This is another which at first glance seems as if some animal study, but which is quickly noticed as being transcendal.... the idea of a colorful snake wrapped at the top of vegetation, like bananas, or popsicle on a stick, struck me asanother humorousness, all the moreso with the biblical referencing to the 'garden snake', and a certain fruit...
Animal studies, per se, never really interested me - always considered them as means to ends, the ends being furtherance of human endeavorings... this one was of interest because of the stern authoritarian look on its face, which I then posited on a fence post, again playing with words in the theme/titling... there is. of course, an alliteration to the mindlessness of such beings, both in the familiar usage of the word in regards to slaves of the antibellum as well as the totalitarian of governments, communism in particular - indeed an inevitability of its practicality... there is also the humor of looking up at something which in reality is so small.....
This was one of my 'bicentennial' works, both a celebration of the fierce independency of my forefathers, and the discreptitude which has to large degree replaced it... that is why the 'zen'ness of the title, a sort of take-off of the 'one hand clapping' routine, along with the sound of what the bird stands for - and a hope such standing will not disappear.....
Many years ago, I had done a flawed work - the brush slipped, and unwanted marks were on the canvas... but in a moment of inspiration, ruled four lines and transformed that flaw, along with additional scribbles to make balance, into a 'modern art' piece within the canvas..... another inspiration, and a mouse appeared looking up at this supposed work - a mouse on a shelf..... called 'Critic', it sold readily, even as it was no original in thought [Norman Rockwell, for instance, did a similar viewing]... other calls came for more of this mouse..... this here is one of them, another whimsical piece with important metaphysical overtones.......
