"Rock-a-bye Birdies"

Post date: Mar 13, 2015 5:40:05 PM

Got some unwanted news from my neurologist the other day. Basically the constant numbness in my feet and lower legs which causes me to have equilibrium problems is due to permanent nerve damage. The only thing they can do is up my medications and have me continue to do my therapy exercises while I still can, wear my braces and use my cane. Maybe I can eventually get one of those "hover-rounds". Hopefully, the numbness will not rise above my knees. I was told that it is an accumulative result of my earlier life style, operations and the physical labor I was involved in. Guess life just caught up with me and sooner or later one has to pay the piper. Still plan on being around until at least 93, but need to retire my dancing shoes and have them bronzed. Have always been too hard headed to not believe I couldn't overcome a challenge. The one funny thing I was told was that the last MRI brain scan showed that it was "normal". Think that most would not agree that I have a "normal brain". Have a lot of adapting and changes I have to make, but isn't that what we each have to do every day to get to tomorrow. Life is just a roller coaster and one has to realize there will be ups and downs and to just go with the flow.

Enough about the woe is me, want to get back to my art, which is my guardian angel, my savior. This piece is titled "Rock-a-bye Birdies". It is 13" long x 7" wide x 9" high. When one is almost a loner/hermit, he envisions thoughts of what may have been if AAA had given him different trip-ticks/maps. An artist often has been disappointed/confused with the messages sent to him in life. Because he may be a bit different, doesn't mean he doesn't desire/respect normal aspects of life. He may be somewhat of an iconoclastic ogre, but he has the same sentimental caring when seeing/holding a new born child. In his heart what he hopes is that the child may not have to go alone down life's road, but will get the support and guidance if he tends to look at life a little bit differently than most. Doing a piece of art has always been a period of "soul searching" for me. My mind and hand become one and I almost feel like I am in a trance. Although most of my pieces over the past several years may seem to be whimsical and child-like, they have a serious undertone in them. A lot of my early 3-dimensional work was somewhat brutal, but know it was a way for me to rid some of the inner angers I was feeling at the time. Met a group of comedy writers from whom I learned to find the good in the bad. Learned it was better to wear a smile rather than a frown. It made me change my approach to doing my art. Instead of doing pieces filled with resentment, I started doing pieces that had a positive message and hopefully would produce a smile or two. Do a lot of talking to myself when in that trance. Where once I was totally reactionary/resentful, now I try to make sure, and for the right reason, that I put a positive, beneficial and hope filled message out there. Not always easy or possible to do, but less painful than those early pieces. From time to time I review what I have chronically produced as an artist. It has been a long winding road and I am content with where I am in my evolution as an artist and human being. Am thankful for being blessed with my talent which has steered me through life. Don't think I would be where I am had I spent the same amount of time on some "psychiatrist couch".

Don't know when I will start some new pieces or where my "normal brain" will take me next. Have to take first care of of my present personal issues. Know that something will prod me and I will urgently head into another trance and enjoy another conversation with myself. As always would appreciate any comments about this new piece.

(To see photos of the above art pieces go to https://sites.google.com/site/jmdodigartphotos )