Field of Dreams

If you paint it they will come…

Some articles about the painting.

Chicago Tribune 1/10/17 | Chicago Tribune 4/10/17

NWI Times 12/31/16 | NWI Times 8/10/22

Ease His Pain…

Ray says to Terrance Mann, "He never got to play baseball, so he tried to make his son play it for him,". It wasn’t until 2022 while writing my first book that I realized that “Field of Dreams” is a film about redemption. Baseball is just the backdrop. It’s the same with my painting.

A father and son find forgiveness through the canvas.

I was an 8-year-old boy… terrified of the ball. Baseball, to my father, was part of the American Dream but for me, it was a nightmare. We didn't play catch; he threw the ball AT me with all the fury of his pent-up dreams. It was terrifying. "Don't be afraid of the ball! Don't stand there like a tree!" The echoes of his frustration still reverberate in my mind. The more frightened I was, the angrier he became, throwing harder, screaming louder. Alcoholism, physical abuse, and never really supporting my artistic dreams all became the backstory that fueled the emotions of my father opening his Christmas gift in 2016. Like a scene from a film, it became a viral moment as it resonated with legions of Cubs fans and was featured on SportsCenter's Top Plays.

On November 2nd, 2016, the voice whispered: "Ease his pain." The painting became a symbol of love mending a fractured bond. It represents hope, forgiveness, and a gateway to dreams. For fans, it was the pinnacle of Chicago Cubs' moments, for me it mirrored the film as healing magic for a father and son’s relationship. It also steered me towards charitable endeavors with Cubs players and owner Tom Ricketts. The painting's magnetic aura drew people, just like that Iowa farm.

My first fundraiser came in a single night, whereby I raised enough money by selling $20 prints of the painting to be recognized as the Top Individual Fundraiser for the Special Olympics. I was then given the honor of throwing the first pitch for the Cubs' minor league team in South Bend, Indiana.

I never anticipated that the painting would bring us to the crystalline moment of having our final catch. My father will never throw a baseball again; he's weakened in spirit, his body following suit. Warming up for his opportunity on the mound, he couldn't see well enough to catch, so I'd run the ball back and place it gently in his hand. On his first attempt, his arm was too feeble to throw more than 5 feet. Later that day, I wept as I realized the roles had reversed. I became the father, and he the fragile child. But unlike him, I showed grace, love, and patience, rewriting the past with the power of forgiveness. I granted him the opportunity to throw the first pitch for the Cubs farm team.

He threw his last baseball from a mound that he saw himself on as a boy. His Field of Dreams.

Serendipity in Dyersville Iowa

When I learned that the Cubs were scheduled to play at the “Field of Dreams” game in 2022, the words of Terrance Mann echoed in my mind: "There comes a time when all the cosmic tumblers have clicked into place, and the universe opens itself up for a few seconds to show you what's possible." The Cubs playing in the Field of Dreams game on August 11th, 2022, felt like a moment when the universe was unfolding before me.

It was as though the painting I created had opened a portal to a dream, and I realized that the same voice that had led me to create the artwork was now urging me to immortalize this timeless experience through a digital collectible on the blockchain attached to this one of a kind crystal statue. While I had received substantial offers for the original painting, I considered its value beyond money. When my father eventually passes away, the painting will find a new home with my brother, for it is not something I am willing to part with—it is a cherished family heirloom.

"Moonlight" Graham says, "It was like coming this close to your dreams and watching them brush past you like a stranger in the crowd. At the time you don't think much of it. We just don't recognize the most significant moments of our lives while happening." I've come to appreciate never taking the day's miracles for granted. I understand the profound significance of this moment in my life and am determined not to let it pass unnoticed, like an unfamiliar face in a bustling crowd. The "Field of Dreams" now resides on the blockchain. The $108K price tag holds a clear connection to Cubs' history, bringing to mind Grant DePorter's expenditure of nearly $114K to acquire the infamous "Bartman Ball," only to ceremoniously destroy it. I painted an image of that explosive moment, superimposing it over the Cubs World Series trophy, which now hangs in Harry Caray's restaurant in downtown Chicago. It may seem entirely irrational, but these quintessential Cubs moments are beyond measure. In keeping with the enchantment that has led me to this juncture, I am committed to donating $20K from the sale to charity. Love and forgiveness may appear entirely illogical, much like a dream. I’ve created something totally illogical in this crystal statue, but perhaps you hear the voice whispering out to you... "Go the Distance...”

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