HIGH HOPES

 I began 2012 with more of a desire than an ambition. For years, I had let my painting hobby take a back-burner to life. Extinguished to near extinction. So I set the simple goal to draw & paint consistently this year. Hopes of a re-establishment and acquisition of some skills. Somewhere during the year that desire adopted ambition. In this first & last post of 2012 on my art blog, "Decadence-n-decay Art", I pay homage to my newly emerged, high hopes. 

I'm not what one would consider a dedicated enthusiast of Pink Floyd. That being said, I couldn't peg myself as a die hard rock-n-roll soul without some knowledge of their contributions. One song in particular pierced me the first time I heard it. Before the days of Google and Wikipedia, I heard the song "High Hopes" in the background on some random television documentary. Versed enough in music I pegged the artist as Pink Floyd. Void of the Internets, it took some digging, and some time, but I emerged successfully with the lyrics. This time, I copy & pasted from lyricsfreak.com: 

Beyond the horizon of the place we lived when we were young
In a world of magnets and miracles
Our thoughts strayed constantly and without boundary
The ringing of the division bell had begun

Along the Long Road and on down the Causeway
Do they still meet there by the Cut

There was a ragged band that followed in our footsteps
Running before time took our dreams away
Leaving the myriad small creatures trying to tie us to the ground
To a life consumed by slow decay

The grass was greener
The light was brighter
With friends surrounded
The nights of wonder

Looking beyond the embers of bridges glowing behind us
To a glimpse of how green it was on the other side
Steps taken forwards but sleepwalking back again
Dragged by the force of some inner tide

At a higher altitude with flag unfurled
We reached the dizzy heights of that dreamed of world

Encumbered forever by desire and ambition
There's a hunger still unsatisfied
Our weary eyes still stray to the horizon
Though down this road we've been so many times

The grass was greener
The light was brighter
The taste was sweeter
The nights of wonder
With friends surrounded
The dawn mist glowing
The water flowing
The endless river

Forever and ever

  

-Pink Floyd, "High Hopes"

Songwriters: WITTER, RICHARD JAMES / BANKS, PAUL ADRIAN / GLADWIN, THOMAS PETER / LEACH, ALAN STEVEN

We all have hopes, hopes dashed and hopes fulfilled. Without getting all analytical on the whole song, I want to point out that this was Pink Floyds last song ever. And it ends with the hope of fulfillment, "water flowing, the endless river, forever and ever." This is all dependent on the source of our hope. I'm gazing heavenward on this one. 

My novice 2012 desires & ambitions produced a handful of sold works, a couple art exhibitions/displays, the development of this prototypical blog, and the acceptance as a vendor at The Plaid Peacock in Roanoke TX.

My 2012 was a bit chaotic. Often others have already penned the circumstances better than we can. Forgive me for my use of more lyrics...but this time in more of the funny, whimsical light that I like to emulate in my art, I'll end 2012 with Frank:

 Next time you're found, with your chin on the ground
There is a lot to be learned, so look around

Just what makes that little old ant
Think he'll move that rubber tree plant
Anyone knows an ant, cant
Move a rubber tree plant

But he's got high hopes, he's got high hopes
He's got high apple pie, in the sky hopes

 -Frank Sinatra, "High Hopes"

My Best XOXO, 
Janelle Jensen Fritz