9 years ago today. Changed the trajectory of my life.

Occupy Philly.

Memorial for the Dispossessed

I thought when I first saw the Metro article on Mia Green’s murder, that the head caption had misgendered her…
“Mia Geen was found in the passenger’s seat of his car with a gunshot wound.”

“his car” referred to the murderer–and that was clear, following the headline: “Man charged with murder of…

… but it upset me… when I saw it riding the subway to a candlelight memorial service of a camp resident.. like…. everything in this world is broken.

The circle of mourners, and those who came to pay our respects, created a sacred space… candles like stars shining from the earth–under a canopy of trees; all around us, the profane world that sorts us out, as worthy or unworthy of life–the endless traffic on the Parkway–the lights of passing cars, for an hour.. outshone by our candles.

Prayers were said. A libation poured out on the ground from a beer can.

The sacred is still there.. waiting… waiting for us to give it room, to mark it’s boundaries, the lights, and signs, that tell us.. we still have a home in this world. If only we are willing to create… and fight for it….and claim it as our own.

…. Yitgadal v’yitkadash sh’mei raba b’alma di v’ra chir’usei; v’yamlich malchusei b’hayeichon u-v’yomeichon, uv’hayei d’chol beit yisrael, ba-agala u-vi-z’man kariv, v’imru …. awmen.

#1170

16×20 Oil on Canvas

View more work at Saatchi Art, and on my web portfolio: ART BY WILLARD For photos on this blog, click MY ART on the right panel and scroll down.

The Violence of the State Must Not be Questioned!

<Biden: Justice Must Come For Breonna Taylor, But ‘Violence Is Never Acceptable’…>

A HUFFPOST headline, followed by this.

<The Democratic presidential nominee spoke about a grand jury’s decision to not charge any officers in the killing of Breonna Taylor in a botched…>

Almost self-revealing, in its mendacity. The VIOLENCE of the STATE–the murder of Breonna Taylor– has been declared, by a Grand Jury, ACCEPTABLE… but, Biden warns us — effective resistance by the people will always be repressed, while the violence of the STATE in its wars of exploitation, is not only accepted, but *thank you for your service* — glorified!

This is what confirms me as an anarchist. The abolition of the state and the creating of a new order of radical equality and democracy, may be a far distant goal, but the work of building its foundation is the obligation of every present moment, and part of that work is demonstrating how– it’s not just Trump–but the STATE itself that is a monstrous lie, and the mother of all the lies that flow from the mouths of it’s leaders and servants.

#1168

10×11 Acrylic colored ink, Pen and Ink

#1167

17×22 Oil on canvas

View more work at Saatchi Art, and on my web portfolio: ART BY WILLARD For photos on this blog, click MY ART on the right panel and scroll down.

My studio, W.I.P. on Easel, and Cat

Rest in Power, David Graeber.

Rest in Power, David Graeber.
A dialog.

A: When a good person dies, they move to another plane to further their good among the living.

B: Ah… if only I could still believe in these beautiful dreams…

A: And why can’t you, now?

B: Because there is no “other plane.” There’s only here, and now, in this life.

A: But that’s where the other plane come into existence.

B: What do you mean?

A: A person carries their good with them, in their
actions and love while they are alive–and we look to them to help us believe and trust as they do–that’s what changes.

B: Please explain.

A: When they die–we no longer look outside ourselves to find what made them what they were–but what they were, lives now within all who knew them–and far beyond, in ever growing numbers of those who knew only of their good through others.

A. The other plane, then…

B. Yes… lies within us. Can you not feel it welling up within, out of the very mourning of their loss?

Plein air

22×28 Mason County, Michigan, 1963. Oil on canvas panel.

I was 22.

#1165 (reworked) Homo Agonistes

Thalo blue glaze to bring that almost-crimson red-violet, to purple–and give the figure dimension with it’s yellow compliment.
This should be much larger: maybe, 72×36.. . but where would I put them, when I make more than 100 new pieces a year? I feel defeated, even when I’m ok with a piece.
See comparison with last version HERE:
https://jacobrussellsmagicnames.com/2020/08/24/1165-homo-agonistes/.

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