“Afloat” Image. Ceres Gallery. New York. Solo Show.
The woman in “full color” is being wooed by the Black and White man. He is blowing up a balloon for her. She looks happy, but not overly so. And he looks like someone from another era. After all, he is in Black and White.
The colors in this collage are pretty bad. Even with the addition of black and white, which sometimes can elevate a color-challenged piece. But as I said, the man is not making the “in color” woman that happy.
I need to talk about this. This could be considered a rant. But I don’t care. In fact, maybe the last thirteen of these collages in “Blog As Gallery” will be rants.
This is a rant about people enjoying the names of colors, rather than looking at the colors by themselves and letting that be enough.
Like someone will say “Sea Foam Green.” That’s an old one. Or they will say their walls are “Biscuit.” and they act so smug as if the name of the color dignifies it. Or augments it. (Augment: one of my favorite words.) “Chocolate Brown.” Or “Cotton Candy” Or “Heather.” Come on now, does anyone over here really know what heather looks like? Or “Wine” and “Cranberry.” (Always in Autumn, just in time for Thanksgiving) These people love saying the words. “Ecru”, “Eggnog.” ”Eggplant!” Never mind, it does not even remotely look like the color of an eggplant! And honestly, if it weren’t around Christmastime, the true color of “Eggnog” would make people want to barf!
There is actually a color for walls called “Decorator’s White” (I wonder who thought that one up) I mixed my own color for our ceilings and the paint store named it “Hollis Green.” Not the Hollis Green on the TV Show “Big Love”, but naming the color I wanted, which was not even green. “Hollis Green” was turquoise!
Obviously, this is a source of great irritation for me. I guess because I love color; it does not need a name to be enjoyed. In fact, don’t get me started on the naming of clothing like “Boyfriend Jeans.”
I perceive an entirely different meaning from this image………..the man is black & white.= left brain hemisphere, rule bound, literal, statistician, well trained by society……..she the feminine is trying to break out into full color………..imagination, intuition, but is also tradition bound., ( her dress gray & white, only ONE colored ballon) She wants a partner who can fly with her………..HE”S NOT the one!
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Interesting! Yes, he is not the one. He is trying though! And one colored balloon, as you said indicates she is not there yet. Thanks for the insight!
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It really has more to do with composition and color than anything. So glad for the interpretation, Pat! Your insights are always profound!
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🙂
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I wish I could ‘like’ this post twice! You are so right, Hollis, what are all these superfluous words doing, associated with colours. I can’t bear looking at a decorating colour chart – sooo pretentious.
Boyfriend jeans – yes, what’s that all about… grr, makes me sick!
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Thank you, Jenny! I am sure if we ever got together in person we would rant the entire time! (And feel great!)
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Wouldn’t that be wonderful – it would be like meeting up with an old friend and taking up just where we had left off the last time… 🙂
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Thanks, I feel the same way! We would just pick right up. Christmas is creeping into stores and lawns and I think of your remark about the national grid! Yes we would talk!!!!
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Loved your rant, Hollis! You’re right on with this! By the way, after I did the treadmill this morning, I did the Plank for one minute straight…first time! 🙂
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Good for you with The Plank! 🙂
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I love the balloon-red balloon she’s holding in her right hand and the baked-bread brown gracing the background of the piece! Your rant had me in stitches! So boyfriend jeans is that a cut of jean or does it come with its own secret password chastity belt? 😉
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You are funny! )
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😉
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Loved your rant! Our porch is celery green and always thought that a strange name.
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Thanks again. Yes, who even looks at the color of celery? And I am a color person!
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