Blog Archives
Pearls from artists* # 710
Shamans performing a ‘safe travels’ ritual for our group at Tiwanaku, Bolivia
*an ongoing series of quotations – mostly from artists, to artists – that offers wisdom, inspiration, and advice for the sometimes lonely road we are on
Mental health not only exists on a spectrum but it is also often culture-specific. Revered healers and sages in one country are the ‘crazies’ in another. Context determines whether we will be treated for illness, or simply considered ‘eccentric’ and left alone. Many who struggle to hide their differences, go against their own nature, and contort themselves into an acceptable demeanor to fit in, until they break down or die, undiagnosed.
Kate Kretz in Art From your Core: A Holistic Guide to Visual Voice”
Q: Can you talk about how you transport your large pastel-on-sandpaper paintings?
Barbara’s 1993 Ford truck
A: In 1993 Bryan and I bought a Ford F-150 pickup truck (he dubbed it “Sisyphus”) because it was the perfect size – 54” between the wheel wells – to slide my wrapped, framed paintings in and out of. Pastel paintings are fragile and need to lie flat while being transported. I remember that Bryan and I would go to a car dealership, a salesman would start his sales pitch, one of us would say, “Wait a minute,” and Bryan would hop into the back of a new truck with a tape measure to take a measurement! We both got a kick out of being such eccentric customers.
Fortunately, Ford trucks of that era are well-made. Mine has 198,000 miles on it. Whenever I bring it in for maintenance, there is some excitement at the dealership because, it’s all metal (not fiberglass) and there are no computers. Late model trucks are much smaller (most customers cares about low gas mileage; I still need that distance between the wheel wells). My paintings would not fit in any trucks made today (or any model since 1997, I believe) so I take good care of “Sisyphus.” I’m hoping it will still be going strong well beyond 200,000 miles!
barbararachkoscoloreddust.com 