Pearle Northrop

Artist Statement
It wasn’t until I was in my twenties that I started taking what I do seriously and it took even longer to consider myself an artist. I love to paint whatever I can get my hands on from things as small as a Scrabble® piece to as big as a dresser and hopefully even bigger someday. Whatever it is I will paint it. I love transforming trash into treasure literally. Imagine that a chair that came from a dumpster (2006) made it into a museum (2009). It blows me away to think that something I did creates a sense of awe in a viewer’s eye.
I was talking to a friend a few years back about my love for furniture, my relationship with chairs in particular. There was a chair that I found discarded and ultimately forgotten. I came upon this chair accidentally. I wasn't looking for a relationship. Anyway, the chair was a very handsome chair with so many things to look at. His back was decorative; his arms were long and lean. His legs...I have never seen such beautiful legs. But he was beaten down. His self-esteem had long been worn out. His seat, which was repeatedly upholstered over years, was torn and faded. His stuffing was busting out revealing his age and loss of pride. Me, being a care taker and rescuer of sorts....picked up the chair and brought it home. He sat at the top of the stairs for a few weeks in a corner. My friends however saw this chair and commented on how ugly he was. They wondered why I had him in my home commenting on how dirty he was and how unattractive he was due to the years of neglect. I ignored them and kept him around. Finally one day I decided to put him on my coffee table and take the layers of cloth and wool stuffing off of his seat. Then I cleaned him, primed him and painted him black. Three months later I sat back and looked at him and this is what I saw.....A chair, a man restored...but not only restored but given a whole new purpose. He was beautiful again. He was unique and wonderful....The same chair that my friends were grossed out by....is now a chair that they ask permission to touch. Amazing.....One thing is for certain...NOTHING STAYS THE SAME! Change is inevitable and what is ugly or dirty or discarded as trash can be saved, can be rescued and can be made shinier than new!
Taking discarded forgotten pieces and giving them their self-esteem back is a passion for me. Living in a world where we discard things so easily I’d like to think I am making an itty bitty difference.
Pearle Northrop

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Revealing a bit too much today!

I have been experiencing some strange emotions today....there is a bitterness on my brain and the taste is souring my tongue. I haven't a clue...perhaps a break down is near....straight jacket and heavy psych drugs? A rubber room to stare away the hours in the isolation that unmercifully consumes? The rain does not wash away the dirty stains but some how causes the disease of the polluted earth to rise to the surface! Everything is a blurr as it passes my life....
The phone keeps ringing. The sound is driving me crazy! It is him calling. That person that makes every flaw I have emerge. He ignites an anger inside of me that is beyond description. My body is tense, my words are cruel and I just don't know how to make it stop. There is no making it stop. I feel trapped in this situation. I let him in because he needed a place to stay but now it has been four months and I find myself ANGRY every day and isolating in my room because my home has been invaded!
There has to be an end! I just can't seem to see it....
I feel obligated to help him and yet every moment he is here I grow more and more resentful. He breathes and I want to suffocate him. He bleeds and I want to pour salt! He speaks and all I want to do is sew his lips together. It is absurd. I am not CRAZY! It's just he never stops talking about the most ridiculous boring useless things.
Pearle, should I close the drawer? Pearle, where is a spoon? Pearle, why is this and why is that? Pearle, I am doing this! Pearle, I am doing that! Pearle, you should read all about solar energy so that I can sell it! Pearle, have you researched Solar energy? Pearle, I wish you would stop wasting your time on meaningless crap and do what I ask you to do! Pearle! Pearle! Pearle!
Oh My GOD!!!! Make it stop.

I need my home back. I am sick of the mess. I am sick of the noise. I am sick of everything!
I NEED PEACE IN MY LIFE!
Posted by at

3 comments:

  1. LJMarch 31, 2010 at 1:20 PM

    Dear Heart - its time to set some boundaries. If there is no life threatening reason (other than you wanting to harm him) for him to continue living in your home, its time to have a sit down chat and assist in his move out. Your home is your sanctuary - for you and your daughter. It needs to be a safe, warm, peaceful place. If its not - you are the only one who can do anything about it. (on a side note: thanks for you comment on my blog. I love it when people feel comfortable enough to share with me)

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  2. PearleMarch 31, 2010 at 1:47 PM

    I wont actually harm him. It just makes such a difference to express it in written word rather than violence. I asked him to leave...
    He is the father of my child. She LOVES having him here. This was a huge mistake. If he leaves I will feel great but his daughter will not. It was only suppose to be for 2 weeks at most. I really wish the economy would get a bit better....so he could make money and get out! xoxox

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  3. Purple CowApril 1, 2010 at 12:19 AM

    Hey there Pearle, I read your comment on LJ's page and felt moved as I, too, have a 10-year-old (and a 5-year-old)...and motherhood, wonderful though it is, sometimes does distance me from myself, not to mention friendships and a social life...Blogging and FB have also been a nice social outlet at times when I've felt lonely so I relate to you.

    Reading this heartfelt post all I can say is good luck...What may be a good idea for me will probably not be one for you so I can give no solutions. From your written word you sound like a sensitive and intelligent person, so I'm sure you'll figure out the right thing to do.

    HANG IN THERE!

    PS Love the picture of you and your little one!

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