JON
BACO
I enjoyed spending some quiet, reflective time with the image, inept paper dolls, that Jon sent to me. And that led to this response piece called, I always say that I can’t draw—but isn’t drawing just a moving line?
Although I mailed the actual piece to Jon, I also sent him photographs of the accordion folded bookwork and the text for the poem via email, since I wasn’t sure how long it would take before he’d receive the physical piece.
The following is the text written on the pages of the bookwork.
I always say
that I can’t
draw —
but isn’t
drawing
just a moving
line?
1.
rough cut
and shadow folds
not quite
hand in hand
but definitely
in proximity.
2.
child-like
wanderings
through neighbourhoods
and interior spaces —
not rooms, per say
but imaginings
that hover
in the body.
3.
as I enlarge
the image
I feel a whispering
in my lungs
each cut out
remains
a silent
speaking.
4.
bend marks
where fingers held
while scissors cut
this walking
through nights
& shadowy dreams —
are these cut outs
Jon?
5.
I’m curious about
the word, “inept”
on the photo’s label —
it makes me think
of the word
“inadequate”
silkscreened by Katarina
on the front of
a used
orange-ish t-shirt.
6.
clothes found at a church
rummage sale
made anew and
sold to fellow artists.
she wondered who
if anyone
would buy that shirt.
yup, it was me
who proudly wore
“inadequate” for years.