“Quiet City No.2” by PJ Bergin, May 2020

Most of the time when I finish an artwork I have a sense of accomplishment. I usually like the way the piece looks and am satisfied with the outcome. When I finished “Quiet City” in April, a different feeling took hold. I described it a bit in the April post. The calm and quiet I felt was visually evident in the artwork. From the response of readers to the post, the message was successful.

I learned a lot about myself and what was in my head while creating “Quiet City.” The piece taught me how much my inner feelings are expressed in my art, without me even being aware of them until I’m finished. I wanted to create another work during this time, using the same format. There was still more I needed to say.

I decided the structure and style would be similar to the first artwork. I found myself selecting colors that called to a brighter, more optimistic future. I drew a loose outline of a city skyline as a guide and started to play with the composition. Strangely, I began to feel a certain anxiety with the shapes. It was as if they were willfully shrinking in my hands, refusing to cooperate with me or each other. After two days of intense concentration I was still uncomfortable with the results. On the third day, I couldn’t even look at the piece and pulled it all apart.

Why had I wanted to create this artwork in the first place? It was to examine my own feelings during this time in May when reopening Colorado to trade and commerce is becoming more likely. What will this new development look like? How will the behavior of people affect me and my health? Will we end up in the same place we were two months ago? Obviously it was upsetting me far more than I realized, a feeling revealed in the way the artwork transformed itself into something so at odds with my original intention. The piece was really talking to me.

So, I started over, keeping the optimistic side of myself in charge. What a difference it made in the finished artwork. (I think you will agree.) After looking at the finished piece, I contemplated the journey we’re on and how easily and unexpectedly it can take us to dark places when we make assumptions about the future. Everything can feel heightened and accelerated, including the speed with which fiction overtakes fact.

We all need a way to express our inner feelings, especially during this time of added stress and uncertainty. For me, my artwork is my way of the listening to those thoughts. If it helps others, I’m even more grateful.

Wishing you the BEST and reaching out to you in GRATITUDE,
PJ

Both “Quiet City” and “Quiet City No. 2” are available. They each measure approximately 23”h x 44”w and are mounted in such a way they “float” off the wall about 1”. Ready for hanging. $1870