Visual art

One of the least understood professions is that of visual artist. Media gives us some insight—though sometimes twisted—about what medical professionals, police, FBI agents, soldiers, teachers, social workers, firemen, mechanics, even pimps do.

But visual artists are often portrayed as simply strange. Visual art is a backdrop of decoration in stories, the actors not even looking at the art. Late night talk show hosts invite authors to discuss books we haven’t read when they could invite visual artists with their work right there.

Visual artists follow their own truth, tackle social issues, search out beauty, and help us understand what it means to be human.

If this short discourse doesn’t encourage you to take visual artists more seriously, they try this. Imagine the world with all visual art gone. Does that help at all? 

Cloud haikus

Cloud haikus

The clouds tell stories
White and floating, shifting shape
What are their secrets

Laying in the grass
Wishing I could sleep in them
My cottony bed

Billowy and white
Clouds are home to my daydreams
The sky is heaven

Black and threatening
Heavy as stone, rain pounding
It’s what we need

The clouds are painted
By the sun, cotton candy
Butter, tangerine

Chilly nighttime clouds
Mystery against the moon

They bring quiet sleep 

Conscience

 When we are born, we are only potential human beings. The task to become a human being is a lifelong effort, and some—like Trump, Putin, Xi, Kim, Maduro and the many other brutal dictators--never get there.

I’ve often asked myself how it is that denying humanity and choosing evil and brutality can seem so easy. It’s the seductiveness of power, wealth and control and the false belief that these can fill the gnawing emptiness of a person.
Don’t we all have a conscience? It may be evidenced through religion or spirit or soul or may simply come out of an observant life. But we each have one, and we have the choice to acknowledge and live by it or not.
Living by your conscience is not easy. Look at the current state of American politics. Power hungry people know well how to seduce and control the masses. People with consciences are not as good at this. Often the conscience is a single voice—Malala, Greta Thunberg, Al Gore, Mandela, Tutu, MLK.
Conscience can love. Conscience can rage. Conscience is compassionate. Conscience inspires. Conscience endures. It’s a mystery how some are called to profound acts of conscience and others are seduced by evil.

Rage haikus

 Rage haikus

Rage belongs to those
Oppressed, with empty bellies
Bellies fill with rage

Rage, the only voice
They have to scream injustice
No one wants to hear

Rage and love are strange
Bedfellows, love in a rage
At our brutal world

Some use rage to kill
They kill all that is human
Their rage is poison

Some use rage for good
They burn with the urge to heal
A world of sad oppression

Failure haikus

Failure haikus

Every human fails
But some are better at it
They won’t ever learn

A spectacular
Failure can be a teacher
Of lasting impact

Don’t aim for failure
Aim for the courage to learn
Failure shows the way

Society is
Not the judge of your failure
It’s much too timid

Be among the greats
Whose failures were stepping stones
To their achievements

We will surely fail
Reminding us we’re human

Taking it in stride 

I'm old

I’m old.
Standing up and sitting down is exercise.
Working the garden is outdoor adventure.
Sleep is what’s between nighttime bathroom visits.
A meal is just preparation for a bowel movement.
Sex is what pretty people do on TV.
The past is what others tell you it is.
I learn anatomy by what hurts each day.

I value friendships more than ever. 

Bengals

Yesterday I watched the 6 o’clock news on Channel 9. Except for minute report on a hit-and-run, the entire news was devoted to the Bengals. There were fan interviews, reporters revving up cheering crowds, even the weather was reported from Pay Cor Stadium. As if this were not ridiculous enough for news reporting, there was another story.

The stadium has not been maintained. (The county at fault?) Estimates for repairs are near half a billion dollars with $200,000 more for added fan amenities. Another option is a new stadium, tearing down this one before it is even paid for. This would be at least another billion, with the Bengals 1 billion business asking for everything and willing to pay for nothing. Another scam like Paul Brown stadium. No cheap thrills.