VARIATIONS: My Journal
 This series of seventy-one cards, illustrations, and related text, each one representing a single element from the original award-winning artwork(1) MY JOURNAL(2) (seen on the cover) from the VARIATIONS(3) series by Mark Philip Stone, is offered as an analysis of this complex graphic.   Each page reproduces a hanging card in sequence from the original. The same information, in abbreviated form is also presented as a series of postcards.  Each postcard also contains a small preview of the next hanging card, as a stamp.   In the work MY JOURNAL the cards are arranged and dated as if they were calendar journal entries.   Each day I produced just one card, noting some event or thought of that day.  I will do my best in the space allotted by these pages to explain the life behind each journal entry and the evolution of this single work. 
    You may also view this work online at www.spiritcrow.com. 
 An artist speaks of art, his art, her art, this work, these works, and living as an expression of unique reflection. 
 What is VARIATIONS?   VARIATIONS is a series (note the singular pluralities) of works designed to explain that all existence is and each component of our lives is simply a slight variation on a basic theme.   VARIATIONS is an exploration and at one and the same time an explanation of some of my thoughts and feelings.   It was conceived to be finite and intimate the infinite. 
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(1) Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit, 2004 
(2) The first bound journal entry was made June 1, 1976 
(3) The VARIATIONS series was conceived while spending “A Day in the Field” on August 24, 1992, Les Belles Lettres Series XI – An Autumn Day in the Field, by Mark Pilipski, published by Markov Press (1997)