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Chaotic Cherries

April 03, 2006

ph_apr_chrymst.jpg
Cherry Blossom Mist, Washington, DC

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Lavender Mist, Jackson Pollack

When I opened the cherry blossom photo above in photoshop I was quite taken with it's similarity to Jackson Pollack's painting, Lavender Mist.

Pollack exploded onto the art scene with his enormous splattery paintings in the 1940's. How could dripping and dribbling paint onto a canvas laying on the floor be considered "art"? This was the big question... and it has a big answer ~ a big fat YES!

I read somewhere that when other artists have attempted to mimic Pollack's technique, the paintings simply do not come close to the rhythm, energy and consistency of these paintings. Choices of paint, and its consistency, the brushes, and the unique dance he engaged in while creating his paintings is pretty much impossible to replicate.

I love this.

Many think abstract art holds no kinship with nature. I beg to differ. Pollack's chaotic and random approach to his art actually makes it closer to nature. Did you know that without imperfection in the natural world, nothing would come into being? Our very existence depends upon chaos.

I love this even more.

You know why I love it? Because we human beings are always fighting against chaos in our lives. We see it as the enemy. The ancient Egyptians built their entire religion on the premise of keeping chaos at bay, and if you think about it, our modern religions do too*. We want to feel safe and secure; to keep everything on an even keel. Once we find calm waters, we make every effort to control our environment, dig in our heels, and defiantly resist any change.

The world simply does not work this way.

So... get out there! Relish the rowdiness! Jitterbug with imperfection! Seize every damned blessed mistake! Embrace your awe-ful and wonderful life today!


*challenging what we believe leads to deeper understanding. Deep faith can survive, and benefits from asking questions.

Posted by vincent at April 3, 2006 10:03 AM

Comments

yea, yes and yes!! the question is more important than the answer!! love the parallel images - great chaos!!

Posted by: bobbie at April 3, 2006 12:06 PM

Jackson Pollack- art? I think that Andrea would most certainly disagree. :)

Posted by: Lauren at April 3, 2006 12:34 PM

:- )

Posted by: Wandering Willow at April 3, 2006 12:43 PM

The two imaages are amazing, Susan. Well done.
Chaos; part of our lives; for sure. Go with the flow, ride with the tide. Let go and let God. We mere mortals cannot possibly get around the clutter in our lives so yes, let's embrace the unknown. Your piece is a great reminder to us all that we cannot orchestrate our lives but merely live them.

Jackson must have looked up through the cherry blossoms one day.

Posted by: janet at April 3, 2006 01:54 PM

...and we have Susan taking the asymmetry of both pieces and showing us the parallel.

Nicely done!

Posted by: dan at April 3, 2006 02:54 PM

I love your comments on chaos, since that is so where my life seems to be right now! But I had to laugh on the Pollack comments as well...when I was in school studying art, and afterwards when I moved to the DC area, my mom used to go with me to a lot of museums and galleries. She could totally appreciate figurative work, but abstract art just floored her. "I could do THAT!" she'd say, "why is THAT art?" Pollack was one that particularly annoyed her, and Mondrian, with his big paintings just divvied up into two rectangles on a wall, another. I told her she could always start right then, and if she continued doing the same thing for 10 years or so, they probably WOULD call it art, and we'd all come to her opening! ;)

Posted by: tam at April 3, 2006 04:39 PM

I love the photo and the painting together. Beautiful.

Posted by: Lynn at April 3, 2006 06:52 PM

All you have to do is look at nature and you see that God loves chaos. He takes what looks chaotic and makes into something beautiful and good.
I read one time that all the order and ridgedness you see in religion probably comes from the devil (if you believe in devils) because it is a way to control and manipulate.

Posted by: aola at April 3, 2006 10:25 PM