I completed this piece just before my 44th birthday. I was working out some ways of making an image I hadn't really tried before and trying to redefine some of my imagery and symbolism. I wasn't quite sure about it, but I decided to enter this piece into the Erie Museum's annual Spring show. I hadn't entered a juried show in a very long time, probably 13 or so years. I got into the Erie show once as a grad student with a piece called 'Self Portrait Sucking Up' where I depicted myself standing holding a piece of paper that read 'Elinor Heartney is the beat, most intelligent art show juror in the whole world.' Elinor Heartney was the juror for that show. I was told her comment was something along the lines of a laugh followed by I can't not put this into the show. It even drew attention from the newspaper articles questioning whether it was pure stunt or if the picture had merits. I think the answer to that came the following year when I entered the painting again--after making some changes--namely I just crossed out Elinor Heartney and wrote above it the name of the juror that year, whose name escapes me right now. That juror didn't buy it as worth putting into the show. The following year I had worked on the painting to enter again but missed the deadline. I haven't tried to enter a juried show since. Just been making stuff and not really showing it much. This piece I entered and got accepted into the show. I hope the reaction of the juror wasn't laughter followed by a tongue in cheek acceptance this time. The show will open April 24th I believe and runs until July at the Erie Art Museum. By Richard Sayer