the shapes of a dream

syncope, oil on canvas, 10"x14"

*****
to: valery kharlomov
 moscow, russia,            
4th  syromyatnicheskiy lane  1/6

*****

thank you for your proposal. of course. my answer is obvious. yes, yes, yes.
as you requested i will tell you a little about the paintings:
they all form part of a larger group, affectionately called, homeless ideals.  these are all paintings that were made immediately following a recurring dream i had over a 6 month period in the late-nineties and again this past winter. in the dream i have invited a woman to dinner.  we are sitting at an outside table, practically in the street, we are chatting, having very relaxed conversation, at ease with one another. at one point i get up to go to the washroom and when i come back i see a homeless man sitting at the table where i was sitting. he is eating a plate full of asparagus. i am a little perturbed but recognizing that he is homeless i feel some empathy for him, so i don't say a thing. after a moment or two i realize that the woman i am out with is paying such focused attention to him that it is as though i no longer exist. she is gazing lovingly at him, watching him eat with an insipid smile on her face. i am in disbelief and get up, take out a 50 dollar bill, put it down on the table and say, "good-bye, good-luck and good-riddance".  she seems unconcerned, but the homeless guy looks up from his plate and says, "looks like i messed things up."

*****

Comments

Popular Posts