Putting it out there.

A couple of us in my family like to exchange "ugly" or useless gifts. It's become quite a competition to see how outrageous we can be. One year, I received a white, ceramic tabletop planter in the shape of a toilet. The plant, of course, was to go in the bowl. I did not use it for that. Instead, I regifted it to the giver, adding two unwrapped Baby Ruth bars to the bowl. And that's when the competition really took off.

During a call with one of the participants in this game, she revealed there was another gag gift that was supposed to come my way, but she intervened on my behalf. I asked for a picture, and she texted one to me. It's at the end of this post, and I'm hoping one of you can help me determine what it might be, or where it might be from. But before that, I wanted to share something that crossed my mind while doing my own search for its identity.

There are millions of images stored by Google, and crafting search parameters for sculptures to narrow the results is like pointing a laser at the ocean and hoping the water parts. Nevertheless, I dove in, and I began drowning in a sea of clay, terra cotta, figures, statues...art. I was swimming in art, and artists.

As I looked at all these pieces, all the variety, all the different expressions of thoughts and feelings, I couldn't help but wonder about the courage of the artists. Here were their hearts, represented in a semi-permanent medium, out there for all the world to see. Subject to judgment, to criticism, to ridicule, as well as to praise, awe and appreciation.

And I am afraid to put pen to paper, as they say. I am afraid of writing words that I can't take back, or won't want to take back but will feel obligated to because someone was offended. Looking at some of those sculptures, it was clear that the artists were not concerned whether anyone would be offended by them, which in itself, is a statement, whether good or bad, it is still a statement.

I would like to have that kind of courage, to make a statement, although not with the intent to offend. I would like to free myself of all the second-guessing I do because I'm afraid someone will respond in anger. I don't like that when that happens, because I blame myself and try to make amends rather than, like the artist, just leave the piece as-is and let it make its statement. Maybe someday...

Anyway, below is the picture. If you know anything about it, let me know, and thanks for "listening!"

Leslie