Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, May 20, 1963

May 20 – Monday –

Our 41^st Anniversary –

Rainy + cool; nevertheless we went to Niagara Falls (Ont.) + Niagara on the Lake – The world beautiful with the fullness of May-time blooms (The multitude of tulips at the falls.

Lunch at the Sheraton-Brock, view of the Falls – still great masses of ice (like stratified rock). – A light brown in color –

Home by 4:30 –

Hank over about 6:00 to mow the lawn –

There are times when we find ourselves in the midst of an event of such mediocrity and banality that it seems unendurable – and we ask ourselves how did we get ourselves talked into it?

Now, in a lesser way, I find myself in Sibelius’ position in his later years – Surrounded by fame he could not work out a formula to combat it. The story goes that once a visitor was brazen and rude enough to ask, “Are you working on your eight symphony?” To which he is said to have answered, “you are keeping me from it” – a bit of necessary rudeness he should not have been forced to use.

My “fame” is more localized, but it is nevertheless a hazard to further create work. It is something that has to be solved and may require rudeness and firmness. We are working out a formula of polite refusals, and other strategies, and if these do not work, then outright rudeness must be resorted to – My art is worth more than any fancied duty to be convivial or polite –

Evening music – I tried to find Berlioz “Faust” but could not – so I had to resort to Gluck’s Ballet Music, and the Bizet Symphony #1 – These are beautiful enough in their own right, and helped to solve my frustration and worry –

Charles Burchfield, Journals, May 20, 1963