
as a visual rally cry ,helping to draw much support
to
the cause.Many battles were won and the prospects are looking better
,but
the fight goes on.If it's not convenient for you to aid in saving this
wonderful river at a time when so much is being lost everywhere, please
do something to save Nature in your portion of the World. Remember,
it's
the only one we've got. |
But then a telemarketer called and it
was lost
again. |
