winter of crows - page 19 (the plane caught in the steeple of light) 



the community christian church, in kansas city on main street above mill creek park and the j c nichols fountain, was designed by frank lloyd wright in 1940. part of his original design included a steeple of light, an idea which was never fulfilled. however, in 1990 plans were laid to create the steeple, and in 1994 it was first lit.





this is what it looks like on a winter's day. one night, in 1995 or so, i was walking up to the broadway to be depressed and work on some drawing; it was the christmas season, and it was snowing, and in those happy pre-9-11 days planes would often buzz the plaza looking at the christmas lights . . .





. . . and one pilot, brilliantly, flew his snow-whipped plane directly through the steeple of light. it was transfigured, riveted for an instant like a crucifix in white flames against the night sky. i looked at the right instant, like constantine, and then it was gone.

i drew the image less than half an hour later, and it stuck with me. this is my, somewhat hopeless, attempt to create this for winter of crows. imagine the plane hanging there, weightless, imagine each of the four shafts of light running infinitely high into the sky, filled with whirling snow like four glass columns. an instant! and then gone.

this was painted, has little enough to do with winter of crows, and i doubt anyone understood what i was painting. but there you go.


 

Posted: Mon - June 14, 2004 at 07:35 AM             |

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