Walking Home with Mr Bones

Walking Home with Mr Bones © Rod Morgan 2007

detail of illustration Walking Home with Mr Bones for The illustrated lyrics of Old Man Crow

a story out of time… inspired to share by these words by the poet Kalen Dion

Limbo aka the space in between Here & There

exploring Do Ho Suh’s sublimely transporting passages at the MCA
photo by Richard Whitfield

Muffin the magic black cat giving me lessons in the Zen of waiting for a month in the city

settlement has been delayed on Dunmovin, the old lady in the nursing home who owned the house died early this month so her estate has to go through probate before I can move in which will take at least 3 to 6 months (or more) to get through the courts

yesterday I hung my 2023 Moon Calendar in the studio here at Hat Hill Road

I don’t have to pack up any time soon so there’s lots of time to ride Free my fabulous electric bicycle

& go bushwalking in these beautiful Blue Mountains

slowly stitching the edge of the long cloth of grief and wonder with red silk

the long cloth is from Japan, indigo dyed, handwoven hemp with the most beautiful hand

Old Man Crow is here with me in spirit, I have been seeing double ever since he died. On New Year’s Eve I realized that this is happening because I am seeing with his spirit eyes as well as my physical eyes so I am learning how to bring these two ways of seeing into focus. I always manifest my metaphors literally, that’s what being an artist is!

A year since Old Man Crow left the stage

photograph courtesy Gab Bates December 2020

It’s a year since Old Man Crow left the stage, the saddest most magical year of my life.

“Poet Kahlil Gibran said, “The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.”
from The Geometry of Sorrow interview with Francis Weller

Old Man Crow details

Here’s some more photos of my Old Man Crow with some close ups of the details

wing tips & tail detail

eye, throat & shoulder detail

at home on the mantel with the Steampunk Crow
H 22cm L 30cm (beak tip to edge of tail) W 9cm
vintage leather, satin, velvet, lace, silk cord, silk Gütermann thread
with special thanks to Louise Saxton for her antique lace around the eyes, the wing tips and underfeathers

my Old Man Crow!

finished my Old Man Crow for Ann Wood’s Crow Sew Along today!

made with so many memories bound into every knot and stitch

Ann’s crow pattern is brilliantly thought out & joining the Crow Sew Along really got my mojo working, will make the next one life size with an armature to support the weight as our Australian Ravens are big birds but my heart and hands need a rest, feeling quite lost today.
The bush is calling, I need to go out for a long walk, the Waratahs are in full flight!

the saddest most magical year of my life

In October last year Old Man Crow was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer so a lot of memories have surfaced as I slowly stitch this Old Man Crow for Ann Wood’s Crow Sew Along
Today a bundle of the most beautiful vintage black lace arrived on my doorstep from the wonderful textile artist Louise Saxton. These beautiful treasures will make some very fine feathers in this Filigree of Memory series of memento mori honouring my magical man.

Fairfarren is open!

This arvo Barry Ferrier aka Doctor Baz will open the show at 4pm playing a selection of Old Man Crow’s songs with backing by Pierre Luniere on bass & John Kaldor on pedal steel
See you there!
Artsite Contemporary

my magical man

a friend just sent this photo of Roderick from back in about 1976 at Julie’s place in Nimbin
Missing my magical man so much but as Oscar Wilde said “They were built out of music and so not built at all and therefore built forever”
The illustrated lyrics of Old Man Crow
listen to all 4 CDS on YouTube
Pt1
Pt2
Pt3
Pt4
& videos at rodshedmusic

River of Moons and Old Man Crow are works in progress

The River of Moons is moving along with more stars and backing with more velvet

a balancing act dancing one step forward two steps back

more parchment stars !

Rod got out of hospital on Wednesday afternoon, the partial knee replacement went very well. He has been able to walk up and down all the stairs here from the minute he got home with the help of a walking stick and can even walk across the room without it already. He is pain free for the first time in years!
Getting to the pub is still a way off so I bought him a 6 pack of beer to enjoy on the upstairs verandah when the sun goes over the yardarm.
Magic Days!
thanks to everyone for all the good vibes!

Too dark?

Too dark? a new song by Old Man Crow © Rod Morgan 2019
artwork by Mo Orkiszewski 2020