it is finished...

La Danse Revisited
Fluid Acrylics on Canvas
84" x 126"
Interpreted by Phil Nellis
Installed at MHGS on 4/18/08

photos by Joshua
1, 2, 3...

muxtape

my friend joshua introduced me to muxtape. it's a great way to preserve the nostalgia of "mix tapes" in a digital age (plus it makes me feel like i own a mac when i'm on the site). it's a permanent link with a fluid list of 12 songs. i'll keep mine current with whatever favorites i'm spinning (now linked on the side)

elnellis muxtape

www.twobeersbrewery.com

a friend has been in the process of getting a start up company on its feet. joel makes some fine beer and his business is called two beers brewing co. i had the honor of doing the artwork for his website (everything minus this lovely logo). he recently got his site up and running. its pretty sweet. grab a pint on tap at the park pub!

taking care of "that man"

saturday night i was getting the boys ready for bed. as i wrestled his baby brother into pj's, sylas sat on the floor and looked up at this illustration as it hangs on our wall. his two-and-a-half-yr-old eyes revealed much internal processing and concern. finally, he blurted out, "dad! who dis guy underneath da mountain?" i some how knew we were in for an interesting conversation. "he's stuck, isn't he? and it looks like he has some ouwies!" i responded. "that's soooo sad!" he said with a furrowed brow. he paused and a second later said, "and who's this guy on his horse? he no helping!" my heart swelled as i felt a lump form in my throat. "i know sylas, that is so sad, too. sometimes people don't always help when other people have ouwies." he shook his head and repeated his lament, "soooo sad!" curious about my son, i asked, "if daddy and sylas were walking by, what would we do for that man?" without skipping a beat, he said quite matter-of-factly, "we put him in mummy's bed, make him a cup of tea and tuck him in." i was a wet-eyed, glowing, awe-filled mess as he turned and ran into his room only to return seconds later with a teddy bear that he has never paid much attention to. he held it up and pronounced that the teddy bear was "that man" and proceeded to wrap him in a blankie, nurse him and tuck him in bed. that night he rejected his usual stuffed animals, preferring to fall asleep holding "that man" and since saturday he has been caring for the teddy bear and sleeping with it every night...
the gospel has never been more true and disruptive to me as when it is embodied by my toddler son who has never heard the story of the "good samaritain" but is able to respond to the same impulse.

for another theological reflection by sylas, visit this story from last summer.

the beatitudes

God bless the man who stumbles
God bless the man who falls
God bless the man who yields to temptation
God bless the woman who suffers
God bless the woman who weeps
God bless the children trying her patience

Trouble getting over it is what you’re in for
So pour yourself another
‘Cause it’ll take a steady pair of hands

Holy or unholy ghost
Well now I can’t tell
But either way you cut it
You should get some distance if you plan
To take a stand

God bless the house divided
God bless the weed in the wheat
God bless the lamp lit under a bushel

I discovered hell to be the poison in the well
So I tried to warn the others of the curse
But then my body turned on me
I dreamt that for eternity my family would burn
Then I awoke, with a wicked thirst
By my baby’s yellow bed I kissed her forehead
And rubbed her little tummy
And wondered if she’ll soon despise the smell
Of the booze on my breath, like her mom
Through a darkened mirror I have seen my own reflection
And it makes me want to be a better man
After another drink

God bless the man at the crossroads
God bless the woman who still can’t sleep
God bless the history that doesn’t repeat

David Bazan- Weeds in the Wheat mp3

current soundrack: voices of angels and oddlings