"Materials on Hand"

- Modern decor that would otherwise
be languishing within a landfill
or floating garbage barge -

In a sort of salute to tonight’s premiere of Bravo's Project Runway — because, hey, any “reality TV” rewarding creativity, inclusivity, AND cattiness is worth an audience — I offer my own attempt at the requisite "Unconventional Materials Challenge" by way of Abstract Expressionism or, more accurately, Trash Art.

The presented 40 in. x 16 in. work is comprised of spray paint, acrylic tube paint, shattered headlight/taillight covers from auto crashes collected along Main Street (Route One) tissue paper, faded terrycloth wash towel, sequins, glitter, tiny triangles cut from sparkle holiday wreath bow (faded from red to yellow), torn satin, strand of purple foil wrapping paper, remnants of Amazon.com fabric gift satchel, netted produce pouches (shallots, clementine oranges, red dwarf potatoes), cellophane covering from Valentine’s Day chocolate box, red plastic hazardous waste bag, deconstructed powder pink adult diaper, hot glue, Mod Podge adhesive sealant, decades-old congealed turpentine, sparkle silver washi tape fused to side frames with cardboard reinforcement on back side, sprayed a dusty lavender, due to this being initially two separate canvases connected end-to-end.

Taking My Turn, Easing Onto The Off-Ramp

-- As posted online earlier this afternoon to social media, 

recorded here for posterity --

With the start of a new month I am finally feeling emboldened enough to follow through with the long held intention of exiting this increasingly divisive site.  I’ve been operating on the platform for 15 years, 10 on Instagram and also Blogger.  The aforementioned platforms I will continue with in order to at the very least share art & opinions, as both are generally less trafficked with one-sided, needless attention traps (albeit owned by the same mega corporations responsible for what I politically and morally object to here).  Should you need, I can be found easily on either under my usual name.  Even more importantly will be the simultaneous deletion of my (rarely accessed) Twitter account, more a gesture of objection to E. Musk and his mismanagement than the portal itself.  Be well — it’s nothing personal, really.  Just something I’ve aged out of as the site has evolved/de-evolved into something of a different beast.

Needless to say, that deceased wren encountered on our property with eyes gouged and gut decayed (see previous post) has been taken as nothing if not *a sign* to keep my distance from Twitter. Shooting down my Facebook is (somewhat) less politically driven, as evidenced by remaining on Meta’s sister site Instagram, but it seems apt to “kill two birds with one stone,” nevertheless.

^ Final three "Tweets"

(representing author's present concerns)

#exitinggracefully

Grounded

Easily amongst the eeriest small natural wonders I’ve encountered on our Maine property in 30+ years, presented here, as discovered two days back, amongst the chestnut blossoms on our upper driveway in the long warm shadows of early evening.  Evidently a mother because there are still unhatched (!) Tiffany blue eggshells buried in her underside.  Has merely one wing and, even more disturbing, no eyes.  Weighs close to nothing — I assume any tissue inside the remaining cage of skeleton & feathers are long decayed?

Incidentally, I tagged these images on Instagram for the operators of #deadbirdsaresexy / @deadbirdsaresexy (which I swear is a more reverential and respectful account than it sounds, more of an online mausoleum).

Weeping inside *just* a little bit.