(huge...please see full, if possible)
This is for Jacomina's birthday (Dec 21 -
dochtersions). It's late because of computer problems.
Years back, I was speaking with an astonishing woman from Russia---Therese---a teacher and nun who'd been through some of the most harrowing events of the 20th C: the Nazi invasion, the Concentration Camps, and the Gulags. She'd harbored Jews and Gypsies during WW II---thus her imprisonment---and stood up to Stalin and his forces, and finally escaped to America. Her eyes were like flames, and her heart was a glittering bonfire...
That day, she was playing
Mache dich, mein Herze, rein, a deeply moving aria from Bach's
St. Matthew Passion. She was listening to this edition (with Fischer-Dieskau and Otto Klemperer): It's
slow, but this
St. Matthew is regarded as one of the most moving classical performances of the 20th Century. If you're interested, it's
here...
The text says, in essence:
"Make yourself clean, my heart: I will entomb Jesus inside me, and he will rest there forever and ever..."
I asked Therese: Does the singer really mean he will carry the dead Jesus
inside him?
She was silent for awhile. Then:
"It's hard to talk about...It isn't about 'the dead Jesus', Mark: To a true Christian, he's
always alive. But look at it this way: Think of carrying deep, boundless love inside you, and you'll never let it go, no matter what. You may have to suffer---yes---and you may fall on your face: But you'll always have that love inside, like a light that never goes out." She smiled and added: "The
Ner Tamid." (The Eternal Light of Judaism: She often spoke Hebrew or Yiddish to make me feel at home.)
* * *
Jacomina has spoken very openly about her struggles, in her gallery. She's written of the struggles with her past, and with darkness. When I hear that aria, I think of
her: Because no matter how much she struggles, and no matter how hard it gets, some days, she radiates a sweetness and light that makes everyone else feel that all is right on earth. Bach's melody lilts as if walking over clouds---Jacomina has that lilt in her, and that bonfire.
I wonder if her name means "daughter of Zion": To the fiery prophets of Ancient Israel, Zion wasn't really a location: It was a place of the
heart, which they believed all people would arrive at, to find divine light. (That's how the mystics saw it.) So, even if dochtersions
doesn't mean that---I don't know---such a place burns inside Jacomina...a place of radiant light, acceptance and love. It's there. I feel it everytime she comes here...
Re her art: I know she'll love my comparing her fractals to Bach; and maybe also to the Beethoven late quartets. She's deservedly won awards for them on RR: They surge, plunge, grapple and radiate, and they're beautiful. Her photography is always filled with love; and some pieces reach pure transcendence. She radiates no matter how much life throws at her. It's such a gift. And I want her to know it, every day of her life. Therese would agree...
Jacomina (Jacomientje)...I'm sorry for your struggles, and I wish you the greatest light and redemption with it all. But I hope you know that you radiate constant light and love; and for that, I---and all your fans---am truly thankful. I wish you a blessed birthday and many more; with light, fire and radiance always awaiting you at the end of every day. With love and all the joy in the world,
Mark
(I'll resume commenting later today...)
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Comments (13)
durleybeachbum
FAB! I like the bottom one best.
Richardphotos
sounds like a very courageous lady. beautiful work you have shared today and I wish you safe and enjoyable holidays
LivingPixels
Awesome dedi and an outstsnding image that comes from your heart my friend incredible piece in every way so glad you posted Mark a wonderful JOY JOY event all the best to you and yours over the holidays my dear friend!!
Faemike55
Your observations about Mies is spot on. and this is a great, bright and happy image filled with warmth and love; Perfect for her and her birthday and always. Happy birthday Jacomina
npauling
Very beautiful images with a wonderful fire and light in each one. A fabulous birthday present for Mies. I too am having computer troubles and can just use this tablet. I hope you get yours sorted. I will have to wait till after new year now as too expensive to get anyone at this time of the year. Everyone is on summer break 😀. The garden will like the extra attention from me. 😀
goodoleboy
Now that is really going intense! Featured is a whole spectrum of fiery colors to knock one's socks off. It's as if you set the Internet on fire with this vivid display. I'm sure that your friend Jacomina will ravish this wonderful dedication to her in observance of her BD. And I don't know how you were able to quote Therese word for word as if she uttered her immortal words five minutes ago. Quite a memory. As for your computer ailments, hard to believe that a Macintosh could ever go sour; I've had several of the devices and never had the problems you have cited. I sure hope I haven't jinxed myself by typing that.
wysiwig
A beautiful triptych full of fire and passion so I'm guessing its a good fit for Jacomina. Thanks for the link. I'm listening to it now.
bakapo
this is a wonderful dedication. fire and light... heat, heart and warmth... all of it together and packaged so beautifully.
steve2
Beautiful work !!
dochtersions
Dear Mark, I'm totally astonished, or overwhelmed, and it has taken a while before I could formulate a response. Of course I listened to that beautiful aria from Bach's Matthew Passion, which is always so moving. And I needed a time to process your words, then I had to overcome something to let Karel read it. I could not contain it, but Karel said you were right.
When I'm the little Miesje at Mieke, and talk to Mieke about everything, little Miesje would have wanted to say (little Miesje was forced to always shot her mouth), yes, then my heart is completely open of joy, and love, and I would only want to give from this to everyone, to say to all people that they are have to look at all the beautiful things, and not exactly at things that can not be changed. And your fabulous triptych, for my idea it tells a special story, something about opening up of desire, for something that leads your eye to higher in the drawings. With outspread arms, with a heart that goes out to the heavens above us, the opening of our heart, to be able to embrace the light, to cherish that light that makes us alive. Living inside, never more lonely, that which shows us the way in which choices we make, listening to that light in everything, given to us before our birth. Let us always stay true to that light. We all carry the light within us, but the question is whether we want to accept suffering, as Jesus has gone before us.
And so I, as it were, absorbed your image in me. My eyes go from bottom to top, to where the heavens are waiting for us; yes, and the bottom image has it all. Both the spreading of warmth, light, as far as possible, especially love, and at the same time there remains to see a great desire, to where will be permanently clean and purified.(For eternity.)
There is a kind of repetition in the three, as if you go higher, and deeper, to the point of our inner desire for some kind of goal. That, and much more, tells this intense drawing, dear friend Mark. Well, and I'm sorry for you, your computer was so mean to you. I hope it didn't give you too much stress, weird things that computers, huh? ;-)
RodS
This is really beautiful and moving dedication for her, Mark! You have such a way with words, as well as images. Absolutely wonderful, my friend! I've only recently discovered Jacomina's work, and I can see what a lovely person she is through her images. Happy Birthday, Jacomina!
alida
sweet dedi fro a lovely lady
auntietk
I find myself connecting to this art, and to Jacomina, on an intuitive and spiritual level. I could not tell you consciously, with words, what I experienced. But there is such TRUTH here, that it gives me goosebumps. Both in your image and in your text, and also in Jacomina's response. This is beautiful, and wild, and synergistic, and filled with passion and commitment and love.