Outcast

"Outcast" is one of the pictures done by Keepers, in this case by Beth. It will be in the Trauma Gallery later this month on their site, Keeperskorner. When I see this I think it is one of the pictures that presents the utter loneliness keepers have felt in their lives. I am sure it is a common conception for other survivors and multiples. Seeing that little girl sitting outside the castle, alone in the darkness of the night. There is no drawbridge or other means of getting back in, visible in the picture. She is alone, she is an outcast, and yet she is safer outside the castle than inside the castle. There are no threats to her as she sits in the moonlight. All of the dangers are inside the castle.

Others may see a little girl, alone in a make believe world of castles and dungeons, while others may see symbolism that to them says she is shutting the world out to protect herself. Maybe she is waiting for her knight in shining armor to rescue her, or maybe she just snuck out of a side door to get away from the craziness inside. We can all imagine based on our own preconceptions and past experiences what is being said via the painted canvas.

That is the beauty of art, especially art like this, we can read into it what we see, what we wish we saw, what we are afraid to see. We each can see something different. Some may look at it literally while others look for symbols. Some look at it and say "oh, I know exactly what the artist is saying" while others may ask "what in the world?"

What I can probably guarantee is that what you or me or someone else sees is not what Beth was painting. That is the beauty of it. Over the next several weeks I will present other art of keepers and see what you see, if you care to comment. So feel free to see what you see and tell us what you see. Did it touch you in any way? Did it bother you in any way? Sometimes I will let you know what the artist was presenting but usually not, they prefer that we each see what we see for ourselves, so we can get out of it what we feel with no influence in one way or another.

To all of our friends out there and the casual visitor remember the galleries at Keeperskorner are yours to visit for art and poetry.

Peace and blessings


john michael