You know how some things conspire to make you feel sad? Can you see the despair in this picture from my altered book The Art of Happiness? That’s not exactly how I was feeling, but a brew of meloncholy was created when I –one–watched the last episode of Six Feet Under, –two– watched the song/video of the the song from the final montage, Sia’s “Breathe Me,” –three– discovered Johnny Cash’s heartbreaking rendition of the Nine Inch Nail’s song “Hurt,” and –four– listened to them over and over in a loop on iTunes with Nirvana’s “All Apologies” and “Come as You Are.” Lots of pain and death in there. And then the text of the book was leading me towards a very desolate found-poem. This painting just flowed from all of that. Please, somebody snap me out of it! Just kidding…everything’s good.
I taste
something to hate
here
in this place
of desolation
and misery
futile
last resort
wretched wretched
weary tedium
sick to death of the daily struggle
and burden of the mind
poor decisions
weak will
yet
i dont’t
feel like ending it.
Yes, Johnny Cash’s version of that song will definitely stir up meloncholy feelings, the video is amazing! Love your work here, very emotional, it makes me wonder why the subject has her head in her hands, I feel sympathy and a sense of sadness. I want to start creating some of my own altered book art, seeing this has insipered me to HURRY!!
karen, your work is so honest and real..that’s why i love it!!!..i am moving along with my second altered book as i mentioned..what i have learned from you is to stay with my theme as much as possible in my collages but also not be afraid of going outside the box..oh my, this one is on “my favorite things” music, opera, blues, all things africa, and chocolate and mysteries:-)).i have discovered the No 1 ladies detective agency series (books)..they take place in gaborone outside of botswana..easy and fun reading and it surprised me, but the writer alexander mc call is a man witing about these ladies..it’s a kick!!..i am really so much an amateur in all this, but i am also discovering meaningful things about myself..
i just sent your link over to an artist in ohio..she is just beginning to do altered books and i thought your pages would be a good place for her to start and a big help to her. be well, carol fuller..blog msn spaces yummy1944
Thanks to indigowishes and carol for reading and responding to my blog! Karen