The look of this man reminds me of my brother Don, who died too young. I heard Billy G. say the other day, “Jesus Christ bought you.” C.S. Lewis said, “We’re in enemy territory.” Another of my favorite teachers, John, said, “I love God all day. Sometime this fulfills me but I always love Him.”

So the way I see it Jesus traveled into enemy territory and paid big money for a bunch of slaves. He turned to them and declared, “You’re bought and paid for, now you’re free.”        I, like the children of Israel, wander around in the desert, sometimes missing the slavery of my old Egypt but generally, bit by bit, I’m finding my way toward the Promised Land so I can live with Don and God again.  nancymauerman.com

Man Of Sorrow Acquainted With Grief

Ten years or so ago, both Helen, who’s about my Mom’s age, and John were diagnosed with cancers. I’d sit between them in church and they’d lean across me, planning strange and humorous funeral services, songs, and speeches. One Sunday Helen asked John, “Are you losing your hair?”

“No.” he said, “I keep it in a plastic bag under the sink.”  nancymauerman.com

Hammers And Clouds – Framed

Old found objects contrast with a new picture in the picture below. It’s painted on two doors that open a little off center and when they’re closed is called, Me and the Z Box. The colors are opposites; gold / silver and red / green. The red is in the form of a cool pink, the green, in two places, is also pastel: the beads on the frame plus the greenish glass eyes. Also opposite are the opac green beads / transparent green glass eyes. The round silver colored objects contrast with the clear ones on the frame.

For some reason this painting reminds me of a mother who told me her children came home from church and around the dinner table one said, “My teacher loves me, she sometimes brings cupcakes.” Another child said,”My teacher loves me because he brings cookies.” The third child said, “My teacher loves me. She sings to me.” I was surprised and pleased the little fellow accepted singing as a good gift. I don’t sing well so I didn’t want to to use it as part of my lesson but sometimes singing hymns and children’s songs were the best way to communicate.  nancymauerman.com

Me And The Z Box – Doors Closed – Framed

nancymauerman.com

JOHN’S ALLIGATOR BLOG:
If you meet an Alligator on a plane
you can’t jump put you must remain.
Best thing to do is stay in back
let someone else become his snack.  nancymauerman.com

I could never get enough cookies until I met John. Saturday he pulled his shoulders back, tilted his chin up and, to yank my chain, he said, “I’m kind and considerate and you’re my other half.”  nancymauerman.com

Unsatiated – Framed

High Art has color subtleties and contrasts, composition and grabs the inside of us in a new place and won’t let go. The painting below its called, Aliens Turned Nasty in 1961.  Many of my art teachers have said, “Every picture has already been painted. You’ll ONLY be repeating them with a slight variations.” but I haven’t seen the Aliens Turned Nasty before. It contains two overlapping compositions; one a dark /light diagonal. The other is a big C. The lowest row of clouds form the top of the C, the most translucent of the figures and the one at the very bottom complete it.

You can see what you want in the Alien picture but for me the three figures tell me they’re my progenitors watching over me. These ghostly guys aren’t the nasty ones referred to in the title because the “aliens” are we mortals taking our turn on earth today. C.S. Lewis says we used to live with Father but now are living in enemy territory.

For you who don’t believe in God let me say I understand. I was a confirmed atheist until my mid twenties. I couldn’t believe something so wonderful because I couldn’t see it but I ask myself today, “Where are piles and piles of dead birds?”  I have seem the equivalent of piles, piles and piles of live birds in my life time but only a double hand count of road kill and cat caught leavings. By logic alone most birds never die because I haven’t seen them. I hope you enjoy the picture. What does it tell you? I’d love to know, send me a message please.  nancymauerman.com

Aliens Turned Nasty In 1961 – Framed