The Naming of Things

 

And how long has it been since we knew the first ones? It must have been long before writing, long before we came to collect within one word all those words we attached to us and to everything else: labels. Before labels there were titles; before titles there were names. And now we cannot look at a thing without seeing and hearing its name, its title, its label.

It is said that you do not use names. But I do not believe this is true. As long as you and I have walked together, this cannot be true. You must know at least two: your name for me, and mine for you.

The Naming of Things (2011). Digital collage created & copyright © by Eric Edelman. All rights reserved.

(All artwork, descriptions, & other text created & copyright © by Eric Edelman. All rights reserved.)

{ 72 comments }

• Create With Joy December 27, 2011, 4:46 pm

  Very Cool – happy new year to you!

  Reply
  • Eric Edelman December 27, 2011, 5:48 pm

    Thanks, and Happy New Year to you and yours as well!

    Reply
• Sukhmandir Kaur December 27, 2011, 4:57 pm

  Yes there is a world of devotion in uttering the name, very intriguing collage.

  Reply
  • Eric Edelman December 27, 2011, 5:46 pm

    Thanks very much for stopping by! I appreciate your thoughtful comment.

    Reply
• Digital Flower December 27, 2011, 5:08 pm

  Nice. Very 60’s looking.

  Reply
  • Eric Edelman December 27, 2011, 5:46 pm

    Thanks for your visit and your comment! I’ve always admired the art of Peter Max and the poster of the 1960s, as well as the earlier Surrealists.

    Reply
• bethere2day ""LINKY"" December 27, 2011, 5:24 pm

  That is Beautiful

  Thanks for stopping by and Happy New Year

  Reply
  • Eric Edelman December 27, 2011, 5:43 pm

    Thanks for stopping by and for your kind comment, Steve!

    Reply
• Verena December 27, 2011, 5:36 pm

  Wow this is a very beautiful collage and the words match perfectly!

  Vielen Dank für den netten Kommentar auf deutsch! Ich freue mich jedesmal darüber!

  Happy new year!

  Verena

  Reply
  • Eric Edelman December 27, 2011, 5:57 pm

    Thanks very much, Verena! I’m glad that you like both the collage and the prose poem that I wrote for it.

    Danke, Verena! Es ist immer eine Freude, Ihre Website zu besuchen. Bitte fahren Sie fort zu schreiben und zu zeigen, schöne Dinge. Die Welt braucht mehr davon!

    Happy New Year to you and your loved ones as well!

    Eric

    Reply
    • Verena December 27, 2011, 6:32 pm

      Danke Eric! Das ist sehr nett!
      Das wünsche ich Ihnen auch!

      Reply
      • Eric Edelman December 27, 2011, 7:55 pm

        Vielen Dank, Verena!

        Reply
• Julie December 27, 2011, 5:40 pm

  Cool arework.

  Reply
  • Eric Edelman January 7, 2012, 8:32 am

    Thank you, Julie! Sorry for the late posting and reply (I had software issues that blocked me from seeing your message until today).

    Reply
• Barefoot Mahala w/linky December 27, 2011, 6:12 pm

  happy WW

  Reply
  • Eric Edelman January 7, 2012, 8:30 am

    Thanks….I hope you had a happy WW as well. I apologize for not posting and answering your comment sooner; I had software issues that blocked my seeing it until today.

    Reply
• Hapy hannukah w/Linky! December 27, 2011, 6:36 pm

  great!

  Reply
  • Eric Edelman January 7, 2012, 8:28 am

    Thanks for visiting and for your comment!

    Reply
• Catch My Words December 27, 2011, 6:52 pm

  Cool art work!

  Reply
  • Eric Edelman December 27, 2011, 7:55 pm

    Thanks for your visit and for your kind words. Happy New Year!

    Reply
• Jody December 27, 2011, 7:11 pm

  Beautiful! Happy New Year!

  Jody
  Mommy Moment

  Reply
  • Eric Edelman December 27, 2011, 7:58 pm

    Thanks, Jody! Happy New Year to you and yours as well.

    Reply
• Meghan @JaMonkey December 27, 2011, 8:21 pm

  I love this!

  Reply
  • Eric Edelman December 28, 2011, 4:39 am

    Thanks for stopping by and for your kind comment, Meghan! I’m glad it pleased you. Happy New Year!

    Reply
• princesscj haven December 27, 2011, 8:38 pm

  visiting you from WW: Happy new year to come…

  Reply
  • Eric Edelman January 7, 2012, 8:27 am

    Thanks! Happy New Year to you as well. Sorry for the late posting and reply; I had software problems that kept me from seeing your post until today.

    Reply
• EdT. December 27, 2011, 8:46 pm

  That is a gorgeous image – Happy WW, and Happy New Year!

  ~EdT.

  Reply
  • Eric Edelman December 28, 2011, 4:40 am

    Thanks so much — and Happy New Year to you and yours as well!

    Reply
• NCSue (I follow back!) December 27, 2011, 9:38 pm

  Thanks for hosting!

  Reply
  • Eric Edelman December 28, 2011, 4:42 am

    Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment, Sue. Happy New Year!

    Reply
• Lisa w/linky December 27, 2011, 10:51 pm

  Love it!

  Reply
  • Eric Edelman January 7, 2012, 8:26 am

    Thanks, Lisa! I had fun doing it.

    Reply
• Jen ~ Mom of 2 December 27, 2011, 11:46 pm

  I hope you have a great WW!!

  Reply
  • Eric Edelman January 7, 2012, 8:25 am

    Thanks, Jen, I hope you did too. I apologize for not answering sooner; a software problem kept me from seeing your post until today. Happy New Year to you and your family!

    Reply
• kewkew December 28, 2011, 12:01 am

  Very cool!

  Reply
  • Eric Edelman December 28, 2011, 4:43 am

    Thanks! Happy New Year!

    Reply
• Lindsey@ snozberryz.com December 28, 2011, 12:33 am

  very cool!!!!!!!!!

  Reply
  • Eric Edelman December 28, 2011, 4:46 am

    Thanks for the compliment, Lindsey. I got a kick out of your picture for this WW….. Happy New Year to you & yours!

    Reply
• Tomas December 28, 2011, 4:02 am

  Your work illuminated my room, decorated my pale colors – Thank you. Your post woke up me and put in search for a words to voice my heart – Happy New Year!

  Reply
  • Eric Edelman December 28, 2011, 4:49 am

    Thank you very much, Tomas! It’s been an honor and a privilege to exchange comments with you and to view your work, and I look forward to seeing more of your art and insights during 2012. A Happy New Year to you as well!

    Reply
• Erika Price {Linky} December 28, 2011, 4:20 am

  Yup – notice how our pets answer to their names too? It’s instinct!

  Happy New Year Eric

  Reply
  • Eric Edelman December 28, 2011, 4:51 am

    Absolutely what I had in mind, Erika. Thanks for stopping by to comment, and may you and your loved ones have a very Happy New Year as well!

    Reply
• Rhonda December 28, 2011, 6:59 am

  Very nice. Have a wonderful holiday season.

  Reply
  • Eric Edelman December 28, 2011, 4:44 pm

    Thanks, Rhonda! Hope you had a nice Chanukah. And thanks for stopping by to leave your kind comment.

    Reply
• tina´s ww / linky December 28, 2011, 7:15 am

  my photo is from a amaryllis. we have them now inside all over

  Reply
  • Eric Edelman December 28, 2011, 11:17 pm

    Ooops! Ich bin immer Fehler zu machen über Blumensorten! Wie peinlich ist das. Vielen Dank für die Korrektur meiner Fehler, Tina. Ich hoffe, du hast einen guten Rutsch ins neue Jahr.

    Reply
• Pearlsa December 28, 2011, 11:29 am

  Happy WW and New Year

  Reply
  • Eric Edelman December 28, 2011, 11:22 pm

    Thank you, Pearlsa! I hope you had a great WW and that you and your loved ones will have a Happy New Year as well.

    Reply
• Green Momma w/linky December 28, 2011, 11:42 am

  Very cool artwork. Thanks for linking up.

  Reply
  • Eric Edelman January 7, 2012, 8:35 am

    Thanks very much for your visit and kind comment! I’m sorry that it took so long to post and answer your comment, but software problems blocked me from seeing it until today.

    Reply
• selfsagacity December 28, 2011, 2:09 pm

  the anatomy of the human and horse. wonderful art work. Self Sagacity

  Reply
  • Eric Edelman December 28, 2011, 11:00 pm

    Thanks for your kind comment. I hope you have a Happy New Year!

    Reply
• GrammyMousetails *Linky* December 28, 2011, 9:09 pm

  I like the back ground of this image the best. I find sometimes just hearing someone speak your name is very comforting. Happy New Year!

  Reply
  • Eric Edelman December 28, 2011, 11:33 pm

    Thanks for stopping by and leaving your kind comment! Yes, it is often comforting to hear one’s name spoken. It’s interesting — and kind of a funny coincidence — that you like the background of this picture the best: I do too, and contrary to my usual custom, it’s the first part of the picture I created. Thanks again, Faythe, and a Happy New Year to you and your loved ones (I hope you get out to the grand-kids soon!).

    Reply
• aquariann December 28, 2011, 10:23 pm

  Neat image! The rainbow gradients are very pretty.

  Reply
  • Eric Edelman January 7, 2012, 2:45 am

    Thanks, Aquariann! Unlike some I’ve done recently, this one was actually fun to make.

    Reply
• aquariann December 28, 2011, 10:25 pm

  Neat image! The rainbow gradients are so pretty.

  Reply
  • Eric Edelman December 28, 2011, 11:24 pm

    Thanks, Aquariann! I am somewhat addicted to rainbow gradients (as I’m sure you can tell). Happy New Year!

    Reply
• Tracy @ Ascending Butterfly December 29, 2011, 12:05 am

  Happy WW, and since this is the last one before NYE, wishing you and yours a very safe, happy and healthy New Year too!

  Reply
  • Eric Edelman December 29, 2011, 3:20 pm

    Thanks very much for stopping by & for your kind wishes — a Happy, Healthy, Safe, & Prosperous New Year to you and your loved ones as well!

    Reply
• Simply Delicious December 29, 2011, 5:33 am

  Beautiful photo.

  Visiting late for WW. Happy New Year!

  Simply Delicious

  Reply
  • Eric Edelman December 29, 2011, 3:15 pm

    Thanks very much for stopping by and for your nice comment! Happy New Year to you and yours as well.

    Reply
• krystyl olson December 29, 2011, 12:36 pm

  Hi there, I found you VIA mama to 4 blessings WW hop
  hope you can spare a minit to check out my blog and follow …
  I’m fairly new and truly appreciate EVERY follower I can get
  You can Check me out here;
  http://krystylco.blogspot.com/

  Reply
  • Eric Edelman January 7, 2012, 2:48 am

    Thanks for stopping by and commenting, Krystyl! I’ve just visited your site and left a comment of my own. Sorry for the delay in answering you; software problems at my end prevented me from seeing your comment until today.

    Reply
• Leah H. January 3, 2012, 2:27 pm

  Wow, that is so cool! So beautiful..

  Visiting for Wordless Wednesday!

  Here’s my share- hope you can stop by:)

  http://www.mommys4seasonsjourney.com/2012/01/wordless-wednesday-the-sky-clouds-and-trees.html

  Reply
  • Eric Edelman January 7, 2012, 1:41 am

    Thanks for your kind comment! Sorry to have answered you so late; software problems on my end kept me from seeing your entry. Hope you had a great WW.

    Reply
• Mitch January 3, 2012, 6:02 pm

  Great colors!

  Reply
  • Eric Edelman January 4, 2012, 3:43 am

    Thanks for stopping by and for the kind words, Mitch! I loved your post about the Liberty Science Center. It’s a fun place.

    Reply
• Spiky - Oh Bite!: A Journey to Palates January 4, 2012, 3:35 am

  pic is nice…it’s a rainbow.

  Reply
  • Eric Edelman January 4, 2012, 3:40 am

    Thanks for stopping by and leaving your kind comment!

    Reply
• Bernard Baars October 8, 2012, 11:41 am

  Very thought provoking, Eric. Thank you.

  Some of us use names. Others let names use us.

  b

  Reply
  • Eric Edelman October 9, 2012, 1:25 pm

    Thanks very much for your visit and your kind comment, Bernie. Yes, it’s true: some of us let names use us: define us and restrict us. It’s often the case in matters of religion and politics.

    Reply