Homeless
4"x 4" ea. acrylic on paper
We comfort ourselves by reliving memories of protection. Something closed must retain our memories, while leaving them their original value as images. Memories of the outside world will never have the same tonality as those of home and, by recalling these memories, we add to our store of dreams; we are never real historians, but always near poets, and our emotion is perhaps nothing but an expression of a poetry that was lost.
-Gaston Bachelard, The Poetics of Space (1958)
Bachelard contends that our first home is forever imprinted on our soul. It is the place where we feel safe and free to dream. I think, beyond shelter, home is a condition of feeling loved and secure. Of belonging. At home, true home, the world makes sense. The act of being uprooted, whether through economic hardship, natural disaster, war, abuse, mental or physical infirmity, sets the stage for anxiety, fear and desperation.
The young married couple above were homeless before being arrested for and convicted of theft. For the next year and a half their home will be the Frederick County Detention Center. I don't know what combination of choice and circumstance led to their current predicament. I do wonder what dreams they may have for the future.
Adebanji, your book is on its way home.
May you all feel loved, and safe to dream.
pax,
Liz
Posts
.png)
23 comments:
i LOVE THE COLORS... I LOVE THE ATMOSPHERE OF THEN.
BEAUTIFUL
wow liz.. not only wonderful portraits.. but thought provoking as well!!
these times are rough for so many folks.. i hope this young couple makes the changes need to lead them down a better path...
think of you often and hope that life is being good to you!!!
hugs, cindi
I agree with, Cindi!! Makes us all think....that's for sure.
Great paintings and terrific post!! : ))
Beautiful work, as always.
De beaux portraits... Si seulement ils pouvaient les admirer et se dire que la beauté de votre art leur montre la vérité... Gros bisous
very sensitively painted Liz. both subjects have similar expressions on their faces although you have panted them as two separate paintings. your thoughts on home i am sure touched many bloggers as it did me: home is a place where everyday you wake up you think it's a good day despite everything.
good to see you back blogging:)
Lovely work, and thought-provoking commentary on the "home" we all carry inside.
Great portraits. I feel so sorry for this couple.
XO Barbara
Liz, how sad for the young people. To be driven by desperate times to do desperate things. Your portrait of them is magnificent. I do hope these young people can find the strength and courage to go forward and look towards the future. God Help them.
All the best to you,
Joan
Wow! Intense. Beautiful. Sad.
-Don
Wow! Intense. Beautiful. Sad.
-Don
Thank you, Caio - I wanted the broken color and muted tones to create a bleak, but active environment. (if that makes sense?)
Cindi- you're so right. Things are tough.
Thank you Manon, Ellen and Martine!
Thanks, Rahina - I agree!
Hi, Barbara, Joan and Don - I agree. it is sad.
Thanks everyone for your comments. xo
Two beautiful portraits...and one powerful post!
Liz, these portraits are wonderful. Two good looking kids. Like you say, one has to wonder what brought them to make such bad decisions.
Two beautiful portraits...well done, Liz.
Thank you,, Vern and Hilda!
Beautiful and poignant.
I like the natural skin tones without the often used forced colors.
thank you, Bill. :-)
and thank you, Jala! Appreciate your visit.
MERRY CHRISTMAS LIZ : )
Liz .. Did you run out of models?
Wonderful job! congratulations :)
Post a Comment