Trilogy:
Conference of the Birds

Conference of the Birds (Panels 1-5) Conference of the Birds (Panels 6-10) Conference of the Birds (Panels 11-15) Conference of the Birds (Panels 16-20) Conference of the Birds (Panels 21-25) Conference of the Birds (Detail 1) Conference of the Birds (Detail 3) Conference of the Birds (Detail 4) Conference of the Birds (Detail 5) Conference of the Birds (Detail 8) Conference of the Birds (Detail 12) Conference of the Birds (Detail 15) Conference of the Birds Conference of the Birds Conference of the Birds Conference of the Birds

 

The second work in this series explores the movement from the earlier, repressive vision of mysticism towards a spiritual response based in action only (a conception which will be explored in the third painting, entitled: "Manifesto"). Another huge piece — utilizing 25 panels, and measuring 6' x 63' — "Conference of the Birds" is based on the 13th century Sufi mystical treatise of the same name, by Farid ad-Din Attar (d. 1273), which outlines the mystic's quest.

I based this piece on a series of images culled from Attar's 13th century mystical tract. Then, refining a painting style that involved drawing, printing, collage and swaths of paint, I applied these symbols to the 25-panel. The process of applying the paint and images, and then tearing away at the work, then applying more collage and paint, and then tearing again, echoed my own quest, as I excavated the underlying, mistaken ideals of the classical mystical path. "Conference of the Birds" stands as a testament to possibility — as well as error.

Stay tuned for the final painting of this series, which will limn a vision of post-modern possibility, a mysticism not based in narcissistic realization of individual gods, but in the healing of the world through positive action . . .