Speak.Say. (Skewing Modigliani)

"Speak. Say."  acrylic on canvas, 24" x 20".  Available here and at Artfinder.

Another of the glorious donated canvases!  This one became a skew of Modigliani - part of a challenge for an art critique group I belong to here in Florida.  Generally something skewed is a bit amusing or wonky or peculiar.  Well sure, Modigliani didn't paint with fluorescents, but otherwise only the colors and the addition of words and textures are very different.  The more I worked with this lovely one, the more serious she became.  

In this world, the message to SPEAK and SAY what's on your mind or in your heart is important.  We speak up against bullying or else we become a bystander.  We speak out against violence and intimidation lest we become oppressed.  And we speak for those who cannot, because they need champions.  Our words matter.

I've had a lot of time to rest, read and watch t.v. lately, and I've been delighted by a series titled "Call the Midwife", which takes place in 1950s and 1960's England.  What I didn't expect was this nugget of wisdom in the opening narrative of one episode - ​"women write their history in the words that pass between them."    Whoa.  I had to think about that one for a day or two.  In modern times, we launch how many words per day into the universe?  Between our voices and our social media, we fling a lot of words.  So I paid attention to the words passing between women.   A lot of it was uplifting, encouraging, motivational and tender.  Especially when the women knew each other well. Some of the words were exquisite - little treasures to remember and cherish for those times when we need reminders of our goodness and abilities.

But some of it was not good at all. Some of the words passing between women were mean-spirited, gossipy or judgmental, and rarely face-to-face. The words that pass between other women can uplift or wound us even if we aren't a part of the conversation, for words travel.  Once released, they take on a life of their own.

So back to this painting.  What began as skewing a master became instead words of wisdom from the paint. The words that pass between us, what we SPEAK and what we SAY, write a history.  I hadn't thought of it that way before.  Let's write a history together that lifts us one and all.