photo © Roger Bultot
Arriving at the art gallery early, they wandered unimpeded around the installation without having to dodge the crowd the exhibit would attract.
“What do you think he’s trying to portray, Geoff?”
“You mean you can’t see it?”
Gloria squinted at the work that looked like fishing nets suspended in mid-air. “I can see it but I don’t get it.”
“Wow. I thought it was obvious. The artist is showing women’s bodies. How they are soft, and supple, give pleasure, are of different sizes and shapes. Indispensible for giving life. And yet they’re strong and grounded. Beautiful.”
“Thanks. So I’m a fishing net.”
In response to Rochelle’s prompt for Friday Fictioneers and thanks to Roger Bultot for the photo prompt.
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About Irene Waters 19 Writer Memoirist
I began my working career as a reluctant potato peeler whilst waiting to commence my training as a student nurse. On completion I worked mainly in intensive care/coronary care; finishing my hospital career as clinical nurse educator in intensive care. A life changing period as a resort owner/manager on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu was followed by recovery time as a farmer at Bucca Wauka. Having discovered I was no farmer and vowing never again to own an animal bigger than myself I took on the Barrington General Store. Here we also ran a five star restaurant. Working the shop of a day 7am - 6pm followed by the restaurant until late was surprisingly more stressful than Tanna. On the sale we decided to retire and renovate our house with the help of a builder friend. Now believing we knew everything about building we set to constructing our own house. Just finished a coal mine decided to set up in our backyard. Definitely time to retire we moved to Queensland. I had been writing a manuscript for some time. In the desire to complete this I enrolled in a post grad certificate in creative Industries which I completed 2013. I followed this by doing a Master of Arts by research graduating in 2017. Now I live to write and write to live.
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
That made me smile
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Smile is good. Thanks.
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The unintended consequence of art…
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Absolutely.
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Has she no romance in her soul?
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It would seem not Sandra.
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Ha ha! That would be my reaction too 🙂
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Looking at it from both view points women and fishing nets have the same attributes only one begins life and the other ends it.
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Very philosophical 🙂 Hence fishnet stockings to bring the two concepts together.
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Haha. Good one.
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I suppose it depends on your perspective. Once an artist creates and displays the creation, he/she loses all control of how people project their personalities upon it.
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You are so right and it is the same for writers also. Each person brings to a piece their own views of the world, experiences and philosophies. Each piece will be different for all comers.
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A fair description perhaps? Good fun Irene.
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I think it is a fair description Iain.
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Dear Irene,
It sounds like Geoff has the soul of an artist. Gloria’s a bit more pragmatic. Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I agree with you Rochelle. Cheers Irene
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Maybe being an empty shell of a fishing net is not a compliment either… the male eye of a female body is not always appreciated.
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Or understood.
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lol love it, well done … and look at the comments you’re getting 😉
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Thanks Kate. 😄
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my pleasure Irene
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Ha ha! Eye of the beholder and all that… 😀
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Absolutely. Thanks Dale.
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Ha ha ha. I hate these practical-types 🙂
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It probably has advantages at times.
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Ah! I love this. So very perceptive. Well written, Irene.
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Thank you Neel. Glad you are a man of sensitivity.
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Makes me wonder as to what is more important to a happy relationship, honesty or tact?!
I loved the spontaneous and very real last line.
A beautiful take on the prompt, Irene.
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* for a happy relationship. Sorry 🙂
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😄
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My immediate response was to say honesty and then I started thinking – tact is important too. Can you be truthful in a tactful way.
Thanks for your comments Moon. Appreciated.
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I can kind of see both viewpoints. Great dialogue! And I hope he meant what he said about women’s bodies 🙂
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Both are possible and both probably have most of the same attributes. I’m sure he meant it. A romantic realist.
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There are two ways to look at everything! Excellent.
Click to read my FriFic!
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and probably three or four more.
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She has the same opinion as me about such art.
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Many have that opinion. I find it quite beautiful but what it is who knows. Possibly it is fishing nets.
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Killer punchline, Irene!
Geoff seems altogether too familiar with the pleasurable aspects of our bodies – I wonder how he knows so much!
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Thanks Penny. I think Gloria might be responsible for his knowledge.
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Ah! I thought he might have been the type who strayed….I’m glad to hear otherwise!
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I’m a bit confused – who is speaking what lines? If Gloria is talking to Geoff in the first line of dialogue, who is saying the second line? I think I understand your story, but not sure I know who’s saying what. Is it Geoff at the end who thinks he’s being compared to a fishing net?
Art demands participation of the viewer, just as any audience brings personal experience and value to all creative works. It’s the risk creators take.
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I can see how you are confused. Gloria is speaking first asking Geoff a question.
second sentence Geoff responds. I should then have put Gloria squinted on a new line (which I will do now) before her next sentence. That should make it clearer. Let me know what you think.
Yes all creators take that risk including writers.
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Very interesting interpretation of the exhibit… can’t say it makes much sense to me, though. But to each it says different things. that’s art.
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Yes that is art whether the written word or visual.
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Me thinks this guy will never win and argument with her. lol
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You are probably right Dawn.
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love the last line.
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Thanks Dan.
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What a delightful read, Irene. Made me smile. along with all the comments.
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Thanks Kelvin. Makes me glad to give you a smile.
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Ha! Love this. Women as fishing nets. Good grief 🙂
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In the eye of the beholder and all that…. Glad you loved it.
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I have a sneaking suspicion his attention is often focussed on that subject, that it comes so readily to mind.
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LOL.
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Love his beautiful interpretation and how she smacks him straight down – funny! Nicely done
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Thanks Lyn. Glad you liked it.
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My pleasure 🙂
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That was a unique look at the photo. But that is the wonder of art. I liked the story very much
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I’m really glad you liked the story Susan.
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Guess both arguments have their own merits. But I believe the lady might not have liked the guy’s interpretation.
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I think you could be right there.
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I really liked the analogy and the story Irene 🙂
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Thanks Dahlia. Glad that you enjoyed it.
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Love it. Art is always in the eye of the beholder…or is that beauty. 😀
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Perhaps both. Glad you enjoyed it Sascha.
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