"Summertime Dreams" has some double entendre in its meaning surrounding it in this post.
First of all, it was the title of a wonderful album release and song by the Canadian song writer and performing legend Gordon Lightfoot.... whose musical melodies and lyrics have been with... and inspired "Me" all along my artistic journey. This winter, my eldest daughter Lisa gifted Deb and I with a dinner theater... which included front row seats at Lightfoot's annual Massey Hall Concert. It was pure magic to listen... see... and feel the power of this incredible minstrel over the two and a half solid hours of hit Canadian anthems. The entire house was on its collective feet and refused to have him leave the stage at closing time. He returned with his long time band members for an additional fifteen minute musical interlude..beginning with "Just A Painter Passing Through". Can you identify with those sentiments?
What attracts "Me" to Lightfoot as an Artist... capital "A" fully intended and earned... is his unflagging loyalty to his fans.Despite having passed the seventy mark on his illustrious journey... he continues to perform and enjoy it... never tiring of the connection to his music and his legion of admirers. "He"is the epitome of an Artist who has relentlessly shared his gift of music and his "Voice" in all parts of Canada, the US and Europe.
His journey has not always been easy. He has endured bumpy periods and was forced to make sacrifices that most others could not face. Life "on the road" is both demanding of time and energy that can become devastating to family and interpersonal relationships. Add to that the act of creating and crafting the songs... alone. As an artist, one can easily imagine the price "He" and his loved ones have made over the breadth of his fifty year career.
At the moment that "He" stood on the front edge of the stage... directly in front of me... only a few feet away... "He" paused in the spotlight for a brief moment... then slowly spoke these words: "This next song was written for my children while I was on the road... and I dedicate it especially to them from me tonight."
That song, a long time favourite of mine left "Me" overcome and tearing openly as it did him at the mike as well. "If Children Had Wings" is a nexus really, connecting our two lives. I only hope that my own work as his has for "Me'... might somewhere... sometime... support another artist who also struggles to create... and finds themselves ...alone... wondering if they should continue... or if ... their choices are worthwhile given the costs.
On Friday... I will be painting...en plein Ayr... in the rustic and quaint village of Ayr. The theme of that show is "Sumertime... and the livin' is easy". Life has indeed been easy for "Me"... lately. That is simply because "I" am able to "dream" again... sweet Summertime Dreams. Through my Art my "Voice" has returned... and "I" feel a Peace and a Passion for life that seemed all but extinguished at one point.... "I" am blessed!
The piece that I have been working on for the past week that is used on today's post is a wedding gift being sent to my Brother Don's step son Jim and his "gal-of-choice" Alana. It is titled ... "A New Beginning-China Beach, Sooke, Vancouver Island, BC. This is the place where I first met Jim and Alana. I thought might be an appropriate subject and linked the title to words that I "copied and pasted" from their wedding invitation.
Sadly, we are unable to attend their wedding, due to our own business commitments... so it is our hope that this gift along with the artistically custom framed wedding invitation a la Deb will indicate our presence, love and blessings at their "New Beginning" nuptials... and for the remainder of their lives together in their new home.
Good luck Alana and Jim! Rich blessings along your journey!
Now back to the "think tank"...drawing board and easel in preparations to begin work on the new large commission... and to ready my Self for Summertime Dreams.. and plein Ayring in Ayr and the opening at Ayrspace 6:00 to 8:00 pm on Friday.
Good Painting to all... and Good Summertime Dreamin'....
