H2Omeloncholy: keep on keepin' on

VOGUE copyright Conde Nast

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Art can - and at its best should - arrest our every sense, especially the elusive sixth one. One moment of aesthetic ecstasy is, to quote Mastercard ad execs, "priceless". 'High' art seems - too oft - shrouded in exclusivity. To experience such 'culture' can require an initial privilege to peep, let alone 'acquire'. This rope - velvet or visceral - can further disenfranchise the very audience who may benefit more from a work's inspiration than the academic appreciation of otherwise, sterile patrons. Issue eternal as internal for the Other-ed-Ethnic artist.

Conversely, when barriers to presentation disappear, our 'view' ceases to appear limited. When these lines desegregate - those of exhibition and daily existence, does the public sphere become more sophisticated? This live-ed art - not high nor low but in that surreal subcategory of exhaustively accessible - can breed a mercurial cynicism towards Beauty.

One does not write of Beauty, itself, but rather ~~what~~ who endows it with an uppercase 'B'? Inevitably, this query leads to an irksome irreverence. 'Tis the destiny of the gaze of the Marginalized über-Observant. Outstretching the hand that mocks the cradle of civility, dislocates its middle finger of parody.

Meet Muse for our latest post.

© Mike Coop

Seems about that time for a H2Omeloncholy™ take on the iconic, British, WWII motivational poster. Betwixt the 2008 financial crisis, another royal wedding two years ago, with child now - gestating the next heir to the throne as one types, plus last summer's London Olympic Games, the art of "calm keeping" has made quite a resurgence. "Carrying on" could not be mo' in vogue. A history behind the now, nigh ubiquitous slogan is detailed by whom else but the namesake's website:

http://www.keepcalmandcarryon.com/history/

Firstly, one hoped to find a painting rather than literal photo of watermelon skin. Feeling mo' representational - as of late - and hoped a fellow Creative out there just might comply. Sans expectation, one slipped down the the rabbit hole that we have come to call 'googling'. And lo! Sweet Serendipity flashed a Cheshire grin. Since 2008, the British - gotta dig that synchronicity - artist, Dan Young has demonstrated a discipline to his craft from which we can all be admirably instructed. Every, single day, he paints a new work. One was simply searching for a close-up of the skin but to find it captured by another with such a diligent, daily practice is only an honor. Talk about carpe-in' the diem in style! Perhaps, the exercise is Mr. Young's form of meditation. Then again, as a pseudo-absurdist oneself - with an impartiality sneaking towards Taoism, one would not wish to infer any deeper meaning for another's work when said piece speaks highly for/of itself. One will, howeva, quote the bad-ass bloke RE: his own work in oils from a Tuesday (Ah, perchance with that customary English rainfall down his windowpane, just meager inches from his palette?):

"It is shopping night tonight and this was the best thing to paint a detail from, so I painted it. Yep, sometimes it can be that simple."

artist, Dan Young

#126 Watermelon Skin
03.29.2011

Do yourself(s) - both twoness or double consciousness selves - the favor of peepin' his daily offerings of inspiration to appreciate the Present. In a world POST-riddled and thus unrecanize-able, reality (not the broadcast genre but da politics of identity) has become more ephemeral than it already was. Mr. Young has rendered more melon than Magritte painted pipe. If that did not make much sense? Mad-melon 'ups'.

http://danyoungdaily.blogspot.com/

http://danyoungart.co.uk/home.html

With no betta background, one did groove to ...or did "carry on" with the only graphic in the original from 1939 - the Royal Crown. Had to keep it real, gentlesoulfolk. Nix the coronated head and getteth right on down to monarchical, French-tipped toes. Chose one's own still-let-Oh. The black dotted border pays homage to the poster's crown as well as a cheeky allusion to watermelon seeds.

For one's loyal readers, 'twill be entirely unnecessary to extrapolate upon the font selection.

For guests, please see this blog's inaugural post, still let Oh, 06.20.2013. C'mon, dear neophyte, heed the former Brit Ministry of Info:

STAY

CHILL, YO

GIVE DISSORIENTALISM

A GO...

http://h2omeloncholy.blogspot.com/2013/06/still-let-oh.html

Recipe for Mark Bittman's addition of tomato to Turkish-inspired breakfast of watermelon, feta, and mint:

http://dinersjournal.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/01/the-minimalist-watermelon-and-tomato-salad/

a clever as compassionate critique

on the implausibility of

POSTness

Til our next 'post', feast upon produce in season...

CV

Sunday, July 7, 2013

keep on keepin' on

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