A Blakean Year…

So…it’s just after midnight at the beginning of 2021. That moment where Morpheus is preparing to shape dreams from the thoughts of  those of us who will soon be asleep. A new year awaits, and in these difficult times, watching a pre-recorded performance by Patti Smith provides a focus for reflection on the past year. (The link starts with a performance piece by Anne Imhof, with PS coming in at around 16 minutes).

Things might have been different, but as it was, “at the cusp of midnight on New Years Eve 2020/2021 poet and musician Patti Smith planned to perform her song “My Blakean Year” on the Piccadilly Lights screen in London. The piece was dedicated to the immensely influential 18th century poet, painter and mystic William Blake. Like many events that eve the performance was postponed, however it remains available to watch online through the circa.art website.

Smith tells us: “Almost all the songs I record are collaborations but occasionally I write a little song myself. I hear the melody in my head and sit on the floor with my acoustic guitar. After a bit of struggle I work it out and bring it to my band.

I have worked on this song for a while. Reading a lot of William Blake as well as the wonderful Blake biography by Peter Ackroyd. His life was a testament of faith over strife. He suffered poverty humiliation and misunderstanding yet he continued to do his work and maintained a lifelong belief in his vision. He has served as a good example in facing my own difficulties and feeling a certain satisfaction in doing so.”

Patti Smith and William Blake both feature from time to time in this blog, so its probably not surprising that, under Tier 4 restrictions here in Portsmouth, I would be watching.  Three songs, “In My Blakean Year”, “Peaceable Kingdom” and “Pissing In A River”. Inspiring and moving in equal measure. (Peaceable Kingdom accompanied by photos of health care workers lost to COVID during 2020).

I don’t ordinarily take photographs of TV screen images, but perhaps because of the unusual circumstances, I took a few with my mobile phone, just ‘out of interest’. I’m glad I did. These haven’t been edited beyond cropping to my ‘default’ 5×4 dimensions, and a little colour desaturation.

There’s a certain luminescence and etherealness about the first two in particular. And the background came out more than a little Mondrianesque …

And if nothing else, a reminder of the importance of the arts and music …

Message ends… 🙂

Patti (I) [00.13: 1 January 2021]

Patti (II): [00.13: 1 January 2021]

Patti (III): [00.14: 1 January 2021]