My Latest Read: 'Stories of Art' by James Elkins

"… Stories of Art is a terrific and transparent meditation on what’s at stake in the histories of art we all so glibly recite. Instead of writing yet another survey, James Elkins provides the little counternarrative that rubs up against the monumental survey volumes with a kind of graceful annoyance. This is the little buzzing bee that worries the elephant.” –Michael Ann Holly, Clark Art Institute (from the back cover of the book)

I’m writing this on my laptop, which is perched upon my own survey of art history book from college – Gardner’s Art Through the Ages, ninth edition. It is almost 9 ½” wide by over 11” long, it has 1,135 pages, weighs approximately 8 pounds according to my bathroom scale and currently has two bent and battered slips of paper sticking out the top from when I last perused it for inspiration. It’s great for pressing flowers or, if you can heft it, for whacking upside somebody’s head in self defense.

New Song Sunday - Playground Hustle

"Victory!"

Close-up scan from an antique french children's book about a 

boy fighting imaginary battles. Artwork by William Parkinson.

A duo from France,  The Do (pronounced like dough) have enjoyed the success of their debut album overseas since 2008. The U.S. release was only last week. They use an incredible range of instruments which combine to make a thoroughly unique & modern sound that doesn't take itself too seriously.

Another scan from Guy Le Batailleur, c. 1895

Artwork by William Parkinson

New Song Sunday, Vie en Rose

And now for something completely different....
from the indie duo Pomplamoose.
This is a 'VideoSong', where
"1. What you see is what you hear. (No lip-syncing for instruments or voice)
 2. If you hear it, at some point you see it (No hidden sounds)." (wiki)




c'est magnifique, n'est-ce pas?

Waking the Muse

This curation is inspired by a friend of mine - a wonderfully creative person, who's creative well has hit a dry spell. It happens to all of us at some point; for me it's a never ending cycle.

I gravitate towards water & trees, writing helps, going to galleries/museums or reading something completely different - and sometimes, just doing nothing in a new place is the perfect thing. Oh, and driving down a highway to nowhere in particular while singing at the top of my lungs is a good one too ;)

What do you do to wake your muse?

see my curation here (expires Friday April 2nd):

featured artists:
kgcrafts, WeeBindery, StaRedesigns, danb26, Lori411, ChatterBoxArt, bythewayside, meltemsem, handmadeempire, Mermaid Treasures, funwallart, & MyraMelinda


Thanks for the inspiration Lynn!!

New Song Sunday, the Devil's in the Details

Detail #1: it isn't Sunday.

Detail #2: in some parts of the world, it's already Tuesday.

Somehow during this week's search for new tunes, I ended up with several devilish picks and decided to run with it.

'Beat the Devil's Tattoo' by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Alternative, released 3/9/10:

Beat The Devil's Tattoo - Blac...

'Devil's Spoke' by Laura Marling
Singer/Songwriter, released 3/14/10:
(slow start, but worth waiting for the build)

Devil's Spoke - Laura Marling

'Hanuman' by Rodrigo y Gabriela
World, released 9/9/09:
(this devilish connection is a bit of a stretch, but an interesting story. 'Hanuman' is a Hindu diety who was cursed to not remember his powers unless reminded of them by another. Also, the skillful guitar playing in this song reminds me of 'Devil went Down to Georgia'.)

Hanuman - Rodrigo y Gabriela

Rowing My 1st Regatta -or- Going from Dead Last to 1st Place, Rocky Style

'woo-hoo moment'

just after we crossed the finish line

I started rowing lessons last August, and have been something of an addict ever since. I love being on the water, and though I may freeze my derriere now and again - I've never loved exercising this much in my life. Regular workouts are always a chore, and dead boring - rowing is anything but.

Speaking of butts, since the new year our coach(es) have been thoroughly kicking ours to prep us for the Green Lake Spring Regatta on March 20th. It's a 1,000 meter race; a short 4 minutes rowed at a fairly high intensity. By the end of it, your legs are jello and you want to die. 

New Song(s) Sunday

photo by Tracy Yarkoni

Dropped the ball last week, so this week you get *2* yes *2* new songs in one {!} boo-yah.

First up, from Fyfe Dangerfield (what a great name), an uber-happy feel-good song released last month:

When You Walk In The Room - Fy...

**Bonus track** This may not be new to many of you (released last October) - but it is to me, and I adore it... this hauntingly beautiful, gorgeous melody and a sexy voice had me from the first note...
{don't judge it too harshly just because it was featured on one of the Twilight soundtracks, it can't help it; in fact, you may do better to close your eyes and listen, instead of watch... ready?}
'Satellite Heart (air mail remix)' by Anya Marina


Cheers.

Pictures & Tears Treasury

I got this wonderful book at the library yesterday by James Elkins, an artist & art historian, called Pictures & Tears.

"Museums are full of images meant to affect us deeply--not just pique our curiosity but move us to tears. Yet we resist. It is common to cry in the theater, at the opera, at concerts, or while reading books...crying in front of paintings was commonplace in the Middle Ages...Why have the last hundred years been so dry by comparison?"

When was the last time art brought you to tears?

Come see my tribute treasury on etsy.com, hurry (it expires Sunday March 21st):
{treasuries are member curated galleries}

featured artists:

5erg, PeggyWolfDesign, thegreenefairy, jerseymaids, strandsoflight, lori411, DvoraSchleffer, mkendall, dbabcock, lightleaks, susansheehan, and dimdi

My Irish Ancestry -or- I Bet My Great Grandma is Cooler Than Your Great Grandma

well... maybe not, but how cool is this?!?!
{thanks mom for digging these up!}

Meet my Great Grandma Cain:

Her sash says "Out For A Good Time"

{for reals}

"Turns out that her father (your great-great-grandfather Jim Cain) ran a "tent show" and she was the entertainment.  She played guitar and sang." -Teri Odell

This is my favorite.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

{the irony is that at this moment my Israeli husband is on his way to Ireland from London - as I write this - no kidding, he just called an hour ago before he boarded the flight. Wish I was there! RawЯ.}

Springs to Mind -or- Why is a hare like a deciduous tree?

On my balcony, I am at eye level with the top of a 20’ tall tree.

It is winter – well, March – and it has no leaves.

{Wandering minds want to know:

Is the tree embarrassed when it loses all its leaves?

Do the other trees laugh and make fun of it?

anyway, back to the story…}

It is almost Spring, and this tree is absolute potentiality.

Behind it, across the street, is an evergreen of about the same height.

Ever. Green.

It doesn’t know what it is to not have leaves;

to be barren and dormant.

It strikes me that there are people like this, people I know well.

The evergreens are steady and grounded and sure;

they change, but in slow and small ways.

I am decidedly not an evergreen.

I’m the tree that is a slave to the seasons.