April In Paris

Ahhhhh! April in Paris… so sublime that songs have been written about it. And, despite the presence of an Icelandic volcano looming large in the distance, springtime here on the ground has been glorious. Everything is in bloom.

Just like the new green leaves and brightly colored flowers, I, too, am beginning a new chapter of life. For the past year I have called France my home. Its people… I now call my friends. A couple of weeks ago, my artist friends here in the city of lights joined me in my farewell performance art installation (video below). What a fun ride that was!

Since then, I have been busy packing up my studio and preparing to spend the next several months working on some exciting new projects and a new series of paintings in the Ft Lauderdale/Miami area.   While it will be nice to be in south Florida, the best part about my new studio location is that I get to be with two of my best friends in the world.

As one gets older, being close in proximity to your true friends is one of life’s greatest pleasures.  And, these two friends are both accomplished professionals in the arts.  So, we will, no doubt, develop a little side project or two during our time together.   (The last time I was on stage with these two was 20 years ago!)

Of course, once Paris becomes part of you, you never really leave. And, I will be back here for a couple weeks in the fall for an art show at EBC Gallery and to serve as artistic director on a performance project called “…and the wall came tumbling down!” – a collaboration with my good friend, choreographer Welela Kindred and Danish composer Neils Lan Doky.

But, for now, I bid a loving adieu to Paris with a heart full of gratitude.  Merci Beaucoup mes amis!

I thought of a boat (somewhere, somewhere). Stepping into the sea, I lifted my untended dreams to my chest whispering (holy, holy). In calm water, voyage began… back to the kingdom of mercy that was my own awakened heart.    – Theo Edmonds, American Artist

Indigo! ~ Here I Go!

a new poem by Theo Edmonds

———————-

She kept the color blue

in her front left pocket.

—-

The diamonds on her right hand

would not be able to find it there.

—-

She thought of the indigo child

and of two-wheeled adventure mobiles.

—-

She thought of those rascals down by the river

who always called her their lady love.

—-

Three pointing priests carved

stone-faced gazes into the nestled horizon.

—-

They sang of ginger, jasmine and joy rides.

—-

Knowing full well that they…

would never know these impermanent pleasures again.

—-

Still they sang…

of ginger, jasmine and joy rides.

—-

That they had known these at all

(in a lifetime disappearing over their left shoulders)

would – for them – be more than enough.

—-

And so… they sang…

of ginger, jasmine and joy rides.

—-

Stone faced priests…

poetic in their presence

accepting things as they are.

—-

Stone faced priests…

with one right-handed finger in hot earth

with the left pointing to cool sky three times.

—-

“How Curious!” she thought…

as she hurried by them

on her way to cultivate future happiness

(deep within the archives of her

busy mind’s motions and notions).

—-

Flash! Sparkle! Shine!

—–

Her diamonds caught a glint of sky

in their reflected prisms of sunlight.

—-

She looked around

to make sure that the color blue

had not escaped from her front left pocket.

—-

(it had not)

—-

What she had seen…

…was the indigo child riding his two-wheeled

adventure mobile toward the old river bridge!

—-

She awakened.

—-

Following close behind him,

she liberated the color blue from her pocket

and threw the diamonds in the dirt behind her.

—-

When she arrived at the river…

99 rascal monkeys began to rejoice.

The last of them had finally come home.

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