Saturday, September 18, 2010

In Which Common Sense Prevails

"In creative work, time should not and cannot be taken into consideration," said William Zorach.  He was one of the best American sculptors of the last century, so he must have known what he was talking about (you can see his work here ).

My stone-carving marathon--five days in a row, 2+ hours/day--angered the gods of chronic fatigue, and yesterday I was laid low.  That red block of sandstone will remain unfinished for the foreseeable future, and thus will not be entered into the juried show I had been racing towards.  I can't imagine what I was thinking, trying to carve such a big block in such a short time.

From now on, I will carve by the stone's clock--which runs on geologic time--rather than mine.

9 comments :

  1. I'm sorry that it didn't work out as you had hoped. But I say amen to the stone's clock. It's hard, if not impossible, to defy the Gods, much as we may think we can, and much as we continue to try. This is not a defeat on your part. It's simply a surrender to the proper flow of things. Your stone will be carved all in good time, and it's beauty will be all the better for it.

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  2. I've been reading along, Lali, even though I've been silent. This is precious. Sorry it didn't work out, but at least you've made me laugh -- something I've not done in a few weeks.

    Do you mind if I use your drawing as wallpaper on my computer? It is how I feel after the whole time I've been in Illinois. That's me on the floor and the sandstone is the red tape, so-called professionals and my dad.

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  3. Alix, you have a real feeling for stone, so I'll believe you.

    Dona, of course you're welcome to use the drawing! Do you want me to e-mail it to you? I hope you're starting to recover a bit.

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  4. Thanks Lali -- I managed to download the drawing. Mom saw it and laughed too. She used to be an artist, but has lost the initiative/interest -- probably because of the stress of dealing with dad for all these years. I hope it comes back to her. I always thought she was pretty good.

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  5. Oh, I am so sorry to hear about the CFS episode, but oh, oh, the drawing!!!

    (I drove by your old house in Westminster yesterday, the one in town, although I hadn't meant to. Couldn't remember which of the three or four it actually was, for sure...)

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  6. You were in Westminster! Must read your latest post.

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  7. The drawing is hilarious! The stone, I must say, looks rather smug.

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  8. I love the drawing. Sorry you didn't make it for the competition, but sometimes these things aren't right for us. (I have a similar story I might confess one day).

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  9. Elizabeth, and when a stone is smug, the carver had better watch out.

    Mali, I'm glad to know I'm in good company. Let me know when the confession is imminent.

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