Wee toddlers... / by Joe Olney

P1060391P1060389P1060387Wee Toddlers...  text stamped into wall  approx. 6x9

Here's another wall piece that I did. This time I was bit more conscious about where I installed it, although I'm sure the VCU Fine Arts Building stairwell is not the best venue for it.

Some of my classmates have been kind enough to inform me that even though these text pieces are hard to see, once you know they are there, it's hard not to look at them. I like that aspect of the work very much. I find that my past is something that's also invisible that constantly reaches out for my attention. I constantly think of the things I witnessed and it's nice to have made a piece that has a similar silent, nagging, insistent presence. Hopefully it serves to shed some light on what it's like to be caught up in the largely unnoticed wars we have fought and continue to fight abroad.

For clarity, here's the text:

WEE TODDLERS DON T CRY IMMEDIATELY

WHEN YOU DROP THEM DOWN A FLIGHT

OF STAIRS I KNOW THAT NOW

AT THE TIME IT SEEMED LIKE A

GOOD IDEA FOR ONE TO CARRY THE

OTHER BUT IN THE END ALL THOSE

STAIRS AND ALL THAT WEIGHT GOT

THE BEST OF IT  EVENTUALLY IT

DID CRY  EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A

PAIN IT WAS A RELIEF

BUT NOW I WONDER IF IT EVER

LEARNED ITS OWN NAME

I WONDER WHAT YOU CALL IT