As we suffer through day 5 of a late August heat wave I am reminded of an old saying, “Be careful what you wish for”. Here is an old painting from 2006, along with the original essay.
This painting is a very design / composition-oriented image. When a cold front passes through an area of hot humid air the result can be severe thunderstorms and tornadoes, however, once the storms pass cooler less humid air is left behind. The work reveals how a cloudless, hot, humid summer day can go bad when a cold front goes through. The picture is intended to be slightly frightening and unsettling, causing an, “oh shit, let’s get the hell out of here” reaction, followed by the realization that if the viewer intends to continue down the road, the viewer will have to go through the storm. This painting visually interprets the old saying, “The only way out is through”.
Getting older is interesting. I am sure this is an overgeneralization, but I have noticed two distinct approaches to aging: those who stop dreaming and those who keep dreaming.
Some seem to accelerate the aging process by no longer looking to the future and instead rushing to prepare for old age. They downsize and simplify their lives to the point of having no life at all. They rearrange their lives and environment to minimize physical activity in anticipation of age-related infirmity (God forbid their house actually has STAIRS!). This is done in a misguided effort to control the situation. However, instead of controlling things, they end up surrendering before the battle is lost. Worst of all, in an effort to avoid leaving any “unfinished business,” they no longer have any long-range life goals – they stop dreaming.
The other approach is quite different; these people see old age as just another challenge to be met. They continue to enjoy all the things they have always enjoyed while they pursue new interests. These people are not in denial, but neither are they going to surrender their lives to the mere idea of getting older. They realize that certain things are beyond their control, and their time is limited. However, they continue to plan and dream, and they continue to pursue those dreams.
I realize that the first approach may be more practical, but at what cost?
So, about the painting. I did the research (Google University), and at latitude 40 North (where I am), you would have to travel westward at 795 miles per hour to ensure the sun never sets. In this painting, we see the golden light of a setting sun illuminating the earth and energizing the sky. We also see a westbound train chasing the sun. As we watch the setting sun, we have a choice: wait for the approaching darkness or chase the sun.
James Golaszewski 