Machine Shed in May

2022

24.5 x 38.5 in

acrylic on masonite

  I was originally going to title this painting “High Pressure System”, in reference to both the weather system depicted, indicated by the cirrus clouds, and the responsibilities inherent in farming.

  I tend to paint very specific moments in time, but moments that repeat themselves year after year in the cycle of life on a farm (specifically, our farm, in Perth County). My aim is to illustrate the universal through the depiction of the specific, emotionally, metaphorically, creatively, and even biologically. Machine Shed in May continues this pursuit.

  The growth stages of the various plants in the composition, such as budding Silver Maple and Black Walnut trees, blooming Lilacs and dandelions indicate early May in Perth County. So too, the three Barn Swallows, having returned from their overwintering grounds in South America. In fact, these birds arrive within 3 days of April 25 on our farm for as long as we’ve lived here, a remarkable testament to the cyclicity of our planet’s yearly orbit around the Sun, and the lives of various organisms so closely connected to it’s orbit.

  As a farmer, this time of year meant gearing up for the all-consuming task of growing crops, and the energy and effort associated with growing and harvesting, then selling those crops.  It’s a lot to be placed on an individual’s shoulders, especially given the unpredictable nature of weather.

  This time of year represented a paradox for me, for on the one hand, the birds that are so important to me are returning, and life is re-emerging from Winter’s grip, bringing the promise of new growth and renewal. On the other hand, the pressure and workload of running a farm has also returned, and the tractors stare at me from inside the shed, calling me to work the long hours necessary for a successful crop.