To thine own self be true

Watched the excellent, relatively new PBS American Masters documentary last evening about this remarkable artist. Wyeth’s work was completely original and paid close attention to Nature and people in the context of Nature. He went his own way after being raised to be a painter like his father, the illustrator, N.C. Wyeth. Andrew was commercially successful on his own terms; as he said “I painted my own life.”

That commerciality was heavily criticized by critics who had no depth to appreciate his marvellous and mystical symbolism. Wyeth makes special use of time and memory, which made his work considerably accessible to his audience and fans. Everybody sees and imagines their own interpretations and connections to classics such as “Christina’s World” and the Helga Pictures.

This documentary reviews the key events and works of Wyeth’s life, including many interviews with him and those who knew him well, including his sons. In sensitive, evocative detail, it outlines the themes of his work and what his views of the world were. Highly recommended as an introduction to an American legend, icon, and great artist.

(Entertaining oneself singing and playing music; here: picking the first D chord of The Byrds’ “Mr. Tambourine Man” on a reasonable facsimile of the Beatles jangly black 12 string electric Rickenbacker more than adequate for sixties basement rock.)

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This will not be difficult or much of a change for me regardless of how long the coronavirus hunkering down at home last. Apparently our daughter will look after groceries. For the time being, we will continue to walk the empty mall early to get walks in though I expect streets should be clear enough to walk in about a week.

I already have a daily indoor walking routine including Tai chi, a treadmill, stationary bike, handweights, and stretch bands. I have large book, music, and video libraries. I generally mix music, video, and reading throughout the avg. day. (As usual, I will not be using my cellphone for anything.)

There are a number of ongoing projects including a new book of poems, spring cleaning, and possession downsizing. There is also this blog with its continuing thoughts de jour. In short, after many decades of amusing, entertaining, and educating myself, nothing will change. I will get things done every day and move forward on a number of fronts while passing the time.

Being locked out of schools will have a very negative effect on students. Many poor kids will go hungry away from school lunch programs. There will be a significant increase in mental problems because of the number of people who are socially addicted and define themselves by their jobs. Blows to ego and a major loss of purpose, all that.

Many people will simply not know what to do other than watch their tvs and phones, kids included. Diet and exercise will both suffer and there will be a sharp increase in sedentary lifestyles with all the attendant problems like overweight people consuming too much junk food.

It will take regular routines, focus, and self-discipline to sidestep and avoid the above problems. People will simply not know what to do with themselves and their increased free leisure time.

that you see on the Frame channel are now relatively deserted and that some of these people are now dead.

Instead of Trump’s using the army to build extra beds, why not use 3D printers to make the plastic or metal frames which can then have mattresses added?

or, to be more exact, trenches in wartime.
Iran is disposing of coronavirus bodies that way and I suspect this will be true elsewhere given no funeral director will want to dispose of pocky corpses on the premises. This will lead to a lot of negative reactions of families of victims denied of the usual farewell processes.