This painting is about our the filtering of reality, by our mind. Sports exposes those attributes of life on an intense, compounded level. And it is equally exhibited in tennis.
One has to believe in their abilities, or in self, to proceed through the kinetic chain of going from thought to physical accomplishment. When an individual can do this repeatedly, such as in sports, they then have entered a flow state.
A flow state is considered the most natural and addictive emotional state humans can attain. It has been compared to religious states of ecstasy or being with God.
In this painting, ’The Godstick’ remains dead center between the ex professional tennis player, James Blake and the ball. And between the outlines of man and woman. ’The Godstick’ is decorated with all the colors of the prism yet is elevated off the field of play where we inhabit. It is the present, or a metaphor for God itself, and all the love therein.
And like a modern hunter being activated to find his meal, James Blake commits to the overhead to finish the play. To do so he must go past his perceived limitations and remain centered, balanced and forward thinking in his thoughts to meet the ball.
With this artwork, it is my attempt to exhibit how our personal doubts can be seen as a personally defined boundary, preventing us from accessing a play of our choosing, each other, the present, or possibly God and love.
-Joe
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