“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

(See the copy of the first draft of my letter on page 31. A brief history: Last month our friend Marie Colucci let a local dentist, Dr. Lodico, whom Jane and I have not met, borrow an abstract painting of mine to try out in his office. A couple of weeks ago, on August 31, Dr. Lodico sent payment for the painting, with a request to see more abstracts for his office. Tonight’s object is a first draft of my reply to his letter, and is dated September 12.

(Disarray can refer to the jumbled appearance of my letter, used as object, with its crossed-out words, etc. Jane thought that disarray could also refer to the fact that abstract paintings are mentioned in the letter; to some people abstracts would be in disarray, as compared to conventional paintings showing things in the usual sense—flowers, houses, trees, etc.

(“Something twisted.” We don’t know, and neglected to ask Seth to explain. Another reference to the elements in abstract paintings, or to the letter itself?

(“Connection with October, and four, or perhaps 64.” Without seeing it to make absolutely sure, Jane and I are reasonably sure that the abstract Dr. Lodico has purchased from me was painted in October, 1964. I am sure I did the painting at least two years ago. I have the habit of dating my paintings, so will be able to check this data when I visit the doctor’s office. If no notice is added to this data at a later date, it can be taken as correct.

(“A main turnabout, or a connection with Maine.” The turnabout connection is correct. In the letter used as object, I inform Dr. Lodico that I’ve changed my mind about sending the abstracts to the Mount Savior exhibit, and plan to submit other kinds of paintings instead. This makes the abstracts available for the doctor’s inspection, and perhaps purchase.

(“Some distant connection with an opera, opera house or music.” This baffled us at first. We missed the actual connection, and Seth helps out later. At this time Jane said one of the abstracts being offered to the doctor reminds her of music. She was going to tell me this before the session, but did not.

(It is one of the abstracts referred to in the letter used as object tonight. Note the sharp shapes. These shapes float in the center of the painting. In addition the painting is done in various shades of brown, from golden yellow ochre to deep brown.

(First Question: What’s that array or disarray? “I am not sure here. A display, perhaps, though only perhaps, that is not neat, or ordered. As flowers grown wild and disorderly, for example.” Here I sought elaboration of Seth’s first data. As stated, my letter used as object specifically mentions the Arts and Crafts Exhibit at Mount Savior. This could be a display. My abstracts, offered for sale to Dr. Lodico, can also be a display; and again, to some abstract paintings might not seem neat, or ordered.

(As an aside, Jane personally likes abstract painting, so we don’t know whether this would influence such related data or not. Also, checking out the building data described on the last page, we saw that flowers were used as decoration for both the Lodico office, and the medical office building with the flat roof, across the street. Both displays of flowers were orderly however.

(2nd Question: Can you say something more about geometric? “The shapes perhaps cubes. Gold colored, and partially in shadow. This reminds Ruburt of Jungle Gyms at a playground.” See the sketch of the abstract on page 39. As stated, this is one of the group of paintings written about in the letter used as object. This particular painting has strong cubist leanings. Some of the shapes in it are based on cubes. It is painted in browns, ochres, and golden tones. Shadows play a prominent role in it also. And Jane said the design of the painting, with its interlocking angular shapes and lines, reminds her of a Jungle Gym at a playground.

(The photo idea however is quite legitimate, since a photo can be related to a painting in many ways. The areas on all of the abstracts are of course filled in, and also the abstract foundation of the paintings relates them to the idea of buildings. In fact a friend interpreted one of them as being a painting of buildings recently. Jane said Seth might not be able to very easily distinguish between the emotional charges connected to a photo and a painting; they might appear much alike to his perceptions. This is even more apparent in the next data, which I break into two parts.