West of the Fields

Hiya. Right. I haven't found my groove yet. So this post is going to be awkward. First posts are always like that, all "Hi, nice to meetcha, do you like things of an enjoyable nature, too?". You're here, so I assume we have at least one thing in common.

So let me get right to it. Oh, did you read the Inspiration for this blog? Do you care? No? Okay. On with the show, this is it!

This piece... ugh. I'm referring to my own art as a "piece". I hate that. It sounds so pretentious. Nevertheless, I suppose that's the official term. A-hem. This piece is inspired by the song West of the Fields, the final track from R.E.M.'s first full-length album, Murmur (1983).

(Click to enlarge)

The lyric "West of the fields" is repeated multiple times in the song's chorus, but to my ears, it sounds like "West of Steeles". I'm putting this down to the fact that, for a year and a half, I lived at the intersection of Kipling Avenue and Steeles Avenue West in North Etobicoke, Ontario. That's fairly recent history to me, and so a map of that area always flashes through my mind when I listen to the song.

I had actually intended to create this piece in the real live physical world, using paint, and a map, and ink and paper stressing techniques, but I'm moving house in 2 weeks and I already packed all my art supplies. So instead, I arted over a Google map using Pixlr Express and MS Paint. The overlayed transparencies are photographs I took of the Rosedale Station tiles and a close up of my craptacularly cute Crosley turntable case.

Visual inspiration for this piece has come from the work of Stephen Andrews, who has a spectularly beautiful exhibit going on at the Art Gallery of Ontario, right now, right right now, go go go see it!

Credits

Reproduction, altered: Google Map; intersection of Steeles Avenue West and Kipling Avenue, Etobicoke, Ontario.