Artwork & Content © 2011 Jean Burman
Forget climate change. Earth Leakage is a far more serious problem [grin]
We’re on the cusp of change. No matter who we are. Or where in the world we might be.
These are tumultuous times.
Change happens fast.
One day the world is okay. The next day it is not.
Though looking back it could be argued that it’s never really been any different.
[And that may well be so]
But there were a few troubling aspects this week.
Things like.
The impending world food shortage [yes there are worse things than global warming and no they are not connected] *insert big cheeky grin here
The ongoing financial woes of countries whose deficits have now blown out into the trillions.
The tragedy in Norway [how many more innocent people must die at the hands of the mentally ill or politically motivated]
The ongoing politicking of politicians everywhere who… though holding the collective future of the whole world in the palms of their hands… continue to serve but one master… themselves [sadly]
But more troubling than this… is the ongoing loss of honesty and integrity from the earth.
Earth Leakage [noun] the slow creeping loss of good people of influence courage and moral worth… whose voices grow dim with age and weariness… and eventually pass into silence.
I wonder… who will replace them?
Ben Quilty’s 2011 Archibald Prize Winning Portrait of Margaret Olley
For me [and thousands of art lovers everywhere]… this week marked the sad loss of one of Australia’s much loved national treasures.
Margaret Olley went to sleep with her paint brush in hand… still painting the world as she saw it… with flourish… abundance… love… and great wit.
She was a woman of influence… plain honesty and huge creative worth. Her voice will be missed [along with her blithe spirit and enthusiasm for seeing beauty in the simplest things]
I didn’t know Margaret Olley… [but I did in my heart]
She and I shared only a couple of things in common that I’m aware of… and who knows… had I met her I’m sure we might have found many more. But it wasn’t to be.
What we did share however… was a love of painting.
And we did go to the same school as well [albeit several decades apart].
I didn’t know it then. And I wonder if it wasn’t some sort of conspiracy that our art teachers didn’t tell us about Margaret. Perhaps it was her rebel spirit [which they perhaps wanted to suppress in their young charges or was it that they'd hoped we would choose more sensible careers like nursing or accounting or whatever (((chuckles)))] But in many ways… the knowledge that she had walked that way before me still has the effect of buoying me on!
No doubt the “knowing her in my heart” will continue. Just as the struggle to be ” just a little bit like her” will continue to keep my paintbrushes wet… and the rebel spirit alive and well!
But what Margaret Olley shared with us best [I think]… was the eternal struggle onward.
She never gave up. Despite a life [not] without challenge or hardship [struggling with alcohol dependency and depression in her earlier years] like so many creative people before her.
Life is tough.
The world is not kind.
But she didn’t let it in.
*[this idea was the inspiration for the above cartoon]
Kindness and humanity do matter.
And the capture of childlike wonder can be cultivated in and around life circumstances.
Margaret Olley showed us that.
How does such a bright light go out?
I don’t know.
But I think her light can shine on in any one of us who chooses to allow it to.
All we have to do is keep doing [whatever it is that WE do best].
With courage and honesty and determination.
We have to keep looking for the light [and beauty] in people… and the world around us.
Defiantly refusing to give in to the ugly and the depressing… the awful and the hopeless… the corrupt and unjust.
Margaret Olley showed us how to live a life of creative abundance.
She was an inspiration. An example.
Of persistence.
Of change.
Of rolling with the punches.
Change may be the one constant [and the world may go hurtling on without her] but the truth is… any single one of us can leave the world a better place.
Our legacy however small [however humble] is important.
Our legacy… if we have lived and loved [and contributed] with grace and humility and integrity cannot help but leave its mark on the world. Maybe we can stop the leak… all of us together?
I think it’s important.
Don’t you?
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Jean, thanks for this touching post—and inspiring post—and for reminding us to not be taken down by the darker forces and that the battle must always go on.
Thanks too, for introducing me to two artists I was not familiar with.
You’re welcome John
I’m pleased this post resonated with you. In fact I thought of you when I was watching the video interview with Margaret Olley and Ben Quilty when Margaret mentions how she finally got Ben painting to the edges [of the canvas] which made me think of your full bleed equivalent in printing. Maybe this could be an analogy for life… live life to the edges! [or at least to the edge LOL]
Thank you Jean, nicely said.
be good to yourself
David
Glad you enjoyed it David
Thanks, Jean….I needed this! Sometimes things do seem overwhelming, and we need a reminder that we’re only here for a little time. No use wasting time worrying about what we can’t control.
You’re so right Harry… we can’t control it… but we can control our response to it. In many ways Margaret lived in her own little world… but not to the exclusion of others [she mentored artists and remained actively involved in areas of the arts/politics etc for most of her life] but somehow she managed to maintain that creative distance that preserved what she wanted to say in her art. And she wasn’t swayed by popular opinion or current trends. I admired that the most. Thanks for your visit here Harry… so great to have your thoughts
Well done (again) Jean–She must have been quite a gal. Too often, people allow others to quench the flame that burns inside them. Thank you for reminding us of people who do live their lives to the edge(s). That’s my desire too.
Hi Anita… so great to see you again
Yes… she WAS quite a gal LOL I would have loved to have known her. So much better I think to live life to the edge rather than on it… although there are distinct benefits in adrenalin flow that help get the work done [grin] It’s been a HUGE week here… hope things are a little more serene at your place. How are things going anyway?
What a lovely tribute to someone I didn’t know about and now I’m glad I do! Thank you.
You’re welcome Galen
so glad you enjoyed it!