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As you may know, Nancy Ellen Abrams, co-author of the book A View from the Center of the Universe, has been in an ongoing dialogue with Matt. Matt is a fan of the book, and Nancy is a fan of Matt's painting.
Recently Nancy wrote Matt and remarked on the ways in which he layers metaphysical content within his paintings. In part, she wrote:
“I've been wondering for a long time how to visually represent layering a consciousness of exotic size scales beneath (above, within—not sure of the preposition) the everyday consciousness we all have to function in. ‘Thinking cosmically’ means that most of the time we are not really focusing on galactic or atomic size scales, yet we are nevertheless always aware that the everyday world is visible on just a narrow range of the size scales on which the universe exists. This awareness keeps us connected us to our larger selves and gives us the perspective to act more wisely in all our affairs. I'm not sure anyone can figure out how to paint this.”
Matt responds:
Nancy, I’m reading your book for the third time here in Ireland. Whenever I get into a book I have to read it at least 3 or 4 or 5 times. I put the book in different places in our house and then pick it up for an hour or two at random and read very carefully.
The first two times, the way I read, is that I skip things I can’t understand the first time. The second time maybe I understand a little bit more. The third time I liken it to a great banquet or smorgasbord where I come in and say, Okay, I’m only going to have the greatest salad and the greatest dressing, and nothing else. Then the next day I come back, and it’s all fresh, and that day I’ll only have the soup. I devour it very slowly so it sinks into my psyche and becomes part of the mishmash of my thought processes.
With regard to metaphysical content and layering, I refer to Joseph Campbell as one of my great heroes. Swedenborg is another great visionary, and of course there is a rich history of religious writers and theologians. To me it’s like a big blender, blending it all together and trying to make sense out of it.
As I said before, I think your book is a chalice of knowledge and insight, which I find I have to sip gingerly to get the full taste and meaning of the ingredients. It’s challenging, but it’s also very fulfilling to see paterns emerging of where, individually and collectively, we are going.
And when you talk about the myths: how myths are knitted together into one grand plan that all parts of mankind can participate in... This is what I see as the culmination of my calling for the New Los Alamos, when people of different skills come together and figure out how we can in real, actual practive have a peaceful earth...
Thank you and your co-author for weaving together your story about the coming together of the cosmos. It will be one more great mystery that I will have to ponder, and I’m sure it will find its way into some part of my painting in the future. As the old saying goes, what goes around, comes around.
Matt