Jim Woods: "While you are no doubt familiar with Frédéric-Auguste Bartoldi’s “Statue of Liberty,” you have probably not yet been introduced to his “Allegory of Africa.”
The figure of a well muscled African reclines prone, neither rising nor resigned to fall back. He is frozen in a moment of choice. His intense eyes communicate his active mind as he weighs his decision, not yet made. His powerful physique and lion’s pelt testify to his capability.
The installation at the National Gallery allows one to stalk around the statue within the intimacy of an alcove in the back corner of the gallery. Not life size, the smallish statue could be cradled as a hefty burden to a man’s chest.
The statue invokes in me contemplation of my own decisions not yet made as I momentarily hover between rising and falling as determined ultimately by my own choice."
When asked if he would like to use this opportunity to mention anything else, Jim said he would like to promote Edward Cline's novel Presence of Mind
which features Chess Hanrahan--whom Jim calls "the thinking man's Mike Hammer."A special thanks to Jim (and all the guest bloggers) for their time and energy.
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