The Yellow Knapsack - Ink Fusion Art by JimRode

The Yellow Knapsack - Ink Fusion Metal Art by JimRode

Where

FridayNightArt in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

The Art

You've stopped at the traffic signal. Walking against the light, the man with the yellow knapsack passes and fades into the dark.

Months back he couldn't keep up with the car payments. When they came to repo, he thought it might be better to walk anyway.

Every Friday night, he stops at Ace to cash his check and call Mama, telling her he loves it here.

"Yes, I still use the yellow knapsack, everyday". His $7.25 an hour is minimum wage, but that will never cross his lips for her to hear. 

"Yes Mama, I use the knapsack to carry my lunch to work. Yes I'm eating good." As the night swallows the sky, he promises to send her a little money and says goodby.

Each night, that yellow knapsack carries a beer and a sandwich back to his room at the boarding house. With beer there is escape to a better world. He lays on the bed with the window open, while his socks dry. But he won't tell Mama about these personal details.

Art Detail

Archival inks are applied to a mylar before layered onto a buffed sheet of aluminum. The artist's rendition is then burned at 400º to fuse the image to the aluminum. A wall hanger is attached to the rear so that the piece can be displayed in the office or home collection quickly. Jim Rode will sign the work unless you request the signature on the back of the aluminum.

This piece was the first presentation at the September exhibition at the Edmond Fine Arts Institute in Edmund Oklahoma. Being the first art display as you enter the hall was quite a compliment.

Who

Jim Rode’s FridayNightArt is a listed member of the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition (OVAC)

To see artist Jim Rode’s Artist Statement and Bio at OVAC, go to https://www.ovac-ok.org/art/Jim-Rode