Life Garden was formed in 1989 from the ashes of Maybe Mental whose two core members were David and Su Ling Oliphant. They invited poet George Dillon to the group, but tragically he passed away by the time when they released their debut album "Caught Between The Tapestry Of Silence & Beauty".
"So I Painted My Hands Orange" was recorded live on January 19th 1991 at the 3rd Street Theatre in Phoenix (Arizona) as part of Peter Ragan's "Terminal Monsoon Serinade". It was George Dillon's last performance.
After George Dillon's death, David Oliphant wrote that text :


" George Dillon
April 30, 1956 - March 8, 1991

George Dillon, one of Phoenix's longstanding artists, died quite unexpectedly of a heart attack in his sleep on March 8, 1991. He wasn't just an artist in the common sense of the word, his whole life was an artform. To try to describe this artform in a few short paragraphs is foolish. George wrote poetry every day for the last fifteen years (or thereabouts) and made music almost as long. To list the names of the bands and the people he has worked with in one way or another is to list almost everyone that has been active in the Phoenix art and music scene in the last eleven years. Some of the musical groups he has worked with, or founded, included International Language, Keening, Amnesia Quartet, and Twenty Four Hour World. For the last year and a half, up to the time of his death, he was working with the group Life Garden.
Although George was exceptionally creative his work is little known beyond those friends with whom he shared it. Like many artists (this writer included) he was always striving to create something 'better', and in the process ended up releasing very little musical work and, as far as I know, publishing none of his written work.
George was the most difficult and the gentlest person I have known. His love for the world went beyond passion or compassion. His was a fiery existence, scorching the timid and empowering the strong. For many people George's house was a place where some sense of sanity could be regained, and timely advice received. In this way he, as a very close friend of his explained to me, absorbed a lot of the pain that others were feeling and transmuted it into something beautiful through his art, poetry, and music.
George will be missed by all of us who were fortunate enough to have known him, yet he will live on in the work he created which is at present in need of much sorting and organizing with an eye pointed towards a future where his creative experience of this world can be shared with a much larger audience.
The following are two statements written by George that his family chose for his funeral announcement.

"A whole life fell between
what was said
And what should have been said"

"I still dream slow"

George Dillon "


wdavidoliphant.bandcamp.com