"Just sit there and look pretty."
A challenge put forth by D. Smith Kaich Jones in Texas...a challenge to put into words and/or image my interpretation of what these 6 words mean. There are lots of things for me to choose from. And, amongst all those choices, this is what I choose. If it were tomorrow, it could easily have been another image. But, for today, right now, this is the image I chose:
Those 6 words can mean a lot of things depending on what your frame of reference is at the time. It can easily be a phrase that is condoning and of a posturing of power play. It can easily speak of gender stereotypes. It could be one of reassurance and admiration.
I chose this image because in it's setting, it goes unnoticed by all the people that walk by it every day. I'm sure some people look down and see it, but for the most part, they are there to see the spectacular formation in front of them, a geologic vision of grandeur: The Cathedral Rock in Sedona, AZ.
The plant life is in defiance it seems, of the hard and dry ground that it is growing out of. It is doing the unexpected without any approval from anyone. Without any recognition of a job well done. Without any notice of the inner strength it must have. It does not need external validation as all validation comes from within.
And, when all validation can come from within for one's self, it is then and only then that one can sit there and look pretty for your own sake and no one else's and without invitation.
And, it certainly would be doing the unexpected.
If you would like to see what the other particiapnats have posted in this challenge, go see D. Smith Kaich Jones over at Emma Tree.
3 comments:
I just wrote the words for my painting post for Thursday. And I have to say, we picked totally different subjects and yet. We are thinking alike. Your 4th paragraph and my thoughts - well. You'll see in a couple of days.
Love this. Love it.
xoxo
Debi
i somehow landed here, after landing there and moved on... i love your sense of defiance in this image... your words to describe... perfect.
A very philosophical post! And you're right. Sometimes great beauty is just sitting there, to be seen if we will look, but otherwise just being for its own sake.
If only we could do the same! But there are too many influences these days for us to be that unselfconscious.
By the way, I was the lone tourist taking pictures of the blocks of granite (I don't why they were there) above the paths at the Grand Canyon. Oh, I took some touristy shots of the canyon itself, but also some small, unnoticed things.
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