Joni Mitchell

I did not discover Joni Mitchell until 1998. I was 24, working in a cubicle in Seattle for Amazon.com. Amazon had just added music as one of its offerings, and as employees, we could order online and have books and, now, music, delivered to our office inboxes. So I — at the recommendation of a friend — ordered Blue.

I’ve found that the mention of Blue elicits one of two responses. If the other person knows it: a meeting of the eyes, a sigh, a nod. If the person doesn’t know it, an insistence that they must, and a serious questioning of how have they been living their life so far without it.

It was only a couple of years ago that I began to explore (i.e. was ready for) some of her other work. I’ve now become a big fan of Hejira, listening the the album, and that song in particular, on repeat many many times, especially when I am creating art.

Music is an incredible magic. Joni touches my soul and leaves me both bereft and wealthy; both less alone as well as pining for the what I have been missing all along. Listening to her always moves my journey forward. There is always a song, an album, or a new recording that can suddenly bring to life something that has been lying dormant in my heart, waiting for its siren song.

Rectify

This incredible show (produced by Sundance, now on Netflix), written and directed by Ray McKinnon, is one of the most beautiful I have ever watched. It takes the watcher on a honest and hopeful journey of sorrow and healing. Truly magnificent.

The show begins with the main character, Daniel Holden, released from death row after 20 years in prison. It is unclear at that time whether or not he is innocent, though obvious that his family believes him to be. What unfolds from there is one of the best and most hopeful dramas I have ever watched.

As a therapist, I watch many shows that I find powerful or real, but few that then go on to portray the healing that is possible in this real world we live in. Watching Rectify was as much a healing experience as an entertaining experience.

Kehinde Wiley

Kehinde Wiley’s portrait of President Obama.

I remember the first time I saw the portrait of President Barack Obama. I gasped, it was so perfect to me. How wonderful to discover more of the artist’s work. His work is so brave and original and unafraid of being beautiful and true.

There is a lovely article in The Guardian about Mr. Wiley. Among many other wise statements, I loved this one:

[Art is] about seeing yourself in other people. People forget America itself is a stand-in for a sense of aspiration the world holds on to. It’s a really sad day when the source of light criticizes light itself.

3 Girls in a Wood by Kehinde Wiley

http://kehindewiley.com/