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Chrome Fairy of the Perpetual Revolution

2020

Recuperating from the strenous ascent of Villaricca, I retired one evening to a cafe where there was an acoustic group performing and a lively crowd gathered and I sat at a table working on "Chrome Fairy". A young Chilean woman, a lithe and graceful person, dressed in the utilitarian, slightly ragged manner that bespeaks a strong affiliation with the Left, took an interest in my activity and sat down at the table with me. We had one of those long conversations - familiar to any traveler - that is distinguished as much by a determination to converse as it is by an incapacity to speak the same language. It is remarkable how much can be communicated despite a language barrier (my Spanish is an embarrassment!), and as I was drawing she told me of the recent death of her father. It was clear she was still grieving - tears rolled down her cheeks. She said that her father would have loved my art and enjoyed meeting me, and that he was a revolutionary and spent years in prison for his opposition to General Pinochet, against whom he led protests, and was ultimately very active in overthrowing the evil dictator. She showed me a picture of him as a young man - a handsome, heroic figure who seemed like a sort of Chilean Che Guevera to me. She told me he was well-known in Santiago, but I was not familiar with this history.

Chrome Fairy

Chrome Fairy

"Chrome Fairy", 2020, pen and ink with watercolor, 25.4 x 11.6 cm

Completed work (5)

  • Painting
  • Crazyology
  • 2020s

Villarica

I have no strong reservations about contradicting myself: Perhaps this "Chrome Fairy" is a kind of "soul portrait" of this young lady - her polished steely resolve inherited from her father. I can say now that the helmet is her father's head. She told me that she is committed to carrying on her father's work - that there are still many issues of social justice and freedom to be addressed in Chile. A Chrome Fairy of the Perpetual Revolution!

This small mixed media (watercolor with pen and ink) was given to my friend and collector, Josh Norman. I don't recollect recounting any of this encounter with the late revolutionary's daughter to him however.

Volcan Villaricca, Chile

Volcan Villaricca, Chile

Volcan Villaricca, Chile

Villarica (8)

Substack Paradox and the Sisters of Logic Paradox and the Sisters of Logic Dec 19, 2025 ☰ MANIFESTO:
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