Current Conceptual Territory

This is a collection of work in progress by artist John L. Mueller of La Grande, OR.

Thursday, June 21, 2007

lawnmower epiphany


I dont' consider myself to be a photographer, but I saw this from the road and was smitten with the image. It ties in seamlessly to my current conceptual direction. There is something superficially hilarious about the scene, but it also struck a deep chord in me. There is also a sense of sorrow and abandonment, attrition and isolation, and it suggests a sort of concealed yet perceptable anxiety and frustration. I have thought of quite a few titles.
My recovery
Moving forward
The Longing
And on and on, the title is central to the impact. I would like to emphasize the juxtaposition of the feelings that the scene evokes in me. I'm still not sure if and how I will print it, but if nothing else it has been rich territory for me ponder as I go about my days, and I got it posted here for you.

2 Comments:

Blogger C.H.A. said...

I am reminded of a man, in late 60's, who had lost the use of his legs and there he sta watching a grand son play basketball. The want to jump up and shout for the boy boiled inside but all he could do was sit and keep the tears from falling as all those around his stood and waved and cried and shouted, like tall grass - reminding him of what he had lost.

June 21, 2007 at 3:01 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Once years ago I bought a place in the country. It was a big place with much to do. The lawnmower I brought with me was a bargain at $20, and cut grass, but had a serious bellyache. When it died, I parked it by the pole barn next to the hillside.

A freind visited and saw it standing in weeds by the edge of the hillside. We were holding beers as he rounded the edge of the house and saw it. He started laughing, and so die I. Soon, we were on the ground in the spilled beer in a paroxism of laughter.

That evening we cut into the hillside just right and placed concrete blocks and bricks and a leftover refrigerater shelf to make my first wood-only-no-substitutes open-air barbecue. Alder is my favorite, although oak is good. That evening we debated whether red oak or white oak is better, eating our steaks on the end of our knives in front of the Dead Lawnmower Barbeque.

September 23, 2007 at 11:33 AM  

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