THE MORAL COMPASS

For the last year I have been working on a series of drawings and paintings with my mother to create a book together. Ever since I was a child my mom and I have talked about making a book project of some kind. She was a llibrarian and a teacher most of my life. We decided to take traditional fables, and my mom would re-write these in her own words, and I used her words to inspire these drawings and paintings. the first ten drawings were used for shows in Tokyo and Madrid last year. The next 20 fables were used to create a body of work for a solo show here in San Francisco with the Harman Projects Gallery inside the Minnesota Street art mall. Below are some of the drawings and paintings from this project. The book will be published by Paragon books in the near future.

“The Hares and The Frogs”

Hares are very timid creatures. The least noise or shadow frightens them and sends them scurrying to hide. After one such fright, the Hares decided it would be better to die than be so miserable and afraid all the time. As they were debating how best to die, they heard a noise and raced towards their warren. On the way, they startled a family of frogs sitting on the bank of a pond. In an instant the frogs saw safety in the mud of the pond. “Look!” cried a Hare. “Things aren’t so bad. The frogs are afraid of us!” 

Moral: However unfortunate we think we are, there is always someone worse off than we.

“Belling the Cat”

The mice called a meeting to decide on a plan to free themselves of the threat of their enemy the cat. They at least wanted some way to know the cat was coming so they could run for their lives. Many plans were discussed and discarded. Finally, a very young mouse suggested they hang a bell on the cat’s neck. It would sound a warning and they could run. All the mice were surprised and delighted. But, one wise old mouse said, “Young mouse’s plan is very good, BUT who will bell the cat?”

MORAL: It’s one thing to say something should be done and quite another to do it.

“The Ass and his Driver”

An ass was being driven down a mountain road and when he looked down he saw his stall at the mountain’s foot. He foolishly thought the quickest way to get there was just to step over the nearest cliff. He was about to step over when his driver caught him by his tail and tried to pull him back. Even though the driver warned him it was the wrong way and dangerous, the stubborn ass would not stop pulling. Finally the driver let go and the silly ass tumbled head over heels down the mountainside.  

Moral: Those who will not listen to advice from those who are wiser than they and stubbornly go their own way are on the road to misfortune.

“The Fox and the Grapes”

One day a fox spied a bunch of lovely grapes hanging from a vine that had grown up a tree. The fox looked longingly at the grapes and jumped to grab them. He missed. Though he tried again and again, he could not jump high enough. Finally, he sat down and looked at the grapes in disgust. “Why am I wearing myself out for a bunch of grapes that are probably sour?” He stalked away annoyed at himself.  

MORAL: Many pretend to despise that which is beyond their reach. (SOUR GRAPES!!)

“The Tortoise and the Ducks”

The Tortoise carries his house on his back and he can not leave home. They say it is his punishment for not attending Jupiter’s wedding even though he was especially invited. After many years the Tortoise wished he had not been too lazy to go to that wedding . He saw the birds flying gaily and all the animals running about and he was sad and discontented. He wanted to see the world too, but he had little short legs and a heavy house on his back. It was hard to go anywhere. One day he met a pair of ducks and told them his troubles. The ducks told him if he took hold of a stick they gave him with his teeth they would carry him up in the air so he could see the whole countryside. However, they warned him that he must be quiet and not speak or he would be sorry. The Tortoise was overjoyed and seized the stick firmly. The ducks each took an end of the stick and carried him up toward the clouds. Just then an astonished crow flew by and cried, “This must be the king of the tortoises!” “Why yes. . .”, began the foolish tortoise. But as he opened his mouth he lost hold of the stick and fell to the ground and died.

Moral: Foolish curiosity and vanity often lead to misfortune. 

“The Hare and his Ears”

The Lion had been badly hurt by the horns of a goat which he was eating. He was furious that any animal he chose for a meal should have such dangerous things as horns to injure him while he ate. In his anger he commanded that all animals with horns must leave his domain within twenty four hours. The command stirred terror among the beasts. All with horns began packing up and moving out. Even the hare who had no horns, spent a fearful, restless night dreaming about the awful Lion When the hare came out in the morning sunshine, the shadow cast by his long pointed ears terrified him. He bid his neighbor cricket goodbye saying, “No matter what I say he’ll declare my ears are horns and kill me.”

MORAL:  Do not give your enemies any reason to attack you as they will seize on any excuse to do so. 

“The Lion and the Ass”

One day the lion was walking proudly through the forest. All the other animals respectfully made way for him, accept the ass, who brayed scornfully.The lion felt a flash of anger, but when he saw who had spoken, he just walked on. He wouldn’t even honor the foolish ass with so much as a growl. 

Moral: Do not react to or resent the remarks of a fool. Ignore them.

“The Pig and the Sheep”

One day, the shepherd found a fat pig in the pasture with his sheep. He quickly grabbed the porker, who squealed so loudly he sounded like he was being tortured. In spite of the pig’s squeals and struggles, the shepherd tucked him firmly under his arm and headed for the butcher.. The sheep heard the noise, and much amused, followed the shepherd and his prize to the pasture gate. The sheep admonished the pig about his loud squealing. They told him the shepherd often caught and carried them off. They would be ashamed to make such a terrible fuss. The pig replied,“When he catches you, he want’s your wool. He wants to eat me!”

Moral: It’s easy to be brave when there is no danger. 

“The Bear and the Bees”

A bear, roaming in the woods looking for berries, came upon a fallen log in which lived a swarm of bees with their honey. The bear began, carefully, to nose about to see if the bees were at home. Just then, a bee loaded with pollen flew home from a clover field. Guessing what the bear was after, the bee flew at him, stung him, and flew into the hollow log. The bear, enraged by the sting, began tearing at the log, tooth and claw. This brought out the whole swarm. To save himself the bear had to run as fast as he could and jump into a pool of water.

Moral: It is better to bear a single injury then provoke a thousand
by flying into a rage.

“Two Travelers and a Bear”

Two friends were traveling together through a forest when all of a sudden a bear crashed out of the brush near them. One of the men, thinking only of his own safety, climbed a tree. The other, unable to fight the bear alone, fell to the ground and lay still. He had heard a bear wouldn’t touch a dead body. It must be true. After the bear sniffed the man all over, he walked away thinking him dead. The man in the tree climbed down and asked his friend what the bear had whispered in his ear. “He advised me,” answered the other. “It was not at all wise to keep company with a person who would desert his friend in a moment of danger.”

Moral: Misfortune is the best test of friendship.

“The Peacock and the Crane”

A very vain peacock met a crane one day and to impress him spread his gorgeous tail, saying, “What have you got to compare with this? I’m dressed in the glory of the rainbow. Your feathers are gray and dusty.” The crane spread his broad wings and flew high into the sky. “Follow me if you can”, he said. The peacock could not and stayed among the barnyard fowl while the crane soared in freedom far up in the sky.

Moral: The useful is more important and valuable than the merely ornamental.

“The Mule”

A mule had had a long rest and a particularly good meal. He was feeling very vigorous indeed. He pranced around the barnyard holding his head high and declaring his father had most certainly been a full blooded race horse. He was sure of it. Next day he was harnessed up again and after work that night he was very downhearted. He admitted he was mistaken and, after all, his father was an ass.

Moral: Be sure of your pedigree before you boast of it.

“The lion and the Ass and the Fox”

A lion, an ass and a fox were hunting together and caught a quantity of game. The ass agreed to divide it. He did this very fairly giving each an equal share. The fox was satisfied, but the lion grew into a rage and with one swipe of his paw added the ass to the pile of game. He then roared angrily for the fox to divide it. The fox quickly piled most of the game in one big heap. He took a small portion for himself and a few undesirable bits like horns andhoofs and the end of a tail. The lion was back in good humor and asked the fox where learned to divide so fairly. The fox replied he had learned a lesson from the ass and carefully edged away.

Moral: Learn from the misfortune of others.

“The Peacock and the Crane”

A very vain peacock met a crane one day and to impress him spread his gorgeous tail, saying, “What have you got to compare with this? I’m dressed in the glory of the rainbow. Your feathers are gray and dusty.” The crane spread his broad wings and flew high into the sky. “Follow me if you can”, he said. The peacock could not and stayed among the barnyard fowl while the crane soared in freedom far up in the sky.

Moral: The useful is more important and valuable than the merely ornamental.

“The Dog in the Manger”
A dog, sleeping in a manger filled with hay, was awakened by cattle coming in tired and hungry from plowing. The dog would not let them near the hay. He snapped and snarled as though guarding meat and bones for himself. The cattle were disgusted and said, “How selfish! He cannot eat the hay but he will not let us do so.” Just then, the farmer came in. Seeing how the dog was behaving, he took a stick and with hard blows drove him out.

Moral: Do not deny others what you cannot use or enjoy yourself.