Tuesday, May 17, 2016

A Black Rainbow

A Black Rainbow, 2016  Oil on Board, 10" x 10"


I first learned of Ted Hughes book of poems, Crow, from my husband who would quote from the Lineage poem.  When I began photographing and then painting the crow, I pulled the book out.  I was intrigued by the mythology, its harshness and bleak outlook.  

The origin of Crow is well documented. In an article written in 198519, Hughes explained:
        Crow grew out of an invitation by Leonard Baskin to make a
        book with him simply about crows. He wanted an occasion to
        add more crows to all the crows that flock through his
        sculpture, drawings, and engravings in their various
        transformations. As the protagonist of a book, a crow
        would become symbolic in any author’s hands. And a
        symbolic crow lives a legendary life. That is how Crow
        took off.

Crow Grinned

Crow Grinned, 2016, Oil on Board 10" x 10"
CROW BLACKER THAN EVER  Ted Hughes

When God, disgusted with man, 
Turned towards heaven. 
And man, disgusted with God, 
Turned towards Eve, 
Things looked like falling apart. 

But Crow . . Crow 
Crow nailed them together, 
Nailing Heaven and earth together - 

So man cried, but with God's voice. 
And God bled, but with man's blood. 

Then heaven and earth creaked at the joint 
Which became gangrenous and stank - 
A horror beyond redemption. 

The agony did not diminish. 

Man could not be man nor God God. 

The agony 

Grew. 

Crow 

Grinned 

Crying: 'This is my Creation,' 

Flying the black flag of himself.