Roller Coaster
Roller Coaster – Artist Unknown

Roller Coaster, is the header illustration on a flyer promoting one-act plays by a group of area writers and actors. An actor friend gave it to me some weeks ago (the event has come and gone by now). Beyond the one-act plays themselves, I was taken by the simplicity, and power of the illustration. Credit was not given the artist, and I suspect the illustration is from a public domain, cut -and-paste publication.

Why reproduce it here? Well, because it seems to me an excellent example of translation over transcription. I have a hunch the artist may have just “knocked” this out, almost without thinking. It might have been only one of many works he produced in a relatively short time. He, or she, might even have considered it a “throw away!” Still, it is – in my view – masterfully done. Kudos and congratulations to the unknown artist! The simplicity is addictive!

I realize some readers won’t “get it.” I doubt most people would “get it.” (I use the word “would” instead of “will” purposely.) I even doubt many actors for whom the piece was created – artists themselves – noticed or appreciated the artistic uniqueness of the illustration. They are probably not alone in missing the obvious. And, that is exactly why I post it here. Enjoy, or shake your head in disbelief; the choice is yours.