From ’Old Man of the Mountain" Bush Lies

From ’Old Man of the Mountain’, Bush Lies.
Update ’Bush Lies’ Tour Sept. 18, 2005

While painting New Hampshire’s ’Old Man of the Mountain’, the rock outcropping that is featured on the NH quarter, I was struck by the profile that remained, after the Old Man fell. The tragic tumble was about May Day of 2003. I was not physically touched by the new profile but metaphysically inspired. Like the painting I did on Sept. 11 in NYC ( see liberty rings on 9-11, Bellaciao), the ’Old Man’ painting is peppered with ’Bush Lies’.

As I was painting, ’Bush lies’, a young Canadian jumped off the forested trail to have lunch and watch me paint. There were gray clouds behind the rock cliff formation making a dramatic scene as he asked me about the painting. "Well if you look carefully at the painting you will see messages, most of them say Bush Lies", I told him truthfully. He laughed and commented " I know of a lot of people in Canada that are upset with your President". "Don’t you have a history of revolutionary’s like Tom Paine" the young man asked. "That’s it" I said grabbing a tube of Madder Rose, I wrote ’Common Sense’ on the painting. The wind gusted the 40 pound panel over towards the ground. The Canadian lept up and stopped the paintings destiny with the ground, with his hand. I thanked him and told him "You are now part of the painting".I went on "I like to incorporate experiences from the location, to influence the outcome of the painting, I just did a painting of the WTC site on 9-11 and painted a woman’s shadow. The young man was impressed and offered me an idea. "I have a concert ticket dated 9-11", he explained, "It was canceled but I have always kept the ticket with me, to remind me, would you like to use it in the painting." I was inspired but said "It is possible, but I think it means a lot to you right where it is", and he agreed.

Another visitor was very interested in what I was doing, she could not stay long, she was going to Bethlehem, the next town north to host an art opening at the Wren gallery. She invited me to the opening and I accepted. The painting finished I headed to Bethlehem. There were twenty women artists represented in the show, and I was given a copy of Wren Magazine. The art was good and so was the wine but what impressed me most was their net work of local talent from the art and the business community. According to the magazine their organization is a model for rural and economic development and actively engages in Bethlehem’s revitalization.

It would be nice to end on a high note but the ’Bush lies’ tour continues. The theme of the painting is, IF-THEN, simple computer logic, the stuff proofs are made of. The hidden message is, IF Bush Lies, THEN EVICT.

’Bush Lies’ tour schedule and milestones;

completed paintings and forthcoming articles:

’From Frankenstein, Bush Lies’, ( painting of Frankenstein cliff done on site and finished at the Notcthland Inn in their out building during a lightning storm in Crawford Notch)

’From the Top of Mt. Washington, Bush Lies’, ( painting done from the summit of Mt. Washington on a wet and windy day)

Future destinations Bunker Hill and the Lincoln Memorial (Wonder what he has to say?)

I am not anti-American, I am anti-Bush, I am not anti-War, I am anti-war of lies, I am not Anti-Republican, I am a Republican.