Friday, May 16, 2008 | Register, Login
 
Forums

For your central Jersey real estate needs: JudyNJHomes.com

Private Messages     Minimize
You must be logged in to use this module.
McPhans Chatting     Minimize
Room:Users
McPhans Online     Minimize
Membership Membership:
Latest New User Latest: blake
New Today New Today: 0
New Yesterday New Yesterday: 0
User Count Overall: 4763
People Online People Online:
Visitors Visitors: 481
Members Members: 4
Total Total: 485
Online Now Online Now:
Pheenomenon,  beringer62,  shinamarih,  pakatfan00, 
      Minimize

 
 Katharine McPhee & Elliott Yamin - Real Love (Radio Edit) - Single - Real Love Get "Real Love" radio edit!
KMF Forum     Minimize
Forums > All about Katharine > Katharine Chat
Subject: "10,000 Tiles"
Prev Next
You are not authorized to post a reply.

Author Messages
Username: KatFan49
Online: User is Offline
Posts:624

Katharine Addict
Katharine Addict
Location: Just outside the Capitol of the Free World


Member Since 7/8/2006
12/28/2006 9:46 AM Alert 
"10,000 Tiles"


It was a magnificent piece.

A mosaic, and one of the most stunning works of contemporary art I have ever seen, and I've seen a lot.

At first glance, it reminded me of one of those computer-generated posters you see, where Lincoln's face is composed of hundreds of pictures of credit cards. Fascinating, but nothing more than a gimmick - a program that uses a few images to create another, larger image.

What I was seeing now was something completely different. Almost nine feet by eight feet, it was composed of thousands of one inch square tiles, each carefully hand-painted by the artist, depicting an event in their life, and arranged to form a landscape scene. While the ultimate image was in itself stunning, what my mind immediately focused on was the dedication of the artist in producing such a piece - composing, painting, choosing and rearranging the individual tiles until the final image emerged from the tiny crafted parts.

I wasn't looking at a landscape, or a mosaic - I was looking at a life.

And aren't our lives, when we look back upon them, simply many little images that, when put together, form the individual "me"? Some of these images were imposed upon us, and some were freely chosen. Our values, our career, our families, our purpose, our complete existence - really nothing more, and nothing less, than the sum of thousands of experiences. And, ultimately, no matter the source of the images, we - and we alone - are responsible for whether or not we choose to incorporate them into our being.

I've learned a lot about myself while pondering that mosaic. And I now understand more about what makes me the person I am today. Most importantly, I understand better how it is not the final picture that is the experience, but the painting of the individual tiles.

Why am I telling you this? And why am I posting it on a site dedicated to Katharine? Because I have seen lately many instances of folks questioning her choices in the tiles she is selecting for her mosaic - choices in style, in music, in single selection, in dress, in personal relationship. Not that there is anything wrong with questioning, there isn't. But too many of these questions have turned into abject criticism. And far too many criticisms offer no creative alternatives, instructive suggestions, or wise insight for a better choice. As an artist, I can understand the frustration of someone looking over your shoulder while working - making comments about the composition, the color choice, the brush, the thickness of the line - all without having a clue to what the final image mapped out in my head looks like. It's easy to criticize, it's easy to make suggestions, it's easy to say what you would do differently - as long as you're not the one doing. As long as it's not your mosaic.

When I decided to become a fan of Katharine's, it was because I saw a young lady with good values, incredible talent and maturity beyond her years. I've seen many of the tiles she has already painted. There are some with incredible beauty. There are some that are tearfully sad. There are some that are almost black with despair and disappointment. This is as it should be. This is what it means to be human, the reward we receive and the price we pay for our short stay here.

She'll have successes and she'll have failures. She'll make good choices and she'll make mistakes. She'll be the hero of some and a goat to others. She'll gain new fans and lose some old ones. And she'll do all of this because of the pictures she paints on her tiles. In addition to the tiles she has completed prior to my knowing of her, there are tiles for each week of her time on American Idol. There are tiles for the tour. There is a tile for her first single. There is a tile for each time she has made a public appearance and each magazine article. Big Sexy Hair has a tile of its own. There is a tile being painted even now that will depict her first album. New friends, new experiences, new joys and new sorrows - each will have a tile.

I can rest assured knowing that I have done my part, as small as it is, in helping her picture meet her expectations. I voted week after week, so that I could see her yet again for another week. I have purchased her first single, and her second, and given away scores of them. I have told friends about this wonderful new talent that I have found. I will do my part to make her tiles as beautiful and joyous as possible. And I will do it for as long as I am able.

She paints, and I watch. I trust her to do what is right for her. I have faith that she knows what her picture should look like. If she were to ask for my opinion, I might offer a color suggestion, or share my knowledge of just which brush would most easily produce the effect she was looking for. Until that moment, I will be content to sit back and watch, as she learns how to master the tools of her life.  It is what a fan does.

In the meantime, I have been busy painting my own tiles relating my experiences of Katharine to fit in with the thousands that make up my own life. That is what I, as a fan, can do - paint my own tiles. It is enough for me that my final picture will be the richer because of these.

Katharine has an image in her mind of the final picture her life will depict when finally she arranges her tiles.

I have no doubt that it will be a magnificent piece.
Katharine's summer is full of hope, full of potential, and promises to provide many bouquets to grace the home that I call my heart.

www.myspace.com/katfan49
www.myspace.com/katfia
www.myspace.com/katspack
Username: Pulpiteer
Online: User is Offline
Posts:41
Katharine Fanatic
Katharine Fanatic
Location:


Member Since 12/17/2006
12/28/2006 10:23 AM Alert 
I just love you description of the work of the artist. No one knows the outcome except the artist, and now one sees the artist's path except the artist. Katharine's journey is something to behold this far, and it will be interesting to watch for the years ahead.
Username: Amanda
Online: User is Offline
Posts:2504

Katharine Addict
Katharine Addict
Location:


Member Since 7/7/2006
12/28/2006 10:37 AM Alert 

When I decided to become a fan of Katharine's, it was because I saw a young lady with good values, incredible talent and maturity beyond her years.

 

Very well said
Some people come into our lives and quickly go.Others stay for a while and leave footprints on our hearts and we are never the same. That my friends is Katharine McPhee
Username: cobabycmw
Online: User is Offline
Posts:0
Katharine Acquaintance
Katharine Acquaintance
Location:


Member Since

12/28/2006 12:05 PM Alert 
Don - Another brilliant analogy! It not only describes Katharine's life, but all of our lives - "life is thousands of tiles."
Username: Sammer_Bammer214
Online: User is Offline
Posts:2187

Katharine Addict
Katharine Addict
Location:


Member Since 8/18/2006
12/28/2006 8:58 PM Alert 
Oh. Migah. I am sooooo glad there are smart people like you in this world, cause if everybody was like me... omg I dont even wana think about it.
NEW MYSPACE
http://myspace.com/sammer_bammer214
**ADD ME**

NEW LAYOUT SITE TOO!
http://myspace.com/katastrophic

**I MAKE KATHARINE LAYOUTS!!!!**
Username: Collette_leyton
Online: User is Offline
Posts:0
Katharine Acquaintance
Katharine Acquaintance
Location:


Member Since

12/28/2006 9:35 PM Alert 
Posted By Sammer_Bammer214 on 12/28/2006 8:58 PM
Oh. Migah. I am sooooo glad there are smart people like you in this world, cause if everybody was like me... omg I dont even wana think about it.


hahaaa you crack me up sam... But Don, that was really great description... I'm so proud of many great writers here... WOW!
Username: Gregoriancant
Online: User is Offline
Posts:3677

Katharine Addict
Katharine Addict
Location: Oregon, USA


Member Since 5/26/2006
12/29/2006 3:06 AM Alert 
As you know, I've already made comment on this in your MySpace blog--though wanted to give it a shoutout here too. I didn't expect you'd post your essays here again--but this site is richer for everything you've written here over the last six months or so.

For those who don't have a MySpace account--here's what I wrote about this well-done analogic piece:


Your analogies of art and nature to the complexities of human life are truly incredible, Don--so thanks for writing a new meaningful essay. I've missed seeing your essays lately...and they'll be appreciated a lot more here on your MySpace.

The thought in this piece of life being separate tiles was a real truth, which is how I've seen life in general for a long time. Individual human experiences can create a truly complex mosaic too. A lot of lives are so complex that there can be contradictions--even if that still makes up for an interesting picture in the end. That's what makes a final picture all the more interesting and worthy of study...just like we study interesting lives of notable people who are just as complex.

I have every reason to believe that Kat's final picture will be complex if still highly admirable. She's made an adamant decision to live life in a positive way. Yet, she'll be in show business that brings on a lot of interesting situations for anybody who chooses that career. In the end, I think Kat will have a lot of biographies written about her trying to get that full picture. And I doubt it'll be that elusive either as some famous women in the past left as their legacies.

Keep writing your thoughts--because they're the kind of essays you don't see enough of anymore.

Talk again later,

Greg
Username: shinamarih
Online: User is Offline
Posts:1000

Katharine Addict
Katharine Addict
Location: Laguna, Philippines


Member Since 7/16/2006
12/29/2006 3:23 AM Alert 
I love how you think, Don, it really inspires most of us here to follow in what I see as "effortless, yet insightful" way of thinking, and that's a good thing. I'm very glad to be ushering in the New Year with newfound great friends, who I hope to be friends with for a very long time.
ALL YOU HATERS AND BASHERS, TAKE HEED!!!

"One day you'll see her and you'll know what I mean, take her or leave her, she will still be the same..Only the curious have something to find, it's KATHARINE on this side."

Excerpt from This Side by Nickelcreek

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please check out my blog!!!

http://musingsandmumblings.blogspot.com
Username: kenneth
Online: User is Offline
Posts:1417
Katharine Addict
Katharine Addict
Location:


Member Since 4/27/2006
12/30/2006 11:12 AM Alert 
another great piece, Don!

Username: Orchiwa
Online: User is Offline
Posts:363
Katharine Addict
Katharine Addict
Location: Sweden


Member Since 4/12/2006
12/30/2006 12:24 PM Alert 
Don, you're such a talented writer. I loved it.
You are not authorized to post a reply.
Forums > All about Katharine > Katharine Chat > "10,000 Tiles"


ActiveForums 3.6
Kat TV!     Minimize
New Kat Stuff!     Minimize

 

 Dr. Keith Ablow Show with Kat!
  Chicken Soup for the AI Soul with Kat!

Katharine McPhee fans around the world
You have been marked by McPhanation!
You have been marked by McPhanation!