Trite as Flesh

... a memorable phrase from a 1987 film I recently viewed titled I've Heard the Mermaids Singing by Patricia Rozema. 

Koi #1
Acrylic, collage on cradled board
11" x 14"
©2011NanciHersh
Private Collection

Sheila McCarthy plays Polly, a self effacing woman, who finds a job through a temp agency at Gabrielle's art gallery.  Polly admires and secretly loves Gabrielle as she is everything that Polly is not; sophisticated, wordly, and savvy- especially in the art world where Polly is now privy to in a limited way.

Always with camera, Polly joyfully takes pictures of whatever and whoever she finds interesting or intriguing. Too insecure to call herself an artist,  she boldly makes a move, only to be hurt by Gabrielle- hence the title of this post.

The film is offbeat in a charming way, as well as thought provoking.  None of us aspire to be trite in our work. Quite the contrary.  But our work has a life of its own, regardless of labling or judgement. That in itself, has value.

Trite as Flesh- also sounds like a great assignment for art students.

What does Trite as Flesh look like to you?