“How the Light Gets in” 12×12, oil on canvas
When you buy canvas, it sometimes comes with these little pieces of wood– stretcher keys. They are there to strengthen the canvas if it begins to sag. Never having had a need for them before, I typically throw them away.
When I first started painting in college, I used to collage all kinds of wild things into my paintings–loose change, pencils, pages I had ripped from books.
For day 3, I wanted to bring that back and what better way than with those little pieces of wood that come with the canvas.
Today’s bird is standing right on the intentional crack I left between the two pieces I collaged onto the paint using the paint itself as an adhesive. I’ve scratched some of the words to Leonard Cohen’s “Anthem” into the background– it felt right.
The birds they sang
At the break of day
Start again
I heard them say
Don’t dwell on what
Has passed away
Or what is yet to be
Yeah the wars they will
Be fought again
The holy dove
She will be caught again
Bought and sold
And bought again
The dove is never free
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in
We asked for signs
The signs were sent:
The birth betrayed
The marriage spent
Yeah the widowhood
Of every government
Signs for all to see
I can’t run no more
With that lawless crowd
While the killers in high places
Say their prayers out loud
But they’ve summoned, they’ve summoned up
A thundercloud
And they’re going to hear from me
Ring the bells that still ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in
You can add up the parts
You won’t have the sum
You can strike up the march
There is no drum
Every heart, every heart
To love will come
But like a refugee
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in
That’s how the light gets in
That’s how the light gets in