To Beautiful Light & Gentleness (for Chip) by anahata.c
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Description
I originally wrote fiction for Chip (as I was a writer years back). But it was 3 uploads long & I just couldn't trim the thing, as it's been years since I've written a word. So Chip, forgive me! I'll post it when I've gotten my feet more wet... But instead, I made this: 3 views of Chicago, montaged to show light, gentleness and (I hope) love---all qualities abundant in Chip. His gallery is here (Chipka), though it's hard to believe anyone hasn't seen it yet. Like Chip himself, it's a trove of multiple treasures. So where to begin...Chip grabs pieces of imagination like grabbing waves from a host of waterfalls. The waves are endless, they keep replenishing themselves, they never wane; and he has such facility with them, such willingness to go where they take him---to listen to them, really listen---that he weaves countless tales out of them, retelling them like the 1001 Nights, each tale more magical & designed to entertain the rest of us as we recline... And he may not do them without labor: But wonderful art shines where the artist labors, I just don't feel 'labor' from his work. His images will penetrate a cornice or subway or woodlouse (in my tale I actually was a woodlouse), he'll find light in them and, through them, give intimations of the ages. I meant that, Chip spans a lot of time...His writing draws on an Alexandrian Library inside his mind, the ancient legendary archive where every form of knowledge was (supposedly) stored: It sits at the center of his imagination & he creates languages, chemistries, astronomies, histories, whole literatures out of them, not to mention galaxies. His imagination's a fountain. But no matter what, he writes of love, the countless moments where people find each other, care for each other & caress each other. It flows through his narratives like fruits on a vine. I had the privilege of spending some time with Chip, and he's one of the kindest people I've ever met; and this is important because I've met a number of big-time artists in my life (Stravinsky, Stockhausen, Warhol, Saul Bellow, etc) and believe me, they didn't come close to what Chip exudes. Chip hasn't an ounce of pretense, both in person and online. He leaves tons of loving comments & supports seasoned as well as beginning artists, each with the same commitment. God, it takes me an hour to leave a few comments, but he leaves troves of them, each as fine as the last. A friend once gave a toast: "Here's to beautiful light & gentleness!" Hear hear. It applies to Chip through & through. This is a year late Chip, but I still thank you for all you've given to so many people. It's a privilege to bask under your umbrella, and I send you many blessings & much inspiration...you deserve them all, my friend, and always will.
Comments (20)
jocko500
wonderful to a great artist here
magnus073
Mark, this is by far the most thoughtful and original dedication I've ever had the pleasure to see. Chip is so lucky to have a friend like you that cares so much as it is obvious you poured so much of yourself into this one. These three views of Chicago are each stunning in their own right, and capture the light, gentleness and love you were aiming for. When combined with your beautiful thoughts it makes for a very moving dedi. There are a handfull of reasons I remain in the gallery my friend, and the fact that you and your gallery are such a blessing is one of them. Had no idea you used to be a writer Mark, but honestly it doesn't surprise me as it seems you are as talented as you are kind. Hopefully one day you will share some of what you've written with us.
Chipka
WOW! Thank You, Mark; This is spectacular and incredibly, incredibly touching, especially coming from such a great artist as yourself. I once heard that no one is ever too rich or too poor for friends, and I'm quite lucky to have the friends I've been honored to meet, especially here on Renderosity. So much has happened since I first joined this site; I lived in Prague when I first started posting, and it was in Prague that I started to meet--at least digitally--the people who have become some of my closest friends. You are--most definitely--one of them. This is an incredibly moving dedication and such fantastic writing and artwork to go with it. I love your various treatments of Chicago and the way each frame of this image reminds me of so many different things at once: different moods, different times, different places even. As I write this, I'm listening to music from Battlestar Galactica...the re-imagined version. It's one of those kick-butt science fiction tv shows that totally redefines the tv-viewing experience. It's got everything...cities, spaceships, robots and androids, rebellion, religion, mythology, cute guys, gorgeous women, gadgets, plots, great music, amazing cinematography, and all of that good stuff...and I'm amazed at how your work reminds me of that (though I don't see an artificial woman in a red dress, which would (unfortunately) mean that the city is about to go boom!) but the absence of "Number Six" with her platinum blond hair is a good thing!) Aside from the dedication to me, which is amazingly touching and overtly heart-felt, I really love the treatment you've given Chicago and the expansive, timelessness that you bring out here. It's not a literal representation of Chicago and so it exists outside of linear time. I love the crystalline quality you've given the city: your details, colors, almost liquid textures all work together to create a mood as much as an image. Actually, it's a progression of moods and they're all complex and exciting because they evolve, shift, change, and play around with each other like people on a dance floor doing one of those dances where you're expected to improvise and play and just have fun! That's what life is all about, though I have no idea why we refuse to see that: everything is free, after all--at least in terms of experience, and I love the way your image here really captures that. There's room to wander in each iteration of the city you show here. There's a quiet mood in the top frame: it's slightly frosty and austere as I see it, but as you look at each successive frame, the frost austerity gives way to color, depth, shimmers and shadows: all of which are in the first portion of the image, but they're allowed to grow, reveal themselves (like shy characters without big speaking parts: it's their actions that are important, their gestures, and the sheer poetry of their movement, and there is such rich movement in this piece! I absolutely love it and I feel quite a bit of inspiration here. In looking at this image and listening to music that involves a woman singing in Armenian, I can't help but wonder what stories lurk in this piece! For me, any art that invokes a potential story has done a perfect job, and I am, indeed, inspired! As for your written tale! I'd love to read it. Anything involving a woodlouse is something I'd adore, and with a woodlouse as a viewpoint character...well, that's just flawlessly perfect! I love this piece and Thank You, again, for the dedication. It means something quite incredible for me and it's something I'll cherish as much as I cherish friendships and the signs and markers of those friendships in whatever worlds in which they are native! Thank you! This is touching, brilliant, and wonderfully poignant! It's so rich!
whaleman
I agree completely! Chip is a one-off, as original as a unicorn, and he disgorges more words daily (from his own personal supply) than anyone I know...and that's a good thing! I've heard he uses five buckets of apostrophes in just one month.
durleybeachbum
Well, what more can there possibly be to say! You have said it about Chip, and he has said it about the BEAUTIFUL piece of work. Wonderful!
helanker
WOW! What a fantastic dedication for Chip. I dont think it could be done much better than this. Both Pictorially and in Words. And I agree with Andrea. The best words have already been spoken here, so it would be really hard to match any of this, but my impression of Chip is pretty much the same as you wrote, Mark, even though I never met Chip in person. And your variations over Chicago are just a wonderful dream to enjoy.
flavia49
breathtaking work! wonderful dedi
romanceworks
Mark, this is such a wonderful dedication. Your images and words take me to a beautiful place of light and love. You and Chip are two very special and unique souls, and say and show things in a way like no other. Two true originals destined to find one another in this world, to make it better and brighter and definitely more interesting, So very blessed to know and experience you both. As for your fiction writing ...something tells me even as a woodlouse your spirit would be too big for this world and much more comfortable in the universe. A place where Chip is infinitely at home. CC
sandra46
AMAZING CREATION! WONDERFUL IMAGE!
goodoleboy
Great Scott, you have jumped headlong into the paranormal arena of the current scifi TV series, Fringe, in this remarkable dedication to your friend, Chip! And, believe it or not, I have never visited or commented in or on his gallery. Ultra stellar postwork manipulation, made stunningly alive with fantastic lighting, contrast and textural effects to challenge the senses, in this grand paean of photos, my friend.
npauling
Amazing how you have made one photo look so different and I love how your lighting has built to a cresendo at the end. A superb dedi for Chip and he sounds to have been delighted with your work. You are a man of many talents with writer added to the list. I do hope you post the piece about the woodlouse as that sounds intrigueing. Splendid work for a great result.
dragonmuse
Not up to much reading ot writing at the moment, but this is very lovely and I really enjoyed my brief tour of chipka's gallery. Thank you for pointing the way.
auntietk
What a glorious series! You have captured something so essential about your city, I had to stop for a minute to make sure it really WAS more than one photograph. Your fourth panel makes me think about what it's like to see Chip suddenly ... he was part of the scenery for a minute, and then he grabs your attention and there's nothing else there but him, doing something fun or goofy or sweet or sly. Standing on his head to take a picture, or darting back and forth around a corner, totally at home in his environment and absolutely unconcerned with any potential audience. Your dedication is beautiful. What a lovely, lyrical, and wholly accurate description of Chip and of what he does. He really is a never-ending stream. Beautiful work, my dear, both visual and written.
nikolais
A fantastic dedi of the great man to the great man!
anaber
It is amazing.I look at the big trunk of the tree,strong and sober in its darkness in front of the strong building darkened,like a fortress,in the other side and i almost can hear a conversation between two GIANTS! Two guardians of the city...and/or of the lake! Extremelly interesting the metaphor of the buildings crossing the river.Wondrous! It is a powerful image, Mark! together with your words, make a whole. yet,the panels in colour are to me like “monocolor-colour”(can i say this??)because they shine in such sobriety and seriousness,showing a state of mind and a state of heart and soul.I agree with Andrea, both said it all...and the warmth as well as the closeness of the conversation can be well felt. It’s a wonderful dedi and one of your best images.
Campo-Diaz
Simply fantastic.
bmac62
I am with Andrea and Tara, Mark,...what a fabulous piece for our friend and artist Chip. I first read this late in the evening about 2-3 days ago and said to myself, "I am not in a creative enough space to respond to this just yet...I need to give Mark's photos and words more time to sink in...". Well, here I am and still rather speechless. But know I am looking, pondering, extrapolating and appreciating. I do see a labor of love in this piece Mark...well done my friend.
beachzz
It's taken me a week to finally see this and wow!!! What a stunning set of Chicago images, with your very special treatment. I love the things you do this way; take simple (?) foto and give it so many amazing looks. And it's perfect for Chip, since that's just the way he looks at life as well. You and he see your city in such different ways--and isn't that just wonderful!!
marybelgium
a wonderful dedication for Chip !
myrrhluz
Sometimes when I am reading someone's words, I think of snippets of scenes from movies or shows. As I was reading your words about Chip, a moment from "The Barchester Chronicles" kept running through my head, and the words "Well said, Archdeacon!" Why did these words run through my head? Because the delivery of them was said with such emotion, each word fervently meant. So with Angela Pleasence's enthusiasm and sincerity, "Well said, Mark!" Such perfect words about Chip, who is a constant and delightful source of light and imagination here. When I look at your series of images, as always, a myriad of sensations, of light and beauty, open up before me. When I looked at the combination of the skyline and the closer scene of the tree, building and fence, I thought of someone opening a doorway (or perhaps a portal) and showing their city to another. Not as just a physical world of stone and masonry, but as a living and breathing city, forever changing and staying the same. The progression of images each gain more light and color, and each are beautiful in their own right and marvelous as a series. I think of the views of Chicago that Chip has shared and the way that through them, he opens up doorways to other cities, other realities as well. I think of the light, beauty, and mystery he brings to us in the images he takes here, in this one city. I see light, gentleness, and love in your images, and a wonderful richness that makes each one a source for enrichment and new understanding. And that's perfect for Chip too. Beautiful images and dedication, Mark! Well said, and well done!