Title
Once Upon a Time...
Artist
Terrance DePietro
Medium
Pastel - Pastel
Description
Not a part of a series or set of images, this playful, mythic image is category to itself; and I refer images that arrive alone and anonymous as such, to be 'singulars'. Even if it can be easily associated to correspondences, whose themes have become most familiar; there always rests a question that they announce more than the moment can discern to them.
Dating from 1991, it was accomplished in Quebec City - perhaps that in itself would explain much; like its playful, dreamlike aesthetic or its imagined attitudinal narrative that is much in subjective imply to feminine craft, musing, wisdom and the like. After all, Quebec, a 'walled city' holds analogy with feminine, if not the feminine mysteries themselves. And in reality Quebec City is most femininely enjoyed and to some of us familiar to its allure, likens it to the Paris of North America - where better for a young man to sojourn and be mused of the mysteries? And so it was...
But the image has tale, or might we say a fable, since fable suggests something mythic but more even to the likes of 'imaginal'. Imaginal, where potential resonates; where the narrative might be something waiting to arrive or occur...What questions come to mind, in such a romantic setting - am I referring now to the reality of city or the unfolding myth on paper?
With no desire to preempt the viewer, to delight in a respite of imaginal subjective bliss, I will merely point out some of the possible characters; with the minimum of suggestion as to their party in the play. And as all eyes seemingly are pined to the lady on the right, let me start there...
She shows no effort or capacity to move from the softness enjoyed; she is honest [nude] in her position, which seems to command a measure of attention, if not respect - questions abound from that alone. Yet much more is discerned that a couple, with a more swirling figure are top and commanding juxtaposition suggesting they are co-stars to the narration...
Supporting the saga are youthful attendants - they too are transfixed, as if waiting a musing or wisdom perhaps...The stage is a whirling, gestural free-style, spontaneously developed with quick approximating lines, with but one architectural form - a pyramid; all else is curvilinear and the entire design is less than sophisticated...Has that served the viewer; without hindering an original thought, dream or imaginal voyage?
I can find the best and the worst of the image, to be sure; but more importantly, and proven by the years the image and I have come to grow with each other: each viewer's myth is real, original and enjoyed by the arrange and rearrange of heroes, heroines, mothers and guardians; attendants, symbols and suggestions...timelessly, associatively and heart-fully to whatever purpose desired or felt.
And so the author proposes: Once upon a time...
4mar17 tdp
Copyright 2017 Terrance DePietro, all rights expressly reserved.
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March 4th, 2017
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Viewed 658 Times - Last Visitor from Ann Arbor, MI on 02/01/2024 at 6:46 AM
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Comments (5)
Amine Cadi
Hi Terrance! Duality, offerings, beliefs, move to each other. Angels and demons quarrel. The secret and the sacred is the woman. The man stole his drunkenness in a distant time... In 1985 I had realized on paper a design with felt. That I didn't understand at all... Thank you for this enriching and profound paragraph that gives guidance on the perception of spontaneous pictorial language and instinctive or intuitive.
Terrance DePietro replied:
Finding the ' spontaneous pictorial language ' is a life long task - but it is possible and it is very rewarding. And yet the language is so personal that it can only be a 'suggestion' to appreciate as a real example for the viewer who follows - as such that viewer practices for the personal events that that is our own. Thank you for your time and comments. - tdp
Nicole Lemelin
Really enjoy your wisdom Terrance!
Terrance DePietro replied:
I am not certain that it is 'wisdom'; perhaps a touch of liminality as it pertains to initiation [rites of passage]...but those, like the oral traditions, are long forgotten human 'necessities'. But I am happy you are enjoying these exchanges - honey! tdp
Nicole Lemelin
Viva, I really enjoyed reading your comment on this piece. What you are saying I share totally. This aspect of womanhood is so sacred to me, and it is so important to be recognized and celebrated. Thank you again for sharing. I really appreciate what you have to say it is always interesting.
Nicole Lemelin
How interersting to read this text Terrance and specially how a masculine mind capture and express the Feminine. Your feelings regarding Quebec as a feminine entity is so thruth - This City being the birth place of a whole nation this makes your comment even more touching to me. As such, her "resistance force", if I can say, throught the ages to keep her identity and her sensibility - wathever happen! Great methaphore for women role as the guardian of the Sacred transmission of life. Thank you for sharing.
Terrance DePietro replied:
Your comment is touching; especially that both you and VIVA recognize the seat of humanity in that very essence of femininity; as I of other psyche, am left to apply the essence 'only as far as my wits and the imaginal will let me!'...Perhaps my sojourn to Quebec was well made?...I seem blessed with feminine wisdom arriving from around the globe...Thank you ladies!
VIVA Anderson
Your erudition in the description, Terrance, inspires natural response for me the viewer at first sight....so, I will share my feminine knowing about this on those terms. I see here immediately the story of woman. Complete. The womb. The family. The formality of the architecture. I feel, which is different somewhat to what I see, moved......I feel I seem to be honoured to witness birth itself.....miraculous, fluid, as are your marks, safe, holy. VIVA
Terrance DePietro replied:
VIVA, I am touch by your sharing; the feeling attributes that attach to these [paradoxically static] images represent the more important purpose that can be asked. That you find the 'miraculous' process involved in the narrative is a large compliment in itself; Thank you. Terrance
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