Autumn doesn’t mean what it used to — certainly not here, in this place, at this time.
Time was, fall was relatively predictable: a gradual chilling of the air followed by a brief return of Indian summer, then a first snow in October and and a downward slope toward winter by November.
We are midway through the second week of November, and today the mercury will hit sixty.
Autumn spirits in this place have customarily divided themselves into two camps: those of early fall, the dilatory dragonflies and the monarch butterflies en route to warmer climes; and the latter autumnal creatures, coyote and deer and elk and bear, some of whom show themselves only by what they leave behind. For this week, art least, we still have butterflies, albeit not monarchs but their attending painted ladies; aside from a late-summer trace of bear scat and the sure and certain knowledge that Coyote waits, none of the pre-winter spirits have made their presence known to us yet.
Of course, it’s a day that feels almost like late summer, despite the coldness of dawn and dusk. In a climate so rapidly changing, our expectations must adapt, as well. It’s a time for welcoming altered weather, and a time for renewing the acquaintance of autumn spirits, including those new to us at this season.
Not everything is different, of course: The light remains shorter, lower, more sharply angled and yet softer in effect. It reminds me of the glow that infuses today’s featured work, an airspray painting by a friend of a friend, both of whom hail from Comanche country, of both its earth and its people. From its description in the Other Artists: Wall Art gallery here on the site:
Renowned Comanche artist Tim Saupitty created a matched pair of air-spray paintings in watercolor hues, images of a man and woman in full traditional dress. The male figure remains in Wings’s private collection; he has put the female figure on offer. Whether viewed as a dancer or a bride, she is wholly traditional, with beaded buckskin cape, light blue shawl, eagle-feather fan, and eagle plume in her long braided hair; the spirits of deer and dragonflies dance all around her. The colors are simultaneous delicate and bold, the stylized human figure the artist’s hallmark; the interplay of light and shadow surrounds her with beauty and mystery and spiritual power. The entire image, including frame, is 38 inches high by 30 inches wide; the visible portion of the painting is 29.5 inches high by 21.25 inches wide (dimensions approximate). Close-up and full views shown above and at the link.
Note: This piece sustained mild water damage in the lower left corner and back due to a leak in the 1,000-year-old gallery in which it once hung. It has accordingly been reduced in price by nearly 50%.
Textured paper; air-spray paint; wood frame with glass
$2,500 + shipping, handling, and insurance
Permanent markdown: Reduced to $1,500 + shipping, handling, and insurance
Note: Size and fragility require special handling; extra shipping charges apply
Our visiting spirits on this day are those of early autumn: bright sun and warm winds, feathery wings and no need for winter coats yet. That will change soon enough; Coyote appears in the south field occasionally, and the elk are due soon. For now, though, it is enough to dance in the warmer winds, a dance with the warmer spirits who linger still.
Tomorrow is time enough for winter.
~ Aji
All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2017; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owners.
