Beth Ames Swartz - Gallery: The Fire and the Rose

SELECTED
EARLY WORKS

The Fire and the Rose

This concept of order, disorder, and reordering is central to my work. Scientists talk of order and randomness, of entropy, and of eternity’s eventual end when all differences disappear. Yet, I am an optimist. I see life as an anti-entropic force for order. In my work, I constantly propose not a duality of life and death, but an endless cycle of life, death, and rebirth.

The Fire and the Rose series employs a philosophic message based upon Little Gidding, a poem by T. S. Eliot. Little Gidding is the final poem of four in Eliot’s masterpiece, The Four Quartets, as well as the last major poem he wrote and, in the opinion of many, a summing-up of his life-long aesthetic and spiritual quest. One appeal of the poem for me is Eliot's implication that one can be redeemed from time; according to one critic, "He has found immortality not in living forever, but by living in a moment that transcends time."

All the larger paintings incorporate words from Little Gidding into the paintings thereby helping create a grid composed of "ordered," horizontal lines of paint and "hidden" words that are "disordered" by the (seeming) randomness of vertical drips. Later paintings in this series create more "order" by imposing a painted frame that, often, is "violated" by a disordering, gestural stroke.

The title for The Fire and the Rose also comes from a line of poetry by T. S. Eliot:

When the tongues of flames are in-folded
Into the crowned knot of fire
And the fire and the rose are one.

See Eliot, T. S. The Complete Poems and Plays 1909-1950, Harcourt, Brace and Company: New York, 1952, Choruses from "The Rock": IX, p.112 and "Little Gidding," p. 145


© 2003 BASID #564 (SOLD)		© 2004 BASID #580
Beth Ames Swartz And to make an end is to make a beginning acrylic on canvas 60" x 84" (1.52m x 2.13m) 2003		Beth Ames Swartz And next year's words await another voice acrylic on canvas 60" x 84" (1.52m x 2.13m) 2004

© 2003 BASID #561 (SOLD)	© 2003-2004 BASID #593 (SOLD)
Beth Ames Swartz To be redeemed from fire by fire acrylic on canvas 48" x 72" (1.22m x 1.83m) 2003	Beth Ames Swartz Love is the unfamiliar Name acrylic on canvas 48" x 72" (1.22m x 1.83m) 2003-2004

© 2003-2004 BASID #588	© 2005 BASID #618
Beth Ames Swartz But heard, half-heard, in the stillness acrylic on canvas 54" x 66" (1.37m x 1.67m) 2003-2004	Beth Ames Swartz Midwinter spring is its own season acrylic and holographic film on canvas 48" x 72" (1.22m x 1.83m) 2005

© 2003 BASID #568 (SOLD)	© 2003 BASID #567 (SOLD)
Beth Ames Swartz Being between two lives acrylic on canvas 60" x 60" (1.52m x 1.52m) 2003	Beth Ames Swartz The moment of the rose and the moment of the yew-tree are of equal duration acrylic on canvas 60" x 60" (1.52m x 1.52m) 2003

© 2004 BASID #569 (SOLD)	© 2003 BASID #566 (SOLD)
Beth Ames Swartz And all manner of things shall be well acrylic on canvas 48" x 60" (1.22m x 1.52m) 2003-2004	Beth Ames Swartz And the fire and the rose are one acrylic on canvas 48" x 60" (1.22m x 1.52m) 2003

© 2003 BASID #571	© 2001-2004 BASID #592
Beth Ames Swartz The brief sun flames the ice in windless cold that is the heart's heat acrylic, holographic film & mixed media on canvas 48" x 60" (1.22m x 1.52m) 2003	Beth Ames Swartz In concord at this intersection time of meeting nowhere, no before and after acrylic on canvas 48" x 60" (1.22m x 1.52m) 2001-2004

© 2003 BASID #570 (SOLD)	© 2005 BASID #608 (SOLD)
Beth Ames Swartz The parched eviscerate soil gapes at the vanity of toil acrylic, paper and mixed media on canvas 48" x 60" (1.22m x 1.52m) 2003	Beth Ames Swartz I pray you to forgive both bad and good acrylic and holographic film on canvas 48" x 60" (1.22m x 1.52m) 2003

© 2003 BASID #560 (SOLD)	© 2003-2004 BASID #594
Beth Ames Swartz The voice of the hidden waterfall acrylic on canvas 60" x 48" (1.52m x 1.22m) 2003	Beth Ames Swartz The dove descending breaks the air acrylic on canvas 60" x 48" (1.52m x 1.22m) 2003-2004

© 2004 BASID #607	BASID #617
Beth Ames Swartz Let me disclose the gifts reserved for age acrylic on canvas 60" x 48" (1.52m x 1.22m) 2004	Beth Ames Swartz I pray you to forgive both bad and good acrylic and holographic film on canvas 60" x 48" (1.52m x 1.22m) 2005

© 2004 BASID #577 (SOLD)	© 2004 BASID #578 (SOLD)
Beth Ames Swartz Between melting and freezing the soul's sap quivers acrylic on canvas 36 " x 48" (0.91m x 1.22m) 2004	Beth Ames Swartz Sempiternal though sodden towards sundown acrylic on canvas 36 " x 48" (0.91m x 1.22m) 2004

© 2004 BASID #579 (SOLD)	© 2004 BASID #589 (SOLD)
Beth Ames Swartz A glare that is blindness in the early afternoon acrylic on canvas 36 " x 48" (0.91m x 1.22m) 2004	Beth Ames Swartz Words sufficed to compel the recognition they preceded acrylic on canvas 36 " x 48" (0.91m x 1.22m) 2001-2004

© 2004 BASID #591 (SOLD)	© 2004 BASID #602 (SOLD)
Beth Ames Swartz He left me, with a kind of valediction, and faded on the blowing of the horn acrylic and holographic film on canvas 36" x 48" (0.91m x 1.22m) 2004	Beth Ames Swartz If you came this way in may time, you would find the hedges white again acrylic and holographic film on canvas 36" x 48" (0.91m x 1.22m) 2004

© 2004 BASID #603 (SOLD)	© 2004 BASID #604
Beth Ames Swartz Water and fire succeed the town, the pasture and the weed acrylic and holographic film on canvas 36" x 48" (0.91m x 1.22m) 2004	Beth Ames Swartz This is the use of memory: for liberation acrylic and holographic film on canvas 36" x 48" (0.91m x 1.22m) 2004

© 2004 BASID #590 (SOLD)	© 2002-2004 BASID #595
Beth Ames Swartz While the light fails on a winter's afternoon, in a secluded chapel acrylic on canvas 36 " x 48" (0.91m x 1.22m) 2004	Beth Ames Swartz All Things acrylic on canvas 48 " x 36" (1.22m x 0.91m) 2002 -2004

© 2005 BASID #626	© 2005 BASID #627 (SOLD)
Beth Ames Swartz Renewed, transfigured, in another pattern acrylic, paste and holographic film on canvas 36" x 48" (0.91m x 1.22m) 2005	Beth Ames Swartz The rest is grace acrylic, paste and holographic film on canvas 36" x 48" (0.91m x 1.22m) 2005

© 2003 BASID #546 (SOLD)	© 2003 BASID #547 (SOLD)	© 2003 BASID #548 (SOLD)	© 2003 BASID #549 (SOLD)
Beth Ames Swartz Now the hedgerow is blanched for an hour with transitory blossom of snow acrylic and holographic film on canvas 30" x 30" (0.76m x 0.76m) 2003	Beth Ames Swartz When the short day is brightest, with frost and fire acrylic on canvas 30" x 30" (0.76m x 0.76m) 2003	Beth Ames Swartz Between two waves of the sea acrylic and holographic film on canvas 30" x 30" (0.76m x 0.76m) 2003	Beth Ames Swartz Now it is an incantation to summon the spectre of a Rose acrylic on canvas 30" x 30" (0.76m x 0.76m) 2003

© 2003 BASID #550 (SOLD)	© 2003 BASID #551 (SOLD)	© 2003 BASID #552 (SOLD)	© 2004 BASID #572 (SOLD)
Beth Ames Swartz In the uncertain hour before the morning acrylic and holographic film on canvas 30" x 30" (0.76m x 0.76m) 2003	Beth Ames Swartz This is the spring time but not in time's covenant acrylic and holographic film on canvas 30" x 30" (0.76m x 0.76m) 2003	Beth Ames Swartz Midwinter spring is its own season acrylic and holographic film on canvas 30" x 30" (0.76m x 0.76m) 2003	Beth Ames Swartz As if blown towards me like the metal leaves acrylic on canvas 30" x 30" (0.76m x 0.76m) 2004

© 2004 BASID #573 (SOLD)	© 2004 BASID #574 (SOLD)	© 2004 BASID #575 (SOLD)	© 2004 BASID #576 (SOLD)
Beth Ames Swartz And the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started acrylic on canvas 30" x 30" (0.76m x 0.76m) 2004	Beth Ames Swartz Through the unknown, unremembered gate acrylic on canvas 30" x 30" (0.76m x 0.76m) 2004	Beth Ames Swartz Restored by that refining fire where you must move in measure, like a dance acrylic on canvas 30" x 30" (0.76m x 0.76m) 2004	Beth Ames Swartz Over a dark lake acrylic on canvas 30" x 30" (0.76m x 0.76m) 2004

© 2004 BASID #583 (SOLD)	© 2004 BASID #584 (SOLD)	© 2004 BASID #585	© 2004 BASID #587
Beth Ames Swartz Yet ease is cause of wonder acrylic and holographic film on canvas 30" x 30" (0.76m x 0.76m) 2004	Beth Ames Swartz Where is the summer, the unimaginable zero summer? acrylic and holographic film on canvas 30" x 30" (0.76m x 0.76m) 2004	Beth Ames Swartz And glow more intense than blaze of branch, or brazier acrylic and holographic film on canvas 30" x 30" (0.76m x 0.76m) 2004	Beth Ames Swartz Dust in the air suspended marks the place where a story ended acrylic and holographic film on canvas 30" x 30" (0.76m x 0.76m) 2004

© 2004 BASID #596	© 2004 BASID #599 (SOLD)	© 2004 BASID #600 (SOLD)	© 2004 BASID #601
Beth Ames Swartz Reflecting in a watery mirror acrylic and holographic film on canvas 30" x 30" (0.76m x 0.76m) 2004	Beth Ames Swartz The wonder that I feel is easy acrylic and holographic film on canvas 30" x 30" (0.76m x 0.76m) 2004	Beth Ames Swartz Neither budding nor fading acrylic and holographic film on canvas 30" x 30" (0.76m x 0.76m) 2004	Beth Ames Swartz Forgotten, half recalled, both one and many acrylic and holographic film on canvas 30" x 30" (0.76m x 0.76m) 2004

© 2004 BASID #582 (SOLD)	© 2004 BASID #586 (SOLD)	© 2004 BASID #597 (SOLD)	© 2004 BASID #598 (SOLD)
Beth Ames Swartz A bloom more suddenthan that of summer acrylic and holographic film on canvas 30" x 30" (0.76m x 0.76m) 2004	Beth Ames Swartz Here, the intersection of the timeless moment acrylic and holographic film on canvas 30" x 30" (0.76m x 0.76m) 2004	Beth Ames Swartz In May, with voluptuary sweetness acrylic and holographic film on canvas 30" x 30" (0.76m x 0.76m) 2004	Beth Ames Swartz If you came this way, taking any route, starting from anywhere acrylic and holographic film on canvas 30" x 30" (0.76m x 0.76m) 2004

© 2005 BASID #628	© 2005 BASID #629	© 2005 BASID #630(SOLD)	© 2005 BASID #631
Beth Ames Swartz Compliant to the common wind acrylic and holographic film on canvas 30" x 30" (0.76m x 0.76m) 2005	Beth Ames Swartz Flame on the wind acrylic and holographic film on canvas 30" x 30" (0.76m x 0.76m) 2005	Beth Ames Swartz In the embraces of that fiery wind acrylic and holographic film on canvas 30" x 30" (0.76m x 0.76m) 2005	Beth Ames Swartz Fire without and fire within acrylic and holographic film on canvas 30" x 30" (0.76m x 0.76m) 2005

© 2005 BASID #632	©2005 BASID #640 (SOLD)	© 2005 BASID #641	© 2005 BASID #642 (SOLD)
Beth Ames Swartz Spring has come in winter acrylic and holographic film on canvas 30" x 30" (0.76m x 0.76m) 2005	Beth Ames Swartz The words of the living are wind in dry grass acrylic and holographic film on canvas 30" x 30" (0.76m x 0.76m) 2005	Beth Ames Swartz At any time or at any season, it would always be the same acrylic and holographic film on canvas 30" x 30" (0.76m x 0.76m) 2005	Beth Ames Swartz In the waning dusk I caught the look of some dead master acrylic and holographic film on canvas 30" x 30" (0.76m x 0.76m) 2005

© 2005 BASID #643	©2005 BASID #644 (SOLD)	© 2005 BASID #649 (SOLD)	© 2005 BASID #648
Beth Ames Swartz It would be the same, when you leave the rough road acrylic and holographic film on canvas 30" x 30" (0.76m x 0.76m) 2005	Beth Ames Swartz Near the ending of interminable night acrylic and holographic film on canvas 30" x 30" (0.76m x 0.76m) 2005	Beth Ames Swartz Before the urban dawn wind unresisting acrylic and holographic film on canvas 30" x 30" (0.76m x 0.76m) 2005	Beth Ames Swartz The first-met stranger in the waning dusk acrylic and holographic film on canvas 36" x 36" (0.91m x 0.91m) 2005

BASID #645	BASID #646	BASID #647
Beth Ames Swartz Between three worlds become much like each other #1 acrylic and holographic film on canvas 24" x 24" (0.61m x 0.61m) 2005	Beth Ames Swartz Between three worlds become much like each other #2 acrylic and holographic film on canvas 24" x 24" (0.61m x 0.61m) 2005	Beth Ames Swartz Between three worlds become much like each other #3 acrylic and holographic film on canvas 24" x 24" (0.61m x 0.61m) 2005

Beth Ames Swartz
There are three conditions which
often look alike
acrylic and holographic
film on canvas (tryptich)
24" x 48"
(0.61m x 1.22m)
2005