The Story Teller

The Story Teller

GALLERY

I came upon web sites that rocked me and I have been moved. There are always reasons why certain things move us. We can spend thousands of dollars delving into the deep dark of our minds and still never know. But as an artist being moved is just that being moved. In my case, it is ancient drawings on rock walls all over the world that continuously moves me. The drama of my own life aside, there is something that connects me to these ancient people. Time seems unimportant when I look at the humanity represented in these scratches and masterpieces. Some seem little more than ancient graffiti while others are clearly works of intended art- all say, here I am, I was here, I existed. To me it is a dialogue across time and I felt compelled to answer. I take any art seriously even and especially when I can find a smile in it.

The paintings ( Thumbnails- click on each picture for a full view.) below I offer for your enjoyment. They are my interpretations of what I see in these rock communications.

Number 1 is a mix of Anazasi and Peruvian rock art. The piper has become an important icon.

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Number two is Anazasi -great hat! The swirl symbol is mystical to us but probably represented a common concept to ancient people as it appears often on sites all around the world. To me it signifies the coming into being. Is this a priest or just a common man who depicts himself as important in just being?

Three, below, is one- half of rock art in India. A dancer? An expression of that in us that can only be communicated by art is the finest thing in us. It requires nothing more of us but our will and acknowledgement that what we are is the manifestation of creation and creators 'all' ourselves. Each word spoken, song sung, word written, creative movement ( I hold dance as movement with a purpose outside of necessity, a movement to startle and have us look at ourselves anew. All art should have that effect.) music created, theatre presented, painting, drawing, sculpted work, photo, film made, every ornament and clothing article designed, architecture envisioned and built, every garden created, the teaching of any art to another is what connects us to all that lived before us. We honor, then, the best in ourselves.

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This one is very personal. Events in our lives change us- transform us. We never see the world the same way again. We as humans pray for sameness and security in our lives. We know that it will not be that way- life is change for good or ill. Is the man a Shaman forcing the change so that he maintains control or has the change come on him mid-stride and he is forced to watch it unfold before him without power or the ability to stop it from overcoming him? Soon enough the change will be total and the world will be different.

(Click on the thumbnails for a full view)

5. The common world is made special by what we do. Small rites that give life meaning and purpose. The way we dress defines us - the things we own defines us- what we do between the time we wake and the time we lay down to sleep defines us. I make no judgment I only state what is true now and true of this man so long ago. I even incorporated the dreaming state in this painting. !500 years vanishes and we look upon ourselves. Where is the person going? What occasion demands such formal attention?

6. I did this one because I have seen so many images of these characters associated with aliens that it was nice to see them in their whole context. I am still mystified by the work, which I painted with some regard toward the original. The universe swirls- the sun or comet races through the heavens.( artistic license these.) The haloed or helmeted beings -without arms- are a puzzle and what of the giant having seeming mastery over the two. I , having once been catholic, can only smile at the scene that reminds me of a priest, having given communion to the now sanctified two 'GO IN PEACE'.

7. I repeated this one on textured cloth stretched over a frame. This one will be a series.

The Piper has been come to be identified with the Pueblo people of the Southwestern US. It is interesting that the piper carvings have also shown up in the Ohio Valley as well as in North Carolina. Getting gigs was just as hard then as now- always a lot of time on the road.

(Click on the thumbnails for a full view)

8. Another in that common man theme. The swirls and crosses are a world wide motif.

9. This one is a knockout to me. Here we see the piper as a facilitator. The swirl shows up again with the man figure either going into or coming out of the universe. Music plays such an important part of the lives of people everywhere and in all times. It is a shame that we can not hear the pipe play at such an event as is depicted here. I wonder if we would recognize the refrain.

10. A mixed genre piece. Pipers galore and that fantastic geometrical view of the world.

Thank you for having a look at my work. More to come.

Ken Lehnig

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