My latest painting is inspired by the indigenous, hardy Phoenix reclinata palms, (false date palms), that grow in abundance naturally in Zimbabwe, found framing the sky along the great Zambezi, Limpopo and Save Rivers and smaller riverways and springs. Cultivated in gardens such as mine and at Chilo Gorge Safari Lodge, and fringing road verges as trusty and decorative landscape accents that require minimal water and care. Beloved of birds and bats, they bear ‘dates” for animal consumption, and their deep green fronds provide nesting material for the multitudes of weaver birds that strip them almost bare when building their woven palm abodes; abodes that last many seasons, firstly filled with squwking weaver chicks and visited by eager arboreal snakes, and thereafter fading to old gold and providing safe haven for the likes of tiny blue waxbills who take them over to roost in, communally and cosily, at night.

‘Phoenix’ is the Greek word for date palm; an old name used by Theophrastus indicating that the tree was introduced to the Greeks by the Phoenicians. The specific name, ‘reclinata’, means ‘bent backwards’, referring to the leaves.

Here is my photo of Phoenix fronds in the garden of a new gallery, Art@84 in Harare,

Opening shortly…..there are 24 Zimbabwean artists showing work, a strong and uplifting collaboration which is most exciting…..

Using actual palm fronds from my garden, I stencil and print directly onto my canvas, nature is my muse….,……

And here is the final large painting…..

The very name Phoenix suggests what attracts me to this palm, a resilient survivor against all odds, withstanding dark adversity …. and refers perhaps as well to the deep red dye associated with the Phoenicians, and so, inspires my poem, Palm Passion…

Palm Passion

Palm prints

bleed joyful colour 

into my canvas,

backlit and hopeful

against the dusky

menacing gloom 

of dark silhouettes 

which threaten

to overwhelm

my early morning,

anxious, inward vision.

Ominous spikes 

turn to bright tipped 

golden spears 

on the sunrise 

of my horizon

as I stitch nature, 

culturing wellness

into a laced basketry

of creative fronds

framing the frayed,

the edges, of me.

Reverent landscapes, 

biblical emotion,

grow as the dawn

breaks in my mind, 

lapped by fronds

of fragrant hue;

acid  lemon yellow 

tempered by cool

celestial blue

and the rich red

of  real earth.

Lin Barrie 

the interiors at Art@84 are bright and inviting…

Colours of logos and furnishing are elemental and satisfying…

and large board displays by each individual artist resonate, (here’s mine….) a masterful concept by Rich who installed and built the whole concept from steel girders and second hand shipping containers…

Some more wonderful displays,

Honde Valley scenes

such as this powerful portrait from the stable of Village Unhu…

and this Zambezi elephant painting by Rich Conlon, set against the egg yellow repurposed container walls that form the backbone of the innovative gallery space conceived by Rich…

Speaking of elephants, I test a cappuccino from the resident barista, and he creates an elephant in my foam, which I drink slowly until only eyeballs remain……

The Brush and Bean Coffeshop within the gallery will be a welcome stopover for Harare art goers., mums from school and .general meeting place…homemade cakes, elephant coffees and art, what could be better than that!?…..

From artist John Kotze, here is a collage that is not a collage but is a meticulously painted masterpiece…

I love this portrait with axe; Fabuopus new style by an old hand…guess who…?!……..

Abstract palms, acrylic on stretched canvas, 40 x 40 cm was created by me during an abstract workshop with Mike White, most satisfying…

and it lives, glows and breathes in this lovely gallery space …..

Happily, the white display boards suit everybody’s work,

The weekend of the opening is a great success

with many Zimbabweans and visitors flowing through …

A smaller palm painting of mine, not yet on the opening show, waits in the wings…….ready to take flight….

.