Fawn was part of a collaborative exhibition in California called “Painted Sound”. As the name suggests the pieces in the exhibition were painted interpretations of pieces of music.

I chose “Fawn” by Tom Waits from the album “Alice”. The piece is barely two minutes long but still manages to prolong a beauty which melts the heart, but at the same time makes you feel uneasy. I think this is largely due to the poetic and sometimes screeching almost grating harmonics of the Stroh violin.

I guess the poetry comes in the form of the little girl in the white dress and the little blue butterflies hovering around. As your eyes pan to the background you begin to feel uneasiness, things are perhaps not as they seem. The descending fog adds doubt to your mind and you wonder if Fawn is safe or in danger in the confines of the space she stands in.

Like the piece of music Fawn offers up both beauty and desolation although perhaps not apparent at first. Fawn tugs at the heartstrings and you feel she is abandoned and un-cared for in the darkness of the forest. Her light dress attracts the butterflies fluttering around her and you fear she may attract larger prey in the forest so you take it upon yourself to care and keep her safe.

The creeping fog pulls you ever closer and you become fearful and disorientated. You stop to place yourself but Fawn falls back into the shadowy mist and is lost to you. You are left desolate and bereft of a heart that you know was never yours to take.