Stardust

By Marianne Bland

Piece description from the artist

I finished this piece just days before David Bowie passed away. I’ve always been heavily influenced by music, and I doubt there are many people who haven’t been touched in some way by the bold individuality and screaming talent of that man. Titled in honor of one of the most colorful people to grace our planet this century, Stardust features a colorful night scene of San Francisco. Rainbows reflect off wet streets and the Transamerica building winks in the distance. This image was taken initially during a rare summer storm. My mom, grandma and I were “tourists” for the day. Usually I drive as the person in my family most comfortable and experienced with driving in San Francisco, but this time I was able to talk mom into taking the wheel for a bit so I could be a passenger. That led to this image, in which my arm is just barely visible in the car’s side mirror among water droplets. I left it in as a way of saying “I was here”… I think all artists contemplate their existence, impact and potential legacy. Losing so many musical greats this year has certainly made me wonder if anyone will enjoy my art one day after I’m gone.