My Faithful Beloved, Black Earth

Black Earth, acrylic and oil stick, 12 x 24"

My first introduction to Black Earth by Fazil Say was in a serene hotel salon in Milan. Roberto Plano was performing for Performance Today travelers. From the beginning of the piece I took notice because Roberto Plano reached inside the the piano to dampen the strings with his left hand  while striking the keys with his right. The effect was full of metal and vibrations--even though the strings were being muted. It was sort of an underground sound which stayed with me. Fortunately, I brought a tidy, but versatile set of art supplies on the trip and I made a sketch of my impressions, which seemed to focus on the newly experienced sound.

Black Earth sketch,  mixed media, 4 x 10"

In October (2018) I was joined by three other artists for an exhibit called Interludes, which featured art inspired by music.  I knew that I would include Black Earth in the mix, so I looked up Black Earth by Fazil Say.  I remembered the excitement of the strangely muffled, yet ringing sounds, but I had forgotten about the middle interludes (!) of lush, romantic, yet somehow urgent melody. I quickly started the painting keeping these elements in mind.

A first stab--so to speak. A deep scaffolding for embellishment.

Each Entry of Fazil Say's Black Earth included (Kara Toprak) so I had to investigate. Kara Toprak is the ballad/poem by Asik Veysel, a Turkish bard and poet. Veysel lived from 1894 to 1973 and came from the Sivas region of Turkey; a broad valley enriched by iron ore and surrounded by hills. Early in his life he became blind as the result of Smallpox and an accident. Veysel took up the baglama and began singing at a young age, since he was apparently not a candidate for education.  I found a video featuring Veysel singing  Kara Toprak and in the conversations below the video there were various versions of the lyrics. I am going to include the lyrics here, combining several translated versions and a bit of, admittedly subjective, editing:

I've embraced many, thinking they were friends
My faithful beloved, Black Earth
I wandered in vain, tired out for nothing
My faithful beloved, Black Earth

I devoted myself to many beautiful ones
I found neither faithfulness or use
I took everything I wished for from the Earth
My faithful beloved, Black Earth

She gave me sheep, gave me lamb, gave milk
Gave food, gave bread, gave meat
When I didn't tear her up with the pickaxe, she gave scant
My faithful beloved, Black Earth

She's sheltered me since Adam
She fed me all sorts of fruit
She carried me along her surface everyday
My faithful beloved, Black Earth

I ripped her belly with the pickaxe
I tore her face with my hands and nails
Yet, she welcomed me with roses
My faithful beloved, Black Earth

She laughed at me as I tortured her
There's no lie in this, everyone saw it
I gave her a single seed, she gave me four orchards
My faithful beloved, Black Earth

If I look up in the air, I take air
If I look down to the Earth, I take prayer
Where would I stay if I left the Earth
My faithful beloved, Black Earth

If you have a wish, ask it to God
To collect it, go no farther away from the Earth
The Earth has been blessed by God's generosity
My faithful beloved, Black Earth

If you seek truth, here's a clear point:
God is close to humanity and humanity to God
God's secret treasure is within the Earth
My faithful beloved, Black Earth

The Earth covers all our faults
It heals me, salving my wounds
It is waiting for my arrival with arms open wide
My faithful beloved, Black Earth

Whoever is honored with this secret
They leave an unfading legacy to this world
One day, she will take Veysel to her bosom
My faithful beloved, Black Earth

I read the lyrics and felt like I had been struck, perhaps not by a pickaxe, but by an instrument that was able to unearth a formerly unexpressed passion. It all came together, a relationship with the Earth, music (in the Dorian mode) and beauty--real beauty. I felt that intensely as I began to develop my painted image.

Looking back, I realized how much Fazil Say was expressing in his composition. The striking of the Earth and Earth's response in roses and laughter. Asik Veysel was speaking to Fazil Say. I loved having the chance to be immersed in these ideas. In this world, as we discuss who is worthy to dwell among us and who is a 'maker' and who is a 'taker', it is helpful to remember we are all takers from a generous Earth and we can all be in intimate and nourishing relationship with her. Finally, we will be welcomed into the very heart of her.