Immortal Artist

Monday, September 20, 2021

09/20/21 Haitian Refugee Being Whipped by Border Patrol Guard (Crisis Point Art)

Crisis on the border as Border Patrol agents think they are cowboys, roping and wrangling poor refugees attempting to get food from organization trying to help feed them.

Crisis Point Art

Crisis Point Art is art based on actual video footage of any given crisis filmed during the crisis. This can include video from news or independent sources captured on anything from an IPhone to Video Cameras.

The process involves reviewing video taken in and around the crisis and isolating single frames of the video which are then screen captured as a low resolution image. The image is then transformed to a surreal high resolution piece of art which captures both the essence of the crisis and elements that create an emotional surreal view of the crisis at hand.

Sunday, September 19, 2021

09/19/21 Volcanic Eruption, La Palma, Canary Islands (Crisis Point Art)

The Cumbria Vieja Volcano is currently erupting on the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands. This art was spontaneous art created from live feeds of the eruption.

Crisis Point Art

Labyrinth Project Creators Journal - Richard Alan Scott (New Entry 0/19/21)

Author: Richard Alan Scott

Rhode Island, USA

09/24/21

I do not know what is in the water but there are a great many scared, confused and downright hostile people out there. I always have sensed a rhythm in life when the summer is dying and coming to a close. People are cranky that they may not have experienced the fun they'd looked forward to, or perhaps it's that the fun is now over and it's back to school and work. When I worked at a pool and Rec. Center for Tupperware (no, there were not containers for leftovers diving and splashing) the end of August until school started signaled the coming of cooler days. Lifeguards had their jeans and even hoodies on as they watched an often empty pool. Sometime we'd close early due to lack of swimmers, and after all the partying and drinking the staff did all summer, we sat in silence reading the new paperback, "Carrie" everyone was talking about.

The cold has indeed made an appearance a few nights and all I have out are shorts and tee shirts. I often remember, especially around Labor Day, hearing the stories on the news that someone has shot a family member at some get together or cookout. They can get under your skin but, man; leave the weapons at home, please. Let's not grill grandma after the hot dogs. Also some friends and I have been particularly noting the post Covid disappearance of folks' driving skills. They dart out from driveways, they come in from exits and don't slow down to merge, never mind yield, they turn suddenly, they're on your ass, and they dart across the street in front of you. In all instances it's your good graces that prevent a sure accident because you are looking out for the other guy. Also, I've had to take down some comments in various Facebook groups. Where I sought discussion I had those who go into berserk mode, piling up on me despite my not being whom they characterized me as. This is real and it's scary at present.

Holy crow the writing rejections are coming fast and furious, leaving me with my mouth agape. I just about get a new wave of a half dozen out, and five come ricocheting back to me in short order. Yowza wowza. I've had to catch my breath and take a little step back to regroup lately. Most of you saw my post about a particularly nasty rejection I received on my tale about a destitute family of Palestinians dealing with an ancient demon. "Hi Richard. Your submission is horror, which we do not accept. We also do not accept poorly researched historical fiction, current events, or fiction gratuitously insulting to any religious group, emphasized by the blaring tabloid size title."

OUCH! Getting another rejection didn't bother me; her tone was nasty and her insinuations about my skills were unwarranted. I've now been doing this for sixteen years ladies and gentlemen. I believe I have developed a modicum of skill to get by as a legitimate submitting author, lol.

Now we get to the good part. Why do I not call it quits under the extreme pressure? Why do I lift my chin and enter a new phase of submissions, queries and writing? This has been the greatest and most exciting year of my writing life and I have a good bead on why that is! Throughout the lockdown and continuing semi- lockdown, I have worked my ass off! I wrote a second novel and have brought several stories up to speed until I was confident that they were bulletproof. And thusly, I have currently a total of five publications coming out this year. And also consequently, there is no end to the amount of goodwill comments I am receiving from Editors in this latest round!

"Richard, although I’m passing on this story, I compliment you on a well written tale. I enjoy the subtle, slight, haunting vignettes of life’s darker sides, which you tapped into well here."

"It's an interesting story,"

"The core of the story is quite fun,"

"Liked the writing style, the clear prose that seemed a little Biblical. Man the idea of telling a story about some dude inspired by Jesus is so wonderful. The imagery of the leper colony is well done. The protagonist is a compelling character and I empathized with him and all the supporting cast. I enjoyed Zadok and Marath's budding romance. The writing is clean and I never had to stop to figure out where I was. The scene when Zodak (sic) finally goes into the cave was suitably creepy. Overall I quite liked this story."

"I have to tell you—I did like this story; it was an entertaining read. The setting’s authentic, and it’s not often someone submits a completely different take on the crucifixion and keeps it interesting (I really mean it)."

There you have it. I know, you wonder why they don't just take them. But there is progress, there IS progress. Enough to make me go back to the computer. And please remember what my boss at Trinity Rep used to say going into a tense production week: "Cut your fellow man a break!"

Life & Death of the Man

While the world suffers from Covid and Hurricane Ida, massive wildfires and a host of other climate related issues (And yes I consider Covid part of the climate change narrative), I am reminded that this weekend should be the annual Burning Man festival in the Black Rock Desert.

For a second year the festival has been cancelled due to the pandemic. And while it might get overlooked, there are some of us who remember and honor the man from afar.

But I posted this to talk about the image above. This was sadly taken within moments of Aaron Joel Mitchell, an attendee of the festival, jumped into the flames in 2017 and committed suicide.

You may ask why I bring up such a melancholy thought right now. First, because I would like to honor his memory, at a time when little thought is given to the matter. Second because I think we need to acknowledge that there are many many people out there that are screaming out for help and that this is only going to get worse. Third because in some ways he represents the cleansing by fire that Burning Man has always brought to so many symbolically. Sadly he took the most direct route to that cleansing.

On this weekend when the Man should have burned and once more cleansed those who need it, many are left bereft of that symbolic healing. Here in New Orleans where the hurricane has yet destroyed our city. In the west where fires are sweeping through whole towns and many other places where disaster has hit, we need to symbolically cleanse ourselves of the pain. without destroying ourselves in the process.

Burning Man is not just a festivals for hippies to frolic naked in the desert. It is a healing time and one that I hope will come again in future years.

For now, cleanse yourselves in the best ways possible, and remember that there are others that understand. Reach out to us. We are there.

A Dystopian Triptych - Los Angeles

In the early morning hours before Hurricane Ida made landfall, I began working on this triptych of the Los Angeles skyline. I'm not sure what was motivating me, other than angst at the coming storm and dread that the power was going out. But I completed it a few hours before we lost electricity. I'm only now. 5 days later, getting a chance to upload it from our hotel room where we have taken refuge until the power comes back on.

If you don't think climate change is real, you might as well go stick your head in the sand. This will only get worse and climate refugees such as myself will only become more noticeable in the coming years.

This art is uploaded in its full size, so use your slider bar if you can't see the whole thing.

~Grey~