Two Big Black Hearts
Jim Dine, 1985
Bronze
deCordova Museum and Sculpture Park, Lincoln MA
Two hearts beat as one.
Rising in the blazing sun.
Stand right here. That’s it. CHEESE!
Nope - it’s blurry. Once more, please.
Hurry, scurry, rush away.
Wait. Look closer. Study, stay.
Faces, hands, toys, tools.
Crusted on their surface, jewels.
* * *
Welcome to my third post inspired by artwork at the deCordova Museum and Sculpture Park in Lincoln, MA.
These ENORMOUS, 12 foot tall bronze hearts stand at the far end of a long, grassy green where they provide an ideal photo backdrop. During our visit many couples lined up, snapped their photos, and walked away without taking a good look at the sculpture, which is deeply textured with a smorgasbord of objects. I recall an eggbeater, hammer, wrenches, faces, even a teddy bear.
Jim Dine is renowned for his heart sculptures, as well as Pinocchio lithographs and sculptures of all sorts and sizes. Were you worried I might not squeeze in a children’s book reference? In a 2010 interview with poet Ilka Skobie for Artnet magazine, he admitted being both frightened and enchanted by the Disney movie as a boy. For him, the wooden boy’s story has many more layers than the popular fairytale.
Where have you had your photo taken recently?
Another winning poem!
Iza, you’re the best! I loved your photo from the island.
Very sensorial. I love the final stanza especially!
Thanks! I wish more photo subjects had really looked closely at those jewels!
Love love your poem, especially the last stanza
. Those big hearts would be beautiful enough, but with all those objects, even better. Such a cool idea. Glad you noticed the teddy bear on it 
!
Jama – the bear was not as sweet as Cornelius! (and had no moustache)
I wish I could touch those hearts. Oh wait. I feel like I just did! Nice.
Thank you Cupcake’s Mom! (May I please call you that?)
Love it!
You should consider doing an entire book about a family posing for a photograph.
Great idea! Will you collaborate with me?
Absolutely! But why on earth would you suggest such a thing?
Well, Maurice Sendak is dead, and Mo Willems said no. You were third on my list.
Mo just made the second biggest mistake ever. Maurice, by dying, made the biggest.
Tell me where to start!
Very lovely poem. Large sculpture certainly make a statement and provide many different reactions.
Thank you Pat. They are SO big, yet it is the little details that make them so interesting. A bit like a well illustrated picture book, no?
Very cool. Thanks for the photos, Cathy. I’ve seen the hearts, but I didn’t know about Dine’s Pinocchios. He is pretty scary when he’s that big!
Cincinnati has a 12 foot Pinocchio if you are ever there! Wonder if that gives kids nightmares? Closer to you, I think the Zane Bennett gallery in Santa Fe has some of his Pinocchio lithographs.
Another great poem! You got the beat, honey!
Thanks Penny! Have you read I’M BORED yet? There’s a character on page 31 that you will love!
I have not! I want to….badly! I need to get away from this computer and hit the bookstore
I’ll check out page 31!
How totally cool! And another amazing poem, Cathy! You are so talented!
Thank you Suzanna. Hearts are cool – peace, love, and happiness.
Love the Love x2. Thank you for continuing to lightening our day!
Those hearts do make me feel the love too Sue!
Your poem made me laugh! Well done. I rarely have my picture taken because I’m usually the one holding the camera saying, “Once more, please.”
Hannah – same here! Photos of me are few and far between. The one on my gravatar was plucked from a family photo event on my mother’s 80th birthday. Cheese!
What? Four fabulous couplets all rolled into one? More please! Cathy, you’re on a roll. It’s so great to see your blog so darn active these days! I may not comment on every one, but now that I’m getting your posts, I never miss reading them. Yay!
And I swear I’ve touched those hearts. Could they have been displayed in NYC over a decade ago?
Most likely you have, Renee. He’s represented by the Pace Gallery and has exhibited many versions of the hearts over the years.
I think I have two more deCordova posts in the works, and then I’ll have to find a new source of inspiration. Glad that you have enjoyed them!