I’ve been working on several smallish paintings in my little basement studio. Some of these are paintings that have been in play down there for some time (in a couple cases, for years). I even took one painting I thought I had finished some time ago, and re-imagined it.
Here is a painting I finished up today. It’s called Back Woods. I painted it with oil paint on canvas, built up over many sessions. I think it’s something like 9X12″.
I was looking at some older paintings in my little basement studio today and this one caught my eye. It’s a small oil painting called Forest of No Return that I made in 2006. The title Forest of No Return refers to a song from the Disney film Babes in Toyland:
Can’t you read,
Can’t you see,
This is private property,
Aren’t the signs, plain and clear
No one is allowed in here
But since you’re here,
You should know
We will never let you go
You can cry, you can shout
But you can’t get out.This is the forest of no return,
This is the forest of no return,
Those who stumble in,
Those who fumble in,
never can get out.
But I wasn’t thinking of Disney or Babes in Toyland. At the time, I was listening to The Sun Ra Arkestra’s wonderful Disney tribute record, Second Star to the Right, in the studio. I listened to it loud, and let my painting pound to the same rhythms. I can’t really explain that experience very well. It’s just something that happens from time to time when I least expect it.
“We have come, seeking sheep…”,
“Now alas you’re in too deep”
“We don’t mean any harm…”
“You have caused us great alarm”
“Then we’ll be off, on our way…”
“Sorry but you’ll have to stay”,
“We will cry, we will shout…”,
“Still you can’t get out!”This is the forest of no return
This is the forest of no return
You have stumbled in,
You have fumbled in,
Now you can’t get out.
This painting was one of a set of paintings I made a few months before an exhibition at NSCAD out in Halifax. However, for reasons I don’t remember, I chose not to exhibit this one at the time. Curiously, of that group of paintings, this one and another called Sky Dragons are the paintings from that group that continue to resonate with me.
This morning, Tuffy P was unhooked from the various tubes and wires and monitoring devices that have been attached to her since her surgery (to donate the right lobe of her liver to an anonymous recipient) last Wednesday.
Now she’s taking any medications by mouth. She’s also starting to eat solid food. There is talk that she may be sprung from the hospital tomorrow or the next day.
Just cause I’m feeling particularly Canadian today…this is Steve Earle covering Ian Tyson. My father used to sing this song to himself around the house when I was growing up. I don’t remember not knowing it. I think it’s part of my genetic code.
As most of you know, Tuffy P (AKA Sheila Gregory) donated the right lobe of her liver to an anonymous recipient on Wednesday. This morning she went for her first walk since the surgery. She managed to do one strong lap of the hospital floor before heading back to the room for a rest. Each day she should be a little stronger and if all goes well she’ll be back at home mid-week.
Here’s a little Dr John to help with the healing….
Merle Travis…
To continue with the same theme, check out Pharis and Jason Romero playing Cumberland Gap.
Here’s Spencer Moore singing it…
Here’s a delightful version (with accordion) by the Felice Brothers. Nice.
The Cumberland Gap is a pass through the Cumberland mountains between Virginia and Kentucky.
Just check out the Taylor and Stella Kimble. Who says I don’t listen to dance music!
27th Street 