The Lotus Eaters - Artist Statement

The Lotos Eaters is a theme that has fascinated me and permeated my perspective for the past ten years. Though the theme is thousands of years old, Homer’s story remains an apt metaphor for the human experience. It is a metaphor for my struggle as a Christian pilgrim living life in a world that constantly competes for my loyalty and attention. Will I go the way of the Lotos and allow myself to be intoxicated by the illusion of winning the golden ring? Will I settle for the anesthetic of cynicism? Will I choose the rocky path of a disciple in a fallen world? The answer depends on the moment, fortunately the vision of the Lotos Eaters haunts me.

I have created this body of work to raise the question of what intoxicates us. What is it that side tracks us on our journey home. Odysseus’ soldiers were on their way home, a place they wanted to go, a place of love, a community. Yet, with a bite of the Lotos they forgot about the journey, the people, and their estates, or they lost the desire to persevere altogether. Homer warns us about believing we have “arrived” when we have not, a state that we think is fulfillment but is only a narcotic vision. He warns us about our blind-spots and the danger of the illusions we keep. Odysseus’ men did not want to leave the island, they had to be shackled to the ship by people that loved them to be free to journey again. It seems contrary to our notions of love or freedom. Yet, words ring true to my experience.

I have found in my life that it is those things that promise so much that blind me so thoroughly. I have discovered that it is in keeping and nurturing my idols that I find myself so far from home, lost in a dangerous woods, unaware and vulnerable. This show is about the idols I keep, that idols we all keep. The things for which we were created: feasting, love, glory, beauty, kingdom building; things which become a deadly narcotic when perverted by our own desire to have them our way, in our time. I am most deceived by the accomplishments and comfort I seek, and I am most awakened by the sting of life’s shackles on my wrist. I do not say this lightly as I know some of life’s pains can indeed blinding. But, I think my struggle, the struggle for many Americans is a blindness of another kind.

The Odyssey IX

“I was driven thence by foul winds for a space of nine days upon the sea, but on the tenth day we reached the land of the Lotus-eaters, who live on a food that comes from a kind of flower. Here we landed to take in fresh water, and our crews got their mid-day meal on the shore near the ships. When they had eaten and drunk I sent two of my company to see what manner of men the people of the place might be, and they had a third man under them. They started at once, and went about among the Lotus-Eaters, who did them no hurt, but gave them to eat of the lotus, which was so delicious that those who ate of it left off caring about home, and did not even want to go back and say what had happened to them, but were for staying and munching lotus with the Lotus-eaters without thinking further of their return; nevertheless, though they wept bitterly I forced them back to the ships and made them fast under the benches. Then I told the rest to go on board at once, lest any of them should taste of the lotus and leave off wanting to get home, so they took their places and smote the grey sea with their oars.”