Featured Commentary: Eric A. Kreuter, Ph.D.

Inner City Perspectives

The imagery in Stray Thoughts portray the possible perspectives of life in a large city by the city itself. This is possible only in art or story where inanimate objects can be given metaphorical life. The expressive pages of this book invite the viewer to contemplate the essence of each page. They can observe the flow of colors and ideas, as well as the unconstrained nature of deeper inner thoughts.

City life is a composite of hustle and bustle with a mosaic of colors and sounds unique to a large and diverse population. The city "feels" and "sees" the action of the people through footsteps, music, construction, transportation, and general movement.

There is a certain rhythm to the flow of activity and also a definitive, uncontrolled chaos. Traffic typically moves in definable patterns, whereas pedestrians move in every conceivable direction. Imagination leads one to wonder where everyone might be going. The city also "wonders" as the movement occurs surrounding it, over it, and under it.

In Chris' imagery you will be structures, everyday items, and people. In these items and faces you can see impressions of feelings brought out in context with the flow of movement. Life works similarly where people can be observed in the context of the current moment. We might judge what they say or feel based on their reaction to the same surroundings. This book shows us another view of others by recognizing that we are interrelated to their surroundings, and therefore have direct impact. By repressing our judgement, we may achieve a more harmonious sense of community, even in a large city. Thus, the rushing bicyclist is appreciated no differently than the old woman feeding pigeons from a park bench.

(Chris's Note: Eric's interpretation of drawing within the present moment appears in the two square images at the bottom of Page 11 of Stray Thoughts)