Ground Control

In this one, I was immediately drawn to the ever-cool banana phone.

And as I painted it, my mind thought of the duct taped banana, titled Comedian by artist Maurizio Cattelan, which has rocked the art world. I don’t think artists can ever look at bananas the same way again. And if we don’t recognize the humor behind that piece and laugh at ourselves, we just might cry.

Some things cannot be captured or kept forever ... no matter how many dollars might be thrown at them.

The value is in recognizing the moments when they occur, be it the cheeky cleverness of an artist in a cultural moment or the fleetingness of childhood imagination and play.

Ground Control
12” x 14”
watercolor on cold pressed paper

Ground Control to Major Tom
Commencing countdown, engines on
Check ignition and may God's love be with you

Ten, Nine, Eight, Seven, Six, Five, Four, Three, Two, One, Lift off

This is Ground Control to Major Tom
You've really made the grade
And the papers want to know whose shirts you wear
Now it's time to leave the capsule if you dare

This is Major Tom to Ground Control
I'm stepping through the door
And I'm floating in a most peculiar way
And the stars look very different today

For here
Am I sitting in a tin can
Far above the world
Planet Earth is blue
And there's nothing I can do

Though I'm past one hundred thousand miles
I'm feeling very still
And I think my spaceship knows which way to go
Tell my wife I love her very much she knows

Ground Control to Major Tom
Your circuit's dead, there's something wrong
Can you hear me, Major Tom?
Can you hear me, Major Tom?
Can you hear me, Major Tom?
Can you...

Here am I floating round my tin can
Far above the Moon
Planet Earth is blue
And there's nothing I can do

-David Bowie