MORE, PLEASE!

DROWNED TEMPLE oil on canvas 48 x 36" available

San Diego has been doing a mighty convincing imitation of The Great Sahara for nigh onto 4 years now. Magically, during the week or so it took me to paint this piece, rain fell twice (I hasten to add that I make absolutely no connection between these disparate facts; they are merely the facts.). And yes, there was general rejoicing, photographing, and awed disbelief around here. Plus a standing puddle in the back yard—an actual accumulation of water that did not trickle its way through subterranean civic piping and along our city meter. Astonishing phenomenon, this moisture from above….

One of these anomalous events lasted all of 5 minutes and roared down the gutters and away to the sea. But the second rain came down steadily for a full hour or so. And soaked in. And made a difference. The plants, birds, and beasts lifted their heads in grateful response. The wildfires may even be slightly discouraged, for which we are also very grateful.

While painting it, I thought of this piece as The Drowned Temple, and that name stuck. Except now I am thinking of it as the Submerged Temple Of The Rain Gods. Hey, whatever works to bring rain. We San Diegans, like Oliver Twist, want some more, please.

To be perfectly truthful, my “temple” is the cupola on top of the Botanical Lath House in Balboa Park.