"The Summer Wind"
28" x 28" (71.1cm x 71.1cm)
Oil on Linen
"The title of this painting refers to '
The Song of the Galloping Horse of the Yogin ' by Jetsun Milarepa. Jetsun writes of "The horse, which is my mind, flies like the wind" and goes on to explain how the path to enlightenment is within you. There are thousands of references throughout history of the horse symbolizing the idea of freedom. The references get more intriguing when it is a white horse.
My central character is admiring the freedom of the horses roaming the field under a blue sky. Her focus is drawn to the white horse. She does not notice the similarities though; her white dress, her flowing mane, her bare feet against the earth. All she needs is to step out from the shade of the oak to feel the warmth of the sun. She has freedom and does not know it. She spends her time clinging to the knowledge and shelter of the centuries old oak, not realizing the time has come for her to create her own path.
What follows are excerpts from a politician, a philosopher, and a bubbly starlet all whom attempted to share this teaching in their own way.
"When an American says that he loves his country, he means not only that he loves the New England hills, the prairies glistening in the sun, the wide and rising plains, the great mountains, and the sea. He means that he loves an inner air, an inner light in which freedom lives and in which a man can draw the breath of self-respect."
- Adlai Stevenson
"The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are."
- Joseph Campbell
"I am involved in a freedom ride protesting the loss of the minority rights belonging to the few remaining earthbound stars. All we demanded was our right to twinkle."
- Marilyn Monroe"
