“Elephant Walk”

Artwork 2 of 4 from the ‘Play’ series, sketch in progress. 

Jessica McCallum © 2011

 

ELEPHANT WALK                                                                      

When I was a child

I remember thinking

that chain around

the elephant’s leg

wasn’t strong enough.

 

Elephants are tough!

If he wanted, he

could free himself just

by lifting that mighty foot

shaking the metal loose

and walking away…

 

Why does he stay?

 

No-one could stop him

If he chose to go,  take

his own path. No more

performance on command

– he could find some green.

 

Walk through jungles again!

 

Elephants are tough so

why does he stay, stroll

through sawdust, put up

with that lady who leans

into his ear, whispering…

 

It’s because he loves her.

 

Frances Macaulay Forde © 2011

 Written to the art of Jessica McCallum for her 2011 Exhibition:  “All the pretty Ones Are… “

 

@FrancesMForde  #FrancesMacForde  #JessicaMcCallum  #ArtAsTheSpark  #AllThePrettyOnesAre  #AnimalArt  #ForTheLoveOf  #ElephantWalk  “ART:Play2  #Poem  #Poetry

 

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Happy day…

Happy, Happy Birthday to my Darling, soon-to-be-mum Daughter!

  

  

I’m so proud of everything you are and everything you do – always have been.

You grow more beautiful every hour and I know, you’ll teach your son to be a gentle, strong and loving man.

So many wonderful years ahead of you, Sweetie.

#ARTIST:JessicaMcCallum

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Red Umbrella 2

“Red Umbrella Series” by Jessica McCallum from ‘Raincheck’ Exhibition 2010

 

Ripples merge you and I

into a private existence

mirroring each other;

different shades of blues,

silver rings of protection,

white dots of hope,

green patches of communication,

blue background of love.

 

Until someone else

jumps in with both feet,

splashing and spreading confusion,

drenching our safeness 

with questions, green jealousy 

and blue moon moods,

holding a red umbrella.

 

After a while calm silver

reflects our feelings,

reminding us what we had

in our perfect puddle,

holding a mirror to our faces

before rubber boots intruded.

 

Until we realized what we had

before…

 

Frances Macaulay Forde © 2010

 

‘Raincheck’ an exhibition in case of showers…  2010 

Artworks by Mixed Media Artist, Jessica McCallum

Held Aug 23 – Sept 10, 2010 at Subiaco Arts Centre Gallery, Perth, WA.

(Poetry postcards from exhibitions available from JESSICA McCALLUM)

 

@FrancesMForde  #FrancesMacForde  #ArtAsTheSpark  #Raincheck  #ARTIST:JessicaMcCallum  #Poetry  #RedUmbrella

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Art as the Spark: Orchid

Jessica McCallum © 2010  ‘All the pretty ones are…’

Orchid

With a Naturists eye

Infinite care, such

considered placement

A fern fond here

A gum leaf there

 

Pink & yellow

Dried petals

Delicate veins

Like a wedding veil

Placed in the center

of our two-tiered cake

an orchid appears

A most exotic,

rare orchid

like me.

 

Frances Macaulay Forde © 2007

@FrancesMForde  #ARTIST:JessicaMcCallum #CreativeConnections  #ArtIsTheSpark   #Romance  #POEM:Orchid

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Art As The Spark: “distain”

distain

 

Your contempt for my feelings

broke something inside – no, not

my heart, it was my soul…  You

 

judged me harshly, unworthy –

beneath your regard. In total

disgrace, I slunk away to heal.

 

I needed to breathe deeply,

to absorb the pain, swallow

before wearing silk again…

  

Frances Macaulay Forde © 2011

ART:  Jessica McCallum

 

#FrancesMacaulayForde  #JessicaMcCallum  #ArtAsTheSpark  #Romance  #Love  #Poems  #LovePoems  #ArtPoems  #Art

 

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Black Swan.

My very talented daughter Jessica McCallum is busy working on her entry into the Black Swan Portraiture Prize.

Held every year, I’ve been nagging her to enter for years, ever since she was commissioned to provide Black Swan masks for the big event; the ball where winners are announced.

She’s busy working on the portrait of her Dad, a man of the land both privately and professionally.  He worked for the Agricultural Department as a Farm Advisor since earning his degree at Curtin University after doing National Service.

As a now retired but always committed environmentalist, it’s fitting Jess is using his landscape – his Brookton farm to frame his face.  (Photos show close ups of the work in progress.)

Using mostly wood stains on ply instead of the usual acrylic or oils on canvas, her approach is different.  The technique also enables her to use the traditional craft of wood burning for striking shadow effects.

So, so proud.  Can’t wait to see the final product because I know it will be amazing.

 

#FrancesMacaulayForde  #ARTIST:JessicaMcCallum  #BlackSwanPortraitPrize  #ART:Sand&Sandles

 

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Elephants

My daughter’s studio. #JessicaMcCallum © 2011

My daughter Jessica McCallum’s  3rd exhibition ‘All the Pretty Ones Are’  (all things Circus) was held in 2011 at the Heath Ledger Theatre foyer in the new and exciting State Theatre Centre.

I feel the poetry I wrote to the artworks of  that exhibition, was some of my best; particularly this one written from a childhood memory of the circus coming to our small town in Africa.  Although he was an Indian elephant –  African elephants can’t be tamed and I love them more, for that.

The Global March for Elephants and Rhinos is a call for a world-wide response to the continued senseless cruelty – the terrible things happening to these beautiful, wise, gentle creatures.

Just weeks ago what’s said to be the largest bull elephant in Africa; Satao of Tsavo in Kenya had his face hacked off for his magnificent tusks!

All this information is thanks to  Harry Owen on Facebook:  I’ve  mentioned before, his book to raise funds for the cause of saving Rhino’s and can’t wait for my copy…

Meanwhile  I thought I’d share another of my poems from that exhibition.

Artwork 2 of 4 from the ‘Play’ series, sketch in progress. #JessicaMcCallum © 2011

 

When I was a child

I remember thinking

that chain around

the elephant’s leg

wasn’t strong enough.

 

Elephants are tough!

 

If he wanted, he

could free himself just

by lifting that mighty foot

shaking the metal loose

and walking away…

 

Why does he stay?

 

No-one could stop him

If he chose to go, take

his own path. No more

performance on command

– he could find some green.

 

Walk through jungles again!

 

Elephants are tough so

why does he stay, stroll

through sawdust, put up

with that lady who leans

into his ear, whispering…

 

It’s because he loves her.

 

#FrancesMacaulayForde   #JessicaMcCallumArtist  #AllThePrettyOnesAreExhib  #HarryOwen  #GlobalMarchForElephantsAndRhinos  #SataoOfTsavo

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