Beep, beep...work in progress coming through. What's better than an image of an old rusted truck? Especially a big hunkin' 24x24" image? I think I'm going to call this one Americana Baby. Two wishes....1.) I don't screw it up as I continue and 2.) I get it done in a week so I can beg the framer (and pay him way too much money, no doubt) to have it framed in time for my show.

Beyond Our World

I am a huge fan of Roots/Folk music - be it Americana, Brazilian or African. While there are many songwriters and performers I revere there is one whose words and music seem to reach me on a visceral level. Dave Carter (please do click on the link and read the informative review) was an educated mathematician who periodically left the world of numbers to seek spiritual guidance and musical creativity. Profoundly intelligent, accessible complexity and a magical connection with his partner Tracy Grammer mark Carter's recordings. Gentle Arms of Eden is one of their trademark tunes. My personal favorite is the song Ordinary Town from their Drum, Hat, Buddah CD - who can resist a song with the opening lines "Common cool, he was a proud young fool in a kick-ass wal-mart tie. Rippin down the main drag, trippin on the headlights rollin by"?

Dave Carter died (again I encourage you to read Wikipedia's entry about Dave) in Tracy's arms of a massive heartattack in July, 2002. I often miss the music he will no longer make but cherish the music he left behind.

Growth

Today is the last day of the Collage Mania Art Auction to benefit the American Cancer Society. Over $8,000 was raised yesterday (yes, it was!!!). Please click on the link under the 2 collages at the top of the page to see all the wonderful art work still available for $40 at 9am Central time and consider purchasing a great piece of art at a great price for a great cause.

About the piece above...the flowers are bizarre and - for sure - unexpected but I like them and they're staying! I need to add some of the tall leaf growth on the left side, bind it and then call it a day. This has become one of my favorite pieces (of course they all are as I do them - afterwards I tend to get critical). For my next larger piece I have images of carnivals circling around my brain.....ferris wheels, cotton candy, merry-go-rounds......Americana.....can you see and feel it?