Santa Fe y Plaza Italia Buenos Aires 11"x 14" oil on mounted linen
Walking was my passion in this city. I have a travel rule which is gargantuan to stick to if you are part of a large group. Luckily most of my time in Buenos Aires was alone or with my wife and two boys. The rule is that as often as possible to walk with a loose sense of a destination. I allow myself to be open and as nimble as the proverbial leaf floating in the wind. My practical side too performs its eye roll to this rule. I recognize its indulgence and its plain selfishness. If you only have a short time in a place, does it not make sense to hit up all the photo ops that the places are for? I would like to argue that you get less from this goal oriented action. That just being is more enriching than looking at a pic from a vacation, months later or if at all. That the stress and speed in which one rushes to the destination takes away from the joy of observing. During my MFA studies some years ago I read Wanderlust the History of Walking by Rebecca Solnit. I can not say I remember much from the book but the impact on me was an even more sense of appreciation for walking. Walking is slower than most forms of transportation. Your body is active and your senses engaged while strolling. You are almost "drinking" in a place. The smells tied to memories allows you to experience your emotions more. The soreness you may feel in your muscles remind you of these accomplishments. In this painting I am again trying to hold up a "mirror" to the observer. That looking at ourselves allows us to just be.
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