pam's art: 2010

"dreams are private myths" ~ Joseph Campbell

06212010
i was on top of a very tall skyscraper, being forced to jump. i had to find a way to avoid being snared by the electrical lines below, rippling in the wind like wild jump ropes. so i thought back to when i was a little girl, jumping two sets of ropes - jump in without hitting the ropes, complete the rhyme, then jump back out. the grass was very green when i landed.

06142010
there were hundreds of them, thousands of them. i couldn’t escape, everywhere i turned there were more. they were all after me; hitting me, hurting me, hating me, raping me. telling me it was all my fault. what did i do that was so wrong? i tried explaining myself but they wouldn’t listen, they were too busy judging me. i woke up drenched in sweat, exhausted and afraid.

06132010
there was a small gift shop in the church, it seemed more like a cheap souvenir shop. we stopped in after the sermon, they were having a 50% off sale. there were plenty of typical religious statues, but then we saw others hanging on a wooden rack. they were handmade and looked more like voodoo dolls. we left with one labeled “Simon.”

06122010
the room was fairly dark, though i could see shadows on the wall. there was a glow coming from under the closet door, so i figured i’d left the light on. i reached for the doorknob and turned it without hesitation. sure enough the light was on. so i went in to turn it off. the door closed behind me. the next thing i knew it was like i had stepped into another dimension, everything was dimly lit. i was approached by a stranger who took my hand, i followed. nothing was familiar except the warmth of the hand holding mine. we walked into in the distance. our bodies seemed to merge. the laws of physics were different. there was a blinding light. when i regained my sight i was reaching for something in a tree. it was the hand of the stranger. but it was time for me to go back. so i lowered my head and closed my eyes. when they reopened, i once again saw shadows on the wall. the branches, reaching to the moon.

06112010
i exited the old school building filled with lockers only to find myself on a dirt road in a small western town. no familiar faces there. i squatted on a remnant of carpet on the dusty ground and started taking photos of a familiar looking vintage motorcycle in the distance. the townsfolk began staring at me. a man came out of the saloon, strapped his rifle to the motorcycle, and rode off. an old woman looked at me scornfully, asking “how long you gonna squat on that carpet?” i replied “as long as it takes.”

06102010
i was alone in an expensive department store, dancing in the air, wrapped in a flowing silk sari. it was ecstasy. then i realized 2 flamboyant men were watching me through the window. they entered the store; one approached me to join my dance. his steps and mine were very different. he told me he was gay and needed an “appearance” wife and liked how i danced. he asked me to marry him, but assured me my life would remain my own. i agreed. his partner joined us and we wandered through the store buying outrageous items, in an odd, carefree bliss. his family (an unusual cast of characters) joined us for the wedding farce, an outlandish celebration. off in the distance an airstream mobile home village floated, with glowing trailers of varied size and shape. once the ceremonial celebration was over the characters disappeared and i went back to dancing in the air, alone.

06092010
i opted not to take the taxi when i saw my own car parked in the distance. i waved goodbye to my girlfriends in the taxi and walked toward my car. as i approached my car i could see it had been sideswiped. the driver-side door was torn off. when i got closer i saw the steering wheel was missing as well. the taxi with friends was well out of site by this stage, so i figured my only option was to beg for money for a phone call. a stranger kindly gave me 2 shiny new quarters.

06062010
the shovel started to talk, it said "read Isaiah 9".