Dear bloggers,

In his Florida home this past winter, Matt read a marvelous book called The View from the Center of the Universe, written by Joel R. Primack and Nancy Ellen Abrams.  This book inspired and moved him, and provided much food for thought.  As you have probably seen, he has mentioned the book several times here on the blog.  Recently Matt had the opportunity to be in contact with Nancy Abrams, has mentioned to Matt the challenges of layering exotic size scales above or within the more pedestrian scale of everyday consciousness—a challenge with aesthetic implications.

Matt reponds:

Nancy, your and Mr. Primack’s book is constantly gnawing at my soul.  I don’t think a day goes by that I don’t refer to its concepts.  For me, it puts into context the majesty, possibility, intrigue, and the unbelievable believables of the universe.  To me, this all comes down to hope and possibility.  If there is such an improbable act as the coming-together of our universe—if this can happen, then the discussions of how and why and spirits and gods and the exciting riddles for us to ponder, lead us eventually to some sort of loose conclusions.

Hopefully, with that loose conclusion will also be the seeds of world peace.  I struggle every day to find the key to that knowledge of human self and where we fit into this vast universe.  As I’ve said so often, once I feel I’ve found the answer and made the panting that is universally understood, I’ll probably quit painting and take up tap dancing to be accepted into the Rockettes as the first male!  The reality is that my arthritis is getting worse, not better, but my mind and outlook have been given a great transfusion of possibility when I ponder the mysteries that you and Mr. Primack have presented all of us as a gift though your book.  Thank you sincerely for all your hard work, study, revelation, and challenge.

I’m absolutely convinced that on my last day, I will still be trying to find that key.  But at least now I know where the doormat is, and daily I pick it up and peek underneath.  Once we get the lock open, then we have to push the door open, and that’s going to take a group effort.

Talk to you again soon,
Matt