Cassandra Gordon-Harris absolutearts.com Portfolio
"Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who could not hear the music." John Milton I had a vision the other day. It was just a small one, as if the curtain of time and space pulled back just enough to give me a glimpse. On our daily walk, while the dog explored, I stopped on the road taking in the warm sun. Looking back towards the house, there, in an instant, I saw cars parked in front of the studio and people gathered about, then it was gone. My vision for Rincón Studios was still alive in the cosmos. After fear of being burned at the stake at the COW awards, I braved the chamber of commerce "mixer". Wearing dark blue, my hair pulled back, no makeup, glasses on, I was as drab as humanly possible. When I entered the room, like most people, I tried to pick up a sense of the room and the people’s vibrational quality. The low hum was so small as to be non existent. I chatted with the secretary, nametag in place, ignoring the peril I entered the fray. People were gathered into open groups of three or four. I approached the first group, they closed ranks. The second group did the same. I then approached a small group of women, one who was dressed in velvet Indian attire. I introduced myself, put out my hand, and she looked at it as if it was death incarnate. She did not have a name tag and so I asked ", and you are?" "You don’t know?" she retorted. (Please note that I was quite ready with a classic New Orleans put down but I restrained and said…)"No, I’m sorry but, I am new here". She mumbled something turned and walked away. It was downhill from there; I could not even make eye contact with anyone. After about 20 minutes of this futility and childish rejection, I left. Walking back to my car, the sheriff was standing next to an adjacent building and said politely "eve’n mam". I realized that my mind had gone numb and his greeting gave that muscle a jump-start. I do not think I have ever experienced such a base, petty, lower level group in my entire life. Exhaling, I said to the universe, well, if the right thing to do is the hardest thing, this is going to be very hard. The only solution I could come up with, if I was going to accomplish anything at all, was to learn to tap dance. I will be there for everything (like a good member) and just get in their doughy faces until they can ignore me no longer. On the brighter side, the Edgewood Artist Association is a wonderful group of artist and art lovers who want to do something of value in the community. I also joined the Rio Grande Art Association, a large art group in Albuquerque. You have probably noted I am painting this road I am on, where it will lead I do not know. Perhaps to some enlightenment or to nowhere, but my bags are packed, I have met a few kindred spirits and my determination is quite strong. My vision for Rincón Studios is still alive in the cosmos, which it turn, means it still has an opportunity to become reality. See me smile as I dance.
It was important for me personally to respond visually to the war in Iraq, and this piece was overdue in the making. As I thought about the piece, as I thought about “this war” and war in general, all I kept seeing was chaos, blood & violence, and then the aftermath of smoke & darkness. The complexity of the piece can be better viewed at my website, 
Sideview (2" Convex)
