Darkness or Light

We choose.

This painting’s narrative starts at the bottom left, with crosshatches, animals, figures, and dots, symbols and marks dating back to the Paleolithic era. The voluptuous female figure evokes ancient goddess/fertility icons produced during the matriarchal eras of human history. In her heart she holds the grail cup, a mythic symbol of human compassion and grace. She merges with a fierce God-like tiger, their opposing dynamic (nature/human; male/female; creator/destroyer) energies embracing and supporting each other.  Moving upward we find ourselves in a landscape of animals, plants, and waterfalls, with a shining (accented with golden metallic paint) transcendent figure holding a sun-like beacon in one hand while gesturing benevolently to the Earth, waters, animals, moon, and heavens with the other. This panel represents connection to higher planes and natural forces. But already there are signs (black crows, snake, darkening sky) that this utopia is coming to an end. 

Moving left to right, top to bottom, we swiftly transition from a world of ecstatic natural energy and light to a shadow realm inhabited by missiles, guns, industry, pollution, fear, faceless incarcerated people, tanks, and grinding machines. In this bleak landscape darkness reigns and life is cheap. 

The bottom of the right panel is unfinished: spilled paint and pencil marks on unprimed canvas. The future is still unwritten. 

Gods and Bullets 72″ H x 52″ W ~ oil and assemblage triptych painting. Signed on verso. 

Gods and Bullets

Gods of earth and food
Gods of steel and blood
God built the Rainbow
To help us bridge the flood.
Gods of nature,
Gods of blight-
We sit in darkness
But pray for light.

Tear gas presidents,
Poems painted on roadways;
Gunshots in the alleys,
Angels in the words we say.
A baby’s first laugh,
A world in disarray:
Every minute is night, 
Every minute is day.

Threatened by all things,
Threatened by Cain-
We break the covenant
Again and again.
Gods of nature, 
Gods of blight.
Gods made from darkness,
Gods made from light.

Our oldest stories tell of
Black and White,
Blindness and Sight,
Might against Right.
We must face the forest to find the light,
All of our fears despite,
To seize the day 
and end this night.

~s.stone 2020