The Peer

The time shall come when wrong shall end,
When peasant to peer no more shall bend

The Peer

Still hurting after Palin Perez Jackson’s untimely demise.

A Mind Serene for Contemplation

Alexandra

Vision with an Apple

The Apple Tree

 

 

 

I saw the archangels in my apple-tree last night, 
I saw them like great birds in the starlight— 
Purple and burning blue, crimson and shining white. 
 
And each to each they tossed an apple to and fro, 
And once I heard their laughter gay and low;        
And yet I felt no wonder that it should be so. 
 
But when the apple came one time to Michael’s lap 
I heard him say: “The mysteries that enwrap 
The earth and fill the heavens can be read here, mayhap.” 
 
Then Gabriel spoke: “I praise the deed, the hidden thing.”        
“The beauty of the blossom of the spring 
I praise,” cried Raphael. Uriel: “The wise leaves I sing.” 
 
And Michael: “I will praise the fruit, perfected, round, 
Full of the love of God, herein being bound 
His mercies gathered from the sun and rain and ground.”        
 
So sang they till a small wind through the branches stirred, 
And spoke of coming dawn; and at its word 
Each fled away to heaven, winged like a bird.  
 
-Nancy Campbell

Vision with an Apple

Her Profile’s Fine – Delightful, Intellectual, Aquiline

She’s not too careless, not conventional quite; 

   Does what she likes; knows what she does is right

A Woman's Profile

Woman In a Jar

This is one of Herbert Freeman’s “people in a jar” motifs.  It looks like he lost track of the darker-lined circles in the upper right of the jar design and filled in space between a strand of hair and the jar itself. 

Woman in a Jar

The Estimable Schoolmarm

The Teacher archetype is a frequent subject in Herbert Freeman’s artwork.  The dipiction of a female teacher is rare.  I have only seen one other. 

The Preceptress

The Sublime

Samuel Johnson – The City of God

City of God, how broad and far 
  Outspread thy walls sublime! 
The true thy chartered freemen are, 
  Of every age and clime. 
 
One holy Church, one army strong,        
  One steadfast high intent, 
One working band, one harvest-song, 
  One King Omnipotent. 
 
How purely hath thy speech come down 
  From man’s primeval youth;         
How grandly hath thine empire grown 
  Of Freedom, Love, and Truth! 
 
How gleam thy watchfires through the night, 
  With never fainting ray; 
How rise thy towers, serene and bright,         
  To meet the dawning day! 
 
In vain the surge’s angry shock, 
  In vain the drifting sands; 
Unharmed, upon the Eternal Rock, 
  The Eternal City stands.

 

The Sublime

Jailhouse – Sublime

The First to Vanish in the Smoke Of God-Forsaken No Man’s Land

“First”  is the only thing written on the back of this drawing.

First

Braided Hair

This is a drawing that Mr. Freeman calls Sandra.

Sandra

A video featuring Speech and a song that rings with the hope and dignity that Mr. Freeman’s pictures testify to.

The Prince

Mr. Freeman gave me a large number of drawings that he made while he was in jail so that I can post them to the site.  Here is the first one.

Prince

Mr. Freeman’s art is unique and it’s kind of hard to describe his style by referring to other visual artists.  I think that if visual art can be described by music the sound that certain Jazz players achieved, especially in the sixties and seventies, could be a good analog of Herbert Freeman’s work.

With that in mind I would like to offer this amazing DJ mix of the jazz of the great visionary musician Alice Coltrane.

Alice Coltrane Mix

Alice Coltrane