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lien — Homeless Optimist
Published: 2007-10-16 12:10:15 +0000 UTC; Views: 1429; Favourites: 67; Downloads: 27
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Description
Event 362 "Homeless Optimist"-
27" x 19"
-
Limestone Dust, Oil, Acrylic, Wax, Silver Leaf, Blood, Emulsion and Ink on Canvas.
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Comments: 26
Thank you! It was, it was very kind of him to do so.
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This one and Graze and Yield ... there is a story coming through. And on Graze ... that is the final piece. I see the crosses, I see the 2 then 2 then ... 3.
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I think it's made of windows, campfire, and a stone tablet, perhaps a gravestone. Oh, and I just noticed there are three boxes in the middle with the roman numbers I II III on them.
Mysterious, yet the gravestone darkens the corner of it (without being in the center of attention, though.).
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That is Such a wonderful reaction and comment to this piece!
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a message.
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i see someone squatting in an apartment that is available in a building for a while. ( we have shady cats like that out here who elevate their standard of living for a while by staying in a very nice vacant apartment, until it gets rented out and they have to move on to another watering hole) it is better than sleeping on the street every night, and some of them make friends with the tenants because alot of people think that the squatter moved into the the new place that was available!
enjoyed it much!
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...thank you for another wonderful and emotive comment...
I'm glad you enjoyed!
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I like this so much, Neil! It leaves room to interpretation, but there's a very poignant idea here!
I saw the red X as a signature of a homeless hoping for a better life, filling paper after paper with sweat and tears of grief. A homeless in an ocean of such deserted people, whose only treasure is hope... Optimism...
A very deep and emotional work, for which I thank you.
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Julia, that's such a wonderful and powerful reaction and so close to my intention for the piece that I want to explain further.
This is a rare occurrence as I do not explain my work as it denies a certain freedom for the viewer. However, I am so moved by your reaction and it's closeness to my intention that I'm breaking my rule this once.
The red cross is exactly what you described, it's an ambiguous signature, the known symbol for a nameless declaration...could be anyone in the world but signed by only one individual.
The ocean of deserted people is represented by the marks on the right side of the painting. A sea of faceless people.
The idea for the endless papers which demand attention and are difficult to comprehend are the three central shapes with marks in them; I, II and III.
The cross shapes on the left hand side are intended to represent windows...but vague and faceless windows which cannot be seen into, just reflected back to!
That was my intention...hope it was of interest.
Thanks again for your wonderful comment!
Neil
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Neil, thank you! I truly appreciate you took the time to explain and I am glad I was close to what you intended to express.
Indeed, a work of art is an opera aperta. I have the same rule myself. But sometimes it's important to share your views with the audience. So I am honored it happened this once.
Thank you again for this creation so full of meaning!
Julia
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a believer can't enjoy the present for he's always waiting to the future which never come! and remains homeless !! and the reality is a blend of good and evil...which contrasts each other to make a picture!
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so very true...as usual a very thoughtful/spiritual truth as a reaction to my work...i thank you deeply.
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I see windows & ablood red cross, but have no idea what the little shapes are in the end. They kind of remind me of a graveyard with lots of little crosses.
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That's pretty close to what I intended Gloria, not so much a graveyard but the idea of a mass of people...too many to know personally. Thanks for the comment!
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Wow! how do you do it 
have you ever traded artwork for artwork?
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Twenty years practice
I have...but rarely...at last count five pieces.
Thanks James
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the right side of the painting reminds me of an opened book, the red lines on top and bottom, which look like pages...the square shapes with crosses on the left seem like graves, could be beds too....the red x marks a certain place in relation to the other objects/shapes...the left side could be also the illustration of what's written on this book page on the right....like a very vivid illustration, that grows out of the book....the title creates tension using terms with contrary connotations...
my thoughts
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a wonderful and vivid description...thank you!
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