"Both Sides Now"

Acrylic, House Pain, China Marker, Gel emulsion

36" x 36"

From Joni Mitchell's famous song:

"I've looked at love from both sides now, From give and take and still somehow, It's love's illusions that I recall I really don't know love Really don't know love at all."

Song phrases are displayed on the two “sides” Mitchell’s lyrics bring to mind. One verse’s snippets are denoted with letters, the next verse with numbers.

a. I’ve looked at life

b. from both sides now

c. from Win

d. and lose

e. and still somehow

f. it’s life’s illusions I recall

g. I really don’t know life at all.

1. I’ve looked at clouds

2. from both sides now

3. from up

4. and down

5. and still somehow

6. it’s clouds illusions I recall

7. I really don’t know clouds at all

The song gave me the image of standing on the ground seeing one perspective, and the other perspective from a higher plane. I see it as a song that celebrates maturity and the ability to see people and events from varied perspectives. And applauds the mystery of not being 100% certain.

To me it's not an admission of the futility of love, more that we don't have it all sewed up. Life is mercurial. Sorrow mixed with joy. It’s mysterious. And wonderful.

I seek to have a heart like the one in Ecclesiastes 7:4-6:

A wise heart is well acquainted with grief, but a foolish heart seeks only pleasures company.

$390

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