“Under the Banyans”

Ekphrasis: 

I was among the group of artists invited to spend time at the Edison Ford Estates to glean the inspiration for creating a painting for the theme, “Echoes of Invention”. This piece won first place. 

I walked through every building and spent time in every area of the Edison Ford and found myself continually drawn back to the Banyan tree planted in 1927 which now fully encompasses one acre. 

To me the Banyan told the best stories. I saw picnics, curious children and activity echoing time past. Then the trees took on animated forms and became birds, wild boars, and rabbits. A notch high up looked like a movie projector and below that a director. 

Three obliging banyans of this family held the protection screen showing Henry Ford’s car and Thomas Edison’s electric batteries. Of course the silver screen extends beyond the cloth as all was seen without physical depiction. 

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