This is a picture of an artwork installed at the head of Loch Earn, Perthshire, called ‘Still’ by the artist Rob Mulholland. It is made of hundreds of shards of polished metal, which seem to be blowing off into the wind when viewed from behind or the side. What at first glance seems solid and unchanging, firm against the landscape is then revealed as being in motion, in process, in relationship.
But still.
Here is a poem from the Proost ‘Reaching for Mercy’ poetry anthology that seems appropriate. This poem is by Sam Donaldson.
Be Still, by Sam Donaldson
Stop
Be still
And breathe deeply
Breathe deeply
Into the mystery
Of being anything at all
Stop
Be still
And step out
Out of the comfortable cages
Opening wide your eyes
To recieve wider horizons
And the great unknowns
As you would a long lost friend
The road less travelled calls for you
So throw wide your doors
And embrace adventure
Life waits for you
So take the risk
To let go of all you know
And live outrageously
Hold out your hands
Break bread
Give generously
Embrace solitude
Pour yourself a cup of tea
And set aside time
To nurture seeds
To write
To paint
To sing
To dance
And to listen to a silent hour
Under a star-filled sky
Stop
Be still
Breathe deeply
And see
There was never any need for sacrifices
For the real exhibition was always free
You were surrounded by presence
The whole time
