Earth Day - Illustrations

The illustrations for Earth Day, the 19th story in The Book of Bartholomew were created by Matt Wells.  Matt is a Minneapolis-based artist who has created many album covers for local bands and is a member of the art group Rogue Citizen.  He also has been a previous artist for The Book of Bartholomew.  He has illustrated story #2: Gerald Teaches a Life Lesson and #8 Ned the Giant.

Since, up to this point, Matt has been the only one to create an image of Ned, he is the resident Ned-expert.  Here, Ned appears with a hat on and his dreds hanging down.   In the story, Ned and Claire ride their bikes to the Earth Day Celebration in their town.  Just as Matt has illustrated here, Ned and Claire both take risks by dating each other and by riding their bikes without helmets.  This is an image that I think all too graphically  exposes the relationship for what it is: dangerous and irresponsible. For this reason  alone, I do not recommend this story for impressionable young readers. In fact, if you are under the age of eighteen, it is recommended that you change the page by clicking on this link.

Matt is collecting a series of background textures.  The ones used in these pieces are from wallpaper.  Matt is a veritable genius with his loose ink style.  There is so much movement, even the ink strokes feel in motion. Then when you add the layering of color and background pattern the piece melds into an image of energy.  This style meshes well with the story itself, a layering of action and counter-action between Mayor Dick and Claire... and birds.

I have greatly enjoyed working with Matt on these three stories he has illustrated.  I find his work insightful, professional and just enjoyable to look at.  Ned the Giant still cracks me up when I look at it.  And check out his group, Rogue Citizen.  This foursome do live paintings at concerts and other events around town.  Their exhibit last year was about the U. S. prison system.  At the end of the exhibit, any piece not purchased was executed - literally, they were destroyed - usually with an axe.

You can check out more about Matt at his website: http://www.lizardmanart.com.

Earth Day - Story

How do you know if you and your love are truly meant for each other?  In the story Earth Day, Ned begins to wonder about Claire and these odd feelings he has when he is with her.  The young couple have a cold bike ride to the festival, which has been moved up by a month.  As Claire starts to share her opinions about Mayor Dick and all things political, Mayor Dick, himself, begins to speak to the meager crowd.   Do Ned and Claire have the same political beliefs?  Is Claire too forward in her conversation with Mayor Dick?  Something is making Ned uncomfortable, but he is not sure what until Claire is chased away from the festival by security.  Here is an excerpt:
 

Upon hearing Charlotte's words, Claire's eyes widened with anger and she began a diatribe. “Can you believe that? Mayor Dick is such a...such an...idiot. Forgetting Earth Day is in April and moving the city's celebration to March. Oh, it steams me! I just can't imagine what would possess him to be so arrogant – so backward about these things.”

“I think he didn't want people to show up for the real Earth Day, so he moved it.” said Charlotte. “His record on the environment has been pretty bad. This is worse than not acknowledging Earth Day at all. Look, there's hardly anybody here.”

Wanting to impress Charlotte, Ned said, “Yeah, maybe he really didn't want them to show up. And...and...” He was looking for something to say that would sound intelligent. “Maybe he wanted to toot his horn about his new small business initiative that is supposed to help reduce carbon emissions.”

“That initiative doesn't do anything to reduce emissions,” said Claire. “He just says it does. It will actually increase emissions because it allows larger businesses to create more under a cap and trade agreement.”

“Yeah, and he could toot his horn next month if he wanted anyway,” added Charlotte. “When its warm out.”

Ned shrugged his shoulders and changed the topic, “Are you and Topping going to garden with Bartholomew?”

“Yeah, I'm so excited. This is going to be fun. I've never gardened before, have you?”

“No, not really,” said Ned. “My parents had a small garden but I never helped them with it.” Neither of them asked Claire that question, because they knew her parents really liked gardening-- and they even raised chickens. As Ned began to wonder why it was that he never helped his parents garden, he noticed several crows flying toward a tree behind the stage. Then he noticed that the tree, which looked like it had leaves, was actually full of birds.

The band stopped playing and a woman's voice rang out, “Ladies and gentleman, welcome! Welcome all of you to the Great Earth Day Celebration!” A few cheers rose from the pitifully small crowd as people turned to face the Deputy Mayor.

“It is a great honor to have you all here. It's a little chilly, but seeing all of you warms my heart,” said the woman. Applause rose from the crowd, mostly to keep their hands warm; a couple people whistled. “Let me delay no longer. I have the great honor of introducing to you the person most responsible for this Earth Day celebration. A person without whose leadership and guidance this city wouldn't be the spectacular place it is. Ladies and gentlemen, your mayor and your friend, Mayor Dick!”

There was no applause or cheers from the smattering of cold people standing around. The word “moron” was heard inside some muffles coming from somewhere back by the display booths.

“Thank you, thank you,” boomed the voice of Mayor Dick. The mic was too loud. “What a great honor to be with you all here on this beautiful day – Earth Day.”

“But it’s not Earth Day!” yelled a young woman's voice.

This Friday, March 22, 2013 Earth Day will be published.