Introduction
In commemoration of the renowned artist Stanley Greaves’ 90 birthday, the Sunday Stabroek will be featuring images of some of his artwork accompanied by poems written by him. This week’s painting PHILODENDRON LEAVES, 1957, is accompanied by a note from Mr Greaves and the poem.
PHILODENDRON LEAVES, 1957, oils, 18” x 24” .
Joining Saint’s as a teacher, for five years during the August holidays I took boys on camping trips in the interior. It was Bobby Fernandes who suggested going to his dad’s wood grant to see how wallaba timber and charcoal were produced. Walking through forests I have always tried to observe the environment. During that trip it was the first time seeing Philodendron Vines with their large variegated green leaves that caught my attention. Plants with large leaves have always fascinated me. To my mind they make you aware of their presence. The Philodendron has large leaves each having its own “homemade” openings and not those made by insects. There was an elegance about the arrangement of the openings, unlike those made by insects, that made me do the painting. I gave it to E.R. Burrowes of the Working Peoples Art Class where in 1948 at 14 years old I became the youngest member. The painting was my equivalent to landscape painting.
Poem
LEAVES. (2000)
Leaves ,
a variety of twisted colours
clothes my friend the tree.
Shapes are born to my eyes
before words shape them
posing intrusive questions
of precedence.
Each day’s inevitable debate
between leaf and cloud,
between spoon and sand
create new words,
and new words
incalculable events
in the poet’s domain.
