Beautiful Dreamers, a Shelter-in-Place Project
An old song resounds in the present moment, gathering together a bouquet of painted lilies, asking to be a gift for this point in time. As an artist taken up in its cause, I marvel about the mysterious ways that inspiration arrives seamlessly, how it envelops an artist in its magnetic mist to become a consuming thought, an irresistible current. Perhaps this is to be expected, for in a time of Shelter-in-Place isolation, there is more silence… more time to listen. The compelling draw towards photographing lilies and skies, and the rising of an old beloved tune came upon me without plan, only response, and now is to be shared. For in this moment there is a lot of difficulty, confusion, and suffering as the COVID-19 pandemic ravages the world. And I respond with an artist’s gift, of this time, for this time.
It’s heartbreaking to witness the devastation of families during this pandemic; the contagion necessitates isolating the sick and the dying from their companions in life, and many are dying tragically. When I imagine the worst, it’s that someone I know and love deeply is sick and fighting for life. That I am there, speaking words of comfort, steadfastly present through whatever state of consciousness they may be in — I’d still be present if they become comatose, perhaps even singing them home. Experiencing the death of a loved one is hard enough in the best of circumstances, but recently, those who’ve died face their deaths in isolation from loved ones. In this sequestering of love that lay dying, there is no space for the final exchange of words that arise in the moment when two steadfast hearts connect. Families grieve without proper closure — caregivers do their best to bridge, while suffering themselves as too many patients die. Overwhelming demands are making a relentless descent upon tired spirits, and we are all seeking relief.
Participating in the creative process is one of the ways in which I’ve been called upon to respond. These images titled with the lyrics of Beautiful Dreamer are in honor of those who have passed, in compassionate stance for the loved ones who grieve, and in appreciative respect for those sensitive and dedicated caregivers who are the bedside hearts and hands for us all. This gift to them is but one gesture, in hope that sharing a little beauty will help a few, while the world still needs so much.
Renditions of Beautiful Dreamer sung as a lullaby melody can present the full song in a way that introduces a lightness of spirit to a process that, while natural, is laden with so much mystery to those confronting their mortality that fear is often a companion. Though Beautiful Dreamer is an old song written in 1864 by Stephen Foster, whatever his intentions were have been lost to the mists of time. While Foster was a product of Christian culture, it’s not a religious song; rather, Beautiful Dreamer reflects the flow and movement through the elements and aspects of nature.
Perhaps he was influenced by the Romantic era of the arts from his contemporaries in Europe. The embrace of nature, emotion, and otherworldliness among the Romantics emerged in stark contrast to the Age of Reason and its dismissal of that which is beyond ordinary perception. Foster’s use of symbolic natural elements to speak of death and transcendence are aspects of Romantic poetry, an imagined grace drifting across the landscape of the mind. And here, Beautiful Dreamer floats, in stark contrast to some of Foster’s most popular songs and modern concerns over them.
Like the pre-Civil War era of Stephen Foster’s time, 2020 is a politically charged era of increased polarity, and here I am, an artist in the midst of a small art project meant to be a healing gift for people during this pandemic, and I’ve unexpectedly stumbled into Stephen Foster and the complicated historical view of his work in regard to race. I felt compelled into researching the origins of Beautiful Dreamer and to learn about the historical and modern context of the work of Stephen Foster. That inquiry was a worthy exploration to make sense of this very strange collaboration I’ve found myself in and is available as a companion piece to this artist statement. (Read it here, Strange Collaboration: A statement on the art, the process, and the world)
Artists are vessels for inspiration, their work contains and expresses much more than the artist knows and intends. Though there are a various interpretations to the lyrical meanings in Beautiful Dreamer, I can see why it arose as a lyrical flow for this body of images, for this point in time. The title itself, Beautiful Dreamer, implies that the earthly life has been the dream, and the nature of death is to awaken into the greater reality. The lyrics of this serenade offer a perspective and guidance upon navigating the threshold of death itself, as if sung with love by the divine presence to the mortal being.
I offer this perspective, hoping that some beauty and impressions of crossing the threshold eases some grief or suffering about the thought of death and dying. Calla Lily, a flower of the divine feminine, is symbolic of death and rebirth. In this artwork, each is isolated, yet fills the space with its unique presence, its strength, grace and light, inviting embrace. Composed with sunlit skies, these lilies speak of transcendence. And, I believe these lyrics tell us that when the time is come, that we are to shift our gaze from the mundane world to the heavens, and raise our awareness to the ephemeral beauty of nature, its radiance and gentleness. Divinity is singing to awaken the inner receptive nature within the mortal. In turning our attention inward and letting the noise of the outer world dissipate, we enter into silence and become receptive to our divine inner guidance. It’s all right then, letting go of our daily cares and responsibilities, to turn our attention beyond life’s busy throng.
The song illustrates that as we cross the threshold it will feel expansive, with a great sense of freedom, and yet such a sense of being un-tethered may feel unsettling. In this state of being, we may even hear musical sounds as our senses increase in an inner awareness of transformation. As we move across this expanse toward the threshold, memories and visions of our life will arise around us, or other images may appear to distract us, but trust that these will all fade, and we are to allow them to, for those are images of the past that would distract us — and we are moving beyond. Throughout this transition if we focus on love, we can fill ourselves with the power of love and the light of creation. This will help any distractions to clear away, and sorrows and regrets to melt away. The song shows that love transcends all barriers, and I for one, believe that is true.
Beautiful Dreamers, may your souls rest in peace, remembering love, always.
K. M. Ehrenfeldt
Beautiful Dreamer
Beautiful dreamer, wake unto me Starlight and dewdrops are waiting for thee; Sounds of the rude world heard in the day Lull’d by the moonlight have all passed away! Beautiful dreamer, queen of my song List while I woo thee with soft melody; Gone are the cares of life’s busy throng Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me! |
Beautiful dreamer, out on the sea Mermaids are chanting the wild lorelie; Over the streamlet vapors are borne Waiting to fade at the bright coming morn Beautiful dreamer, beam on my heart E'en as the morn on the streamlet and sea; Then will all clouds of sorrow depart Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me! Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me! |
||
|
Lyrics by Stephen Foster, 1864 |
|||