Liz's writing at new heights

My daughter Liz signed an email with request that I listen to a story of hers:

You can now listen to my story The Rugged Track on Podcastle, brought to life by the delectable Tina Connolly. Listen! http://podcastle.org/2012/03/27/podcastle-202-the-rugged-track/

 Wonderful story, wonderfully read.




I have replied thus to Liz:

I have listened 

With weeps, deep weeps.

Because it has so much autobiography.

Because you have found a new mature voice, tho a voice younger and more playful, relaxed, confident. You have mastered or mistressed the adjectives, the metaphors, the similes, the reader/listener does not stub toes on little rocks, and walking through the story one's socks (though maybe stinky) do not contain burrs of over-wroughtness. The expressive struggle isn't visible, it is silky smooth. Somehow the story that you tell, while it could be done mundane, is gripping... the enthralling is in the telling. 

There is a sufficiency of character development achieved by warmth, which is always nice. Language and dialogue rise to the occasions. 

And you have been blessed with a really wonderful reader, Tina Connolly, yes delectable, but from within your voice, not imposing... 

diverted back to international and strategic issues

I had allocated this week to the novel, but have sought refuge in writing comments to discussions on the web about China and strategic policies.
Two-timing China (New Matilda)
[comment dated Wednesday, 11 April 12 at 5:04PM
Comment in debate in The Economist: That this house believes the rise of China's military power is a threat to East Asian stability."
[comment dated 17/04/2012 23:31:59 pm ]
New Matilda again: a decade of failed war.
and
to a blog entry of conservative young American strategic thinkers, called 'Alliances and balancing during a structural power shift'

notes on the three paintings

I am obliged to produce a note explaining the relationship of my three paintings to the subject. Here are my notes with the three paintings (as drafted 13 April).
===========

My three paintings regarding ‘out of the darkness into the light’ are derived in part from personal experience of chronic illness, in part from observation of others. 

[1] THE DREAM OF SUNSHINE IN THE MORNING

Artist statement on side of painting:

In long-term invisible illness, 

you remain sentient, head full of ideas, 

and you remain sensual, heart needing love, flesh needing flesh. 

You reach out ... to touch or fend off? 

You turn away in loneliness.

Your totem becomes the echidna:

small, prickly, determined, defensive, hard to grasp.

Your carer, your lover,

tries to see the incomprehensible invisible,

tries to embrace your elusive mind.

[2] THE GET-AWAY

I want to get out of my dark space, but my dark spirits holds me back. They reason and mumble; they make me doubt. They grasp and bite; they cause me pain.

[3] RISK ASSESSMENT

I don't know if this is darkness in here, it's certainly not black. But it's without contrast. I am dulled by medication, away from risk, away from excitement and motivation, without orgasm or pain. Away from personality too... 

Out there? Is it time to go out there? It is a risk. There is light and there is shadow. There is freedom, adventure and pain and passion and... 

So who makes the decision? And what are the consequences? What if I fail? ... I mean, what if I fail again?

Dennis Argall, April 2012

Third painting for exhibition

This is my third painting for the mental health fellowship sponsored exhibition in May, with the subject 'out of the darkness into the light'.

It has been an interesting subject to explore.

The title for this is 'Risk Assessment'. A label we stumble over even in hospital toilets.

The musings of the protagonist are such as these.

I don't know if this is darkness in here, it's certainly not black. But it's without contrast. I am dulled by medication, away from risk, away from excitement and motivation, away from orgasm and pain. Away from personality too... 

Out there? Is it time to go out there? It is a risk. There is light and there is shadow. There is freedom, adventure and pain and passion and... 

So who makes the decision? And what are the consequences? What if I fail? ... I mean, what if I fail again?

'draft' as at Friday 13 April