The Dash

Big Art – The Dash

This big art piece is inspired by Franz Kline’s abstract expressionistic paintings, as well as Rorschach’s inkblots. 

I was on a Woodstock Graffiti tour in Cape Town with a group of fellow photographers. Having not been to the Woodstock Exchange before, I took a little gander when a storefront window caught my eye. It was closed, so I took the opportunity to shoot to my heart’s content. One can get quite self-conscious when photographing something. Have you ever watched a photographer bounce around a subject trying to get the perfect angle? The inspiration for this modern art piece was born right there.

I named this One-Off art piece ‘The Dash’ because the minimalistic line reminds me of a poem by Linda Ellis.

The Dash

I read of a man who stood to speak at a funeral of a friend.  He referred to the dates on the tombstone from the beginning…to the end.

He noted that first came the date of birth and spoke of the following date with tears but said what mattered most of all was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time they spent alive on earth and now only those who loved them know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own, the cars…the house…the cash.  What matters is how we lived and loved and how we spend our dash.

So, think about this long and hard; are there things you’d like to change?  For you never know how much time is left that still can be rearranged.

To be less quick to anger and show appreciation more and love the people in our lives like we’ve never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect and more often wear a smile…remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy is being read, with your life’s actions to rehash, would you be proud of the things they say about how you lived your dash?

Linda Ellis