Cherry Stones

Writings by Sam Dixon in response to the paintings exhibited within Cherry Stones, IN | artist run initiative x The Old Lockup, 8-18 December 2021.

1
the little boy stood watching the man where he teetered on the precipice. he had the most brilliant blue eyes and he reached out his hand as though to catch him from falling and said, i’m sorry you think you’re me.

2
i don’t see what’s so funny about that. things are precarious enough as it is.

3
they scurried along the waterfront exchanging furtive glances, expressions wild and ecstatic. all we have to do is cover our eyes. they can’t see us if we can’t see them. and we can see whatever we want to.

4
it almost looks like he’s aiming that at us.

5
THEY’LL NEVER TAKE US ALIVE. WITH THE SUN ON OUR SIDE AND THE WIND AT OUR BACKS WE’LL FLY FASTER THAN THE FASTEST THING THAT ANYBODY HAS EVER SEEN AND THEY WON’T EVEN BE ABLE TO BELIEVE THEIR EYES AS WE GO ROARING PAST LEAVING THEM BEHIND COUGHING IN A HUMONGOUS CLOUD OF DUST AND THEY’LL SAY HOLY MOLY THAT WAS FAST WE’LL NEVER CATCH THOSE GUYS AND IT’LL BE JUST ME AND YOU FOREVER AND WE’LL NEVER STOP CAUSE IF WE STOP WE’LL DIE AND ONE DAY THEY’LL WRITE SONGS AND POEMS ABOUT US AND THEY’LL SAY THINGS LIKE HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT THOSE TWO THAT WENT FASTER THAN THE FASTEST THING THAT ANYBODY HAS EVER SEEN AND HOW WE NEVER EVEN HAD A CHANCE AT CATCHING THEM ALIVE?

6
how bout now?
no... nothing.
...how bout now?
ummm...
look closer.
oh... wait. is that them? are they dancing?
you tell me.
yeah. they’re dancing. can we go dance with them?
nope.
why not?
cause this is as close as we can get.
why?
‘cause if we get any closer they’ll disappear.

7
you will meet a tall dark stranger -
will they be beautiful?
no. they will be hunchbacked and grotesque.
oh. but they will love me?
no. what we’re talking about here is death.
oh... i thought you were going to tell me nice things.
this is a nice thing. you didn’t let me finish.

8
alright. listen carefully. as you pick up speed you’ll see everything start to burn. you’ll see the ocean turn to boiling sludge and then it’ll freeze and then it’ll boil again. don’t lose your cool. steer her straight and steer her true. you’ll soon hit the dead zone. whatever you do - don’t stop. that’s where the monsters are. push on. about a bazillion years from there you’ll begin to see the sun shine again. that’s where we’ll meet. when the mountains have woken up and the whales have grown back. that’s where i’ll be waiting. now hold on tight. i’ll see you soon.