THE WHITE HAT

“THE WHITE HAT” – MIXED GRAPHITE ON ARCHIVAL RAG PAPER, (APPROX. 48″X 102″)

On a very hot day we are all resting after work. I was lying

next to my friend Jimmy, and like the others, we were relaxing

under the camp-wagon shade. I was thinking about a story Jimmy

told earlier. He talked about once working with a cowboy who wore

a white hat. Despite the hard work, the heat and dust, his hat would

remain spotless.I thought about how this experience may have

affected Jimmy. I looked over my shoulder as if to hear from

him, and in that instant, his eyes were closing. As well, the weariness

of the day soon drew me, too, towards a deep and dreamy sleep.

A dream began about Jimmy, as he was earlier, musing about his

"white hat." On his right was another cowboy whose hat covered and

guarded his rest. Suddenly, his hat began to change, turning from a

worn and dusty black, into a new "white hat." And, in an instant.

reverting back to it's old state, then again, emerging new. Now rapidly

vacillating, the "hat" seemed to offer a cryptic formula. Between it's

"finite" and "infinite" state, an illusion began to assert it's frail,

spherical and dimensional gift. I now focused on Jimmy to see

what might alter his presence. He was gone. So was everyone.

A table replaced the scene of weary men. The legs of the table

were not quite touching the ground. Two figures were sitting at

the table; a young beautiful hispanic woman and an older hispanic

man with shoulder-length white hair and beard. The wind flapping

the tent canopy would, along with a light, joyful laughter, fill the long

and soulful silence. The dream quickly became hazy and soon vanished.

Emerging from the short nap, I felt somewhat transfigured. I thought

how Jimmy too might have dreamed his story of the "white hat."

Our rest was over. In quiet movements we prepared our gear to return

to work. I reached for my hat. It was well-worn and dirty.

So was everyone's. Soon we were back at work, and back

into the heat and dust.