A Neighborly Visit
If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange apples, then you and I will still each have one apple. But, if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas. - George Bernard Shaw
I returned to the farm and to the humble hand-built studio home of my friend Acourt in October to return the farm journal I had borrowed from him. The property he lives on was once a popular 60’s-style commune, and the journal is a large leather bound book that holds drawings and written entries from 30 years of the farm’s history. Always interested in human nature and social science, I borrowed the journal to learn more about the farm’s history and, apparently, to reminisce. I found myself and my son, Josh, in it, from a 1986 entry, when we first moved to Floyd.
The purpose of my visit was to return the journal, but visits with Acourt are like consulting an oracle and are usually about more than the reason you thought you came. Musician, poet, painter, and instrument maker, Acourt is small boned to the point of seeming almost ethereal, and although he lives a hermit’s lifestyle, he’s often not alone. People regularly seek him out for his company and counsel, and this day was no different. When my husband and I arrived, Acourt was already engaged in an exchange of ideas with a visiting young couple. The couple, who seemed to be interested in farming and all things metaphysical, sat cross-legged on the floor across from him. Acourt, who also sat crossed legged next to the woodstove and in front of the turnstile chimes and meditation altar, reminded me of a swami.
After greetings and introductions, Joe and I settled in, occupying what was left of the floor space. Leaning against the day bed, I studied Acourt’s canvassed paintings and was drawn to the black crow and lotus flower themes. Like an accomplished musical conductor, Acourt directed his attention from conversation to conversation and infused them with his own temperament and tempo. Some conversations happened separately while others came into play all at the same time.
He was talking to the couple when he heard me say to my husband that I had been wondering what the difference was between a lily and a lotus flower. Still talking while rummaging through some papers, he produced a catalog and handed it to me. It was full of pictures of lotuses and lilies. But I couldn’t see any difference.
“The difference between them must be like the difference between a fiddle and a violin,” I said, and then turned to ask Acourt, “What exactly is the difference between a violin and a fiddle, Acourt?”
The musician in him straightened up, suddenly seeming more solid, and answered in one word, “Intention.” He went on to point out the knobby center in lotus flowers that the lilies didn’t have (or was it the other way around).
About this time Acourt’s adult son came through the door, bearing several plastic bags full of freshly pressed apple sauce for his father, made from apples that had been picked on the farm. The long haired lanky son grew up with my son, and Joe and I hadn’t seen him in awhile. Conversations shifted from the esoteric to the more concrete, and before we knew it, it was time to go.
But before we left, Acourt handed me a copy of his book, “Tiny Shrines 13 Cups,” the one he had asked me to read in manuscript form last spring. Only a handful of handwritten copies had been published using local resources, and the cover design appropriately included a drawing of a lotus flower. “Journeys and poems…confessions of a butterfly mystic,” it said.
With the book in my hand and a bag of applesauce in my husband’s, we bid our farewells, promising to get together again soon. To be continued…
Post Note: To learn more about Acourt's art, write to: Acourt Bason, 1511 Stonewall Rd. Check, Virginia, 24072
Comments
I wish that we all knew someone like this...here from Michele's!
Posted by: Diana | January 3, 2006 9:11 AM
He soulds like a wonderful character. I love the difference between the violin and the fiddle - intention - a great answer!
Posted by: kenju | January 3, 2006 10:46 AM
Dropped by to catch up on the last few posts. Hope your New Years Celebration was nice. I've been a blogging fool today...swing by when you can.
Posted by: Harmonia | January 3, 2006 3:16 PM
What a wise person. I love the simplicity of the answer: intention. Can't wait to hear more!
Posted by: running2ks | January 3, 2006 3:20 PM
A person could write an essay on the difference between a fiddle and a violin and not come up with a better description than your friend's one word answer. Perfect reply and one that I'll have to remember.
I noticed in your comment at Blue Ridge Muse that you saw The Kind on New Year's Eve. Boy did that bring back memories of South Main Cafe in Blacksburg. It would be a lot of fun to see them again. I noticed while in Blacksburg a few months ago that South Main Cafe has changed to something else, so I'm happy to see that The Kind are at least still playing. I've started a list of places that Amy and I might ride my "new Harley" to this summer. We've definitely put Floyd near the top.
Posted by: Mayberry | January 3, 2006 4:15 PM
Mayberry,
Do you dance? I may have danced next to you at South Main Cafe to The Kind. Some of the band members have changed, but Wendy is tried and true. These days I wait till they come to me (or at least nearer). I don't remember the name of the new place. It's changed several times in the past 10 years. Look me up when you come!
Posted by: colleen | January 3, 2006 4:21 PM
Oh yeah, I danced, especially when I wasn't trying to look cool. And that usually happened more often at the end of the night than at the beginning. Amy just told me that she too has rang in the New Year with the Kind before. And she was a Wednesday night Kind/South Main regular. Her roomate Dan was a never-miss regular and I know I went to see the Kind at least once with him. I loved South Main, it was my favorite place for live music when I lived there and when Amy lived there and we were dating. That brings back a lot of memories. If we come to Floyd we'll have to schedule it on a night that would include one of your poetry readings and some live music.
Posted by: Mayberry | January 3, 2006 4:38 PM
OK, now I have finally seen the truth! I thought you lived on earth. But you live on another planet, that's why your life is so different from mine.
Posted by: Tabor | January 3, 2006 5:14 PM
Fascinating Colleen..what an interesting person Acourt is and he seems to be a Guru of sorts and I mean that in the BEST sense...How wonderful to live close enough that you can visit and have the experience of learning from such an interesting and complete Artist/Philosopher...can't wait for more to come...
By the way, I did my 2nd Liar, Liar...results to come, later! (lol)
Posted by: OldOldLady Of The Hills | January 3, 2006 6:15 PM
And everyone thought they knew Virginia. Now not only does it have wonderful historical places but so many artisans, craftsmen and wonderful writers. I suspect that many places exist similar to the area around Floyd and Roanoke; they just haven't been discovered by the all too busy world. (This is probably a blessing)
Posted by: srp | January 3, 2006 7:23 PM
Sounds like a wonderful way to spend the afternoon. I'll be back to hear more,
Posted by: Barbara | January 3, 2006 11:28 PM
Wonderful. I look forward to the continuation!
Posted by: Elissa | January 4, 2006 11:15 PM
Your friend Acourt sounds like a most interesting fellow and someone I would love to visit.
Posted by: Simply Coll | January 6, 2006 3:03 PM
just a note to say that many of a'court's paintings, some of his music, a few drawings and exhibit notices can now be found on his web site at travianna.com
Posted by: steve | November 15, 2006 10:53 AM
What a great guy. Him and his brother got me interested in making instruments and drums. He was the seed for most drumming and drummers in Floyd. Rio and Acourt and some folks from Asheville played and headed drums for two weeks straight once. I really felt like I was in an African village. Eating grains, hanging around fires, hearing drumming from morning and through the night.
If there was justice manna would fall from the sky, fun non-selfish folks who would and do make the world a better place. A soul-man!
Posted by: Sunray | January 21, 2007 7:48 PM