November verse 10: On a Painting Look! Me at breakfast scrolling Twitter – hashtags Covid, climate, race. No, I'm the incidental sitter who supplied arms, thumb, hair, face. The artist's left her shining pages, table scenes from other ages: a child communing with a cat, a woman lost in dreams or chat. The artist stands, her drink neglected, sees him absent in his phone. The books behind hold all that's known. His cup is empty, disconnected. Reading too much into art? That knife is pointing at his heart.
Oil on canvas, 68 x 55 cm
The Emerging Artist claims not to have deliberately done that with the knife, and I had to reassure her that, previous works to the contrary (as at this link), I didn’t read the image as signifying hostility, but as a subtle evocation of current dangers.
Incidentally, the Emerging Artist is part of Time Being, an exhibition opening in the Shop Gallery, Glebe, this week. There are Covid-safe Meet the Artists events on Saturdays 21 and 28 November. You can find details here.
Me fail? I fly! 
Ha ha. Definitely laughing out loud.
By the way, I notice that there are covid-safe events at the gallery on the Saturdays, but the opening is on Friday – is this a covid-unsafe event? Not playing with words here, for once, but genuinely Yours, Confused of Marrickville
LikeLike
I’m glad it made you laugh, Kathy. As far as I know the gallery is always Covid safe. But those are the only two events as such
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just to clarify, Cathy. There isn’t an Opening as such. That would be far too hard to control distancing etc. the show is open from Friday, but no event then
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great poem Jonathan … and the last two lines make me laugh, particularly given my post going live this evening in which meaning in art is mentioned!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. I look forward to reading your post.
LikeLike
lovely painting; the poem works well too; love the line ‘absent in his phone’
LikeLike
Thanks, John. It’s good to hear from you
LikeLiked by 1 person
agreed; good to get back in touch 🙂 btw the School Magazine are republishing two of my poems : the beat goes on “)
LikeLike
Excellent news!
LikeLiked by 1 person