The Mermaid − 6 February, 2007
On this day, I purchased a work of art, a drawing created by one of my former physics students.
I plan on making it the artwork for my third Jamendo album. [Note: as of the date of this post, not a single track has been recorded for this -- it is in the planning stages, and in the meantime, I'm working on gaining new music skills.]
Now, this drawing is fantastic. I know, you're curious, and you'd probably like to see it.
Sorry, not until at least August 2007.
I'll describe it.
If you've ever read Roger Zelazny's Amber series, this drawing looks more or less how I imagined a Trump would. Maybe it's a tarot from some fantastic unknown deck, one of the major arcana that escaped capture. She is a mermaid, evidently experiencing some sort of incredible bliss or joy.
Now, if you've read the titles of my tunes, you know I tend to like ocean themes. Well, this mermaid struck me as a perfect symbol for my music:
I plan on making it the artwork for my third Jamendo album. [Note: as of the date of this post, not a single track has been recorded for this -- it is in the planning stages, and in the meantime, I'm working on gaining new music skills.]
Now, this drawing is fantastic. I know, you're curious, and you'd probably like to see it.
Sorry, not until at least August 2007.
I'll describe it.
If you've ever read Roger Zelazny's Amber series, this drawing looks more or less how I imagined a Trump would. Maybe it's a tarot from some fantastic unknown deck, one of the major arcana that escaped capture. She is a mermaid, evidently experiencing some sort of incredible bliss or joy.
Now, if you've read the titles of my tunes, you know I tend to like ocean themes. Well, this mermaid struck me as a perfect symbol for my music:
- Mermaids can live in two worlds; I live in two as well -- science and music.
- The mermaid is experiencing joy, as I do when I play music, or hear someone who's a total master of the craft play (for instance, my friend Henri Roger).
- The drawing itself looks like a Trump. In Amber, this is a method of communication over vast distances; in the broader culture, the tarot cards are archetypes -- fundamental, defining examples of underlying themes or principles. I believe that music, and the ability to create and appreciate beauty, are one of the defining characteristics that separate us from animals. Therefore, a symbolic archetype for music is perfect.
- Mermaids are half one thing, half another. So am I, on many levels: my father is Creek indian, my mother is white; I'm biracial, and my wife is black. I'm half musician and half writer; I'm half artist and half scientist.
