Formality

You can smile
And try to destroy the notion of unhappiness.

Don't be embarrassed
If you can afford oysters and champagne

It's a formality of gratitude
Like the delight of singing in the rain.

Daydreamer

Daydreamer

The map shows the terrain

hilly areas, scattered trees

A place you would like to walk.

You may meet some animals

some sheep, maybe goats.

They make milk here,

neighbors are proud of the creamery.

There is a shepherd

a young boy, daydreamer

his mind has to escape once in a while.

You can talk to him.

note: The poem is originally posted in my other blog: https://simpleimages2.wordpress.com

Chess and its discontents

I am playing a lot of chess. I find it difficult to write poetry when I am playing a lot of chess games.

I am reading firstlight, an old book by Sue Monk Kidd.

A million droplets

Waht is Modern Art?

What is Modern Art?

There was time, 18th to 19th century when the art we see are religious scene, portraits of the nobles or monarchs and their family, scenes arising from mythology, scenes inside palaces, churches , or wealthy homes.

Artist start painting ordinary people, outdoors, farms,landscapes, streets, salons. Modern art started.When Duchamp painted the Nude Descending on a Staircase modern art was born. 

The artist paint scenes captured in the moment, impressions of the moment. Impressionist movement was born. Different colors are used, shade of colors from pastels to loud colors of red blue green.The viewer can sense emotions of the scenes or state of emotion of the artists. The works of the impressionist from Manet to Cezanne to Van Gogh then to Picasso and Braque with cubism. 

The artists start evoking the subconscious, interpretation of dreams and emotional state of the characters painted with Munch and Surrealism like Dali.

Inspirations are found in ordinary life, story of peasants, dancers, still life arranged on a table. The artists shifted attention to use of space, from three dimension to two dimensions to flat space. Compression of objects in one flat space, with objects or people presented in different angles and shape like when the cubism arose. The painting shows scene as if the table or cans are stumped over, as if people are like photos cut in different pieces the put together again.Some returned to using only primary colors like Mondrian.

Then artists start mixing realism and fantasy or surreal objects or scenes. Also a time came when some artist rebelled against dull realism, lack of imagination. Dadaism start and became also known as no-art. Duchamp presented the “ready mades” as part of his protest to the commercialism of art.

Modern art spreads from paintings, to sculpture, music, poetry and fiction. The art becomes inclusive with almost no forbidden subjects.

Personal experiences become subjects of art or writings or performing arts. And modern art continues to evolve from extravagance to minimalism. Different use media and materials, watercolors to oil, from marble to wood to steel to bronze to glass in sculptures. Paintings range from small to very large that occupy a large whole like the mural paintings of David Hockney.

And still other artists shifted to non-realism, painting abstract art from the works of Miro to Kandisky to Pollock .

Contemporary art has evolve also into minimalism which doesn’t mean small or small space but less materials and more an invitation to the viewers to participate like the sculptures of Richard Serra and the paintings of Frank Stella. Of course there is minimalism in poetry, performing arts and music, even in design.

From the confines of restrained academic and religious art, modern art emerges with ever expanding ambition, character, vision, and allure. There are branching of movements from ready made to use of scrap metals, iron or objects from junkyards to driftwoods for sulptures. 

I’m just reading an article, The Golden Age of Abstraction Right Now, by Pepe Karmel at the Art News, April 24, 2013. The art ranges from cosmology to human bodies and landscapes.

Modern Art is everywhere. Modern Art excites, makes as wonder, laugh and use a lot of our imagination.

The selected works

I have selected 3 artists, David Hockney, Frank Stella and Richard Serra, and one work from each of them.

1. David Hockney   
   

I don’t know the title of thiart work. I printed from the Google images under David Hockney. The scene shows the vividness of the landscape as if looking from on top of the ridge or high point of the road. I remeber seeing a a documentary of David Hockney and he mentioned that this scene is the road he drives on when he goes to the countryside. I feel the closeness of the artist to the road that wiggles in between the divided fields. I can see the alcrity of the painter painting with vivid green, punctuated with a few red and light yellow. Daid Hockney is an artist who loves the countryside where lives in England. 

2. Frank Stella

I have heard about Frank Stella’s name before but has not seen any of his works in a museum and if I don’t remember. He is considered a minimalist.

The painting looks so simple, two circles with slight large solid lines splitting circles in to two with subtle emphasis as if there breaks in the circles. Looking at it gives me time to imagine 2 lovers walking, promenading while leaning to each other and supporting

each other. The suggestions of the painting depends upon the viewer since it looks simply as two circles with vivid and light colors.

I got the photo from Google images under Frank Stella.

3. Richard Serra

I think I have seen one work of Richard Serra at the museum in Stanford University.

I don’t know much about Richard Serra other than he lives in California. According to an article: http://www.theartstory.org/artist-serra-richard.htm

he is considered an abstract Expression. The photo is of a large scupture titled Stele II.

The sculpture is large judging from the comparison with a woman who is standing in front and touching the sculpture. The art work invites participation of the viewer like in the photo, touching it, leaning on it and contemplating waht it means.

Part Three Summary

I selected the theme: What is Modern Art because it is a big subject and I will have a lot to learn. The subject can small by selecting just one facet of moderna art like impressionism, cubism or abstraction.

Why is it modern? It’s modern because it breaks from the tradition and it was the dawn of Industrial Revolution and economy allowed ordinary people to experience the products of modern day living.

The selected the art works for their vividness and questions and stories they evoke.

There are so many examples of the artist’s works.  These are the ones that appeal to me at that moment of choosing.

I think young people would love modern art. The works drag one to imagine, to question and the minds will not have an easy time to settle for an answer.

NIGHT’S DREAM

                               NIGHT’S DREAM

                               I do waNder every where

                                             I must go and seek some dewdrops

                                        in Grove or green

                        by moonligHt

                                           sTolen away from the fairy land

                        joy and proSperity

                       since the miDdle summer’s spring

                          dance our Ringlets to the whistling wind

                  the quaint mazEs in the autumn green

                                       do Abound

       in the fresh lap of criMson rose.

note: phrases from MSND, Act Second, Scene First

playful until the end

What's in a name?

“What’s in a name?”

Yes. A name indicates an identity. But because their families are mortal enemies both of them can not escape their names. 

Another scene again in Juliet’s balcony when Romeo is saying goodbye to Juliet before he is banished to Mantua. They hear a bird sings: is it a nightingale singing in the night or is it a lark signifying dawn? Romeo has to live before dawn because to stay means death.Juliet: “It is not yet near day./It was the nightingale, and not the lark.”

Romeo: “It was the lark, the herald of the morn,/No nightingale.”

The nightingale keeps them together longer while the lark means separation.

Even at the end in their death their words are playful, with a touch of a bitter humor in the midst of death, she has the heart to say: (Romeo) “left no friendly drop to help me after.”

They are young. They are bold and dare to love against all the odds. They die faithful to each other and with their integrity intact.

opening lines

I’m taking an eCourse, Shakespeare in Community, through the University of Wisconsin-Madison. One of the first things is to reflects on the opening lines. In Romeo and Juliet: "Two households, both alike in dignity."

"Two households, both alike in dignity." Two families both alike in dignity.Relationship changes the equation of the family when one member interacts with others who are perceived as enemies or of different culture, philosophy or beliefs.

Juliet asks, “What’s in a name?” Why put constraints, limits, scope, in one’s life? Forgiveness goes to the periphery and ignored. To invoke diplomacy is like a dishonor to their names. It seems effeminate as if to seek peace is cowardice.

"Two households, both alike in dignity,” but change when they face each.

fini & continue

The Confessions of St. Augustine
I finished reading the book today.
I have been doing my walk 4 days a week.
Now I have to continue the pursuit of an idea for things worthy of commitment.

What is time?

The Confessions of St. Augustine

I’m passing through Book XI. Augustine meditating about time.

“This is my hope; for this do I live, that I may contemplate the delights of the Lord...God grant to men to see in a small thing ideas common to things great and small.”

I walked for the last 2 days.

Reading challenge, on time

The Restless Flame. I finished Book VII.

The Confessions of St. Augustine. I finished Book X

Augustine was baptized in the Catholic Church. His mother, Monica, died.

I walked to the river on Saturday. Today worked out in the gym.

conversion

"How lovely I now find it to be free from the loveliness of vanities, so that now it is a joy to renounce what I had been  so afraid to lose…And I can talk to you as friends talk, my glory and my riches and my salvation, my Lord God.”
-The Restless Flame, A Novel about St. Augustine, by Louis de Wohl
note: I’m at Book VII. 60 pages to go. The challenge started March 16.

vanities

The Confessions of St. Augustine-starting Book VII. Augustine left the Manicheans but still a follower of vanities and lust.

the shaping of Augustine

Augustine met Faustus, a respected high ranking Manichean, who could not answer questions of Augustine. He went to Rome and lied to his mother about.He went to Rome and lied to his mother about.He taught Rhetoric.

He met philosophers who taught to doubt everything and that man does not the power to comprehend the truth.Augustine met Ambrose, a bishop, who impressed Augustine. He left the Manicheans which he was a follower for nine years. End of Book V.

open mind

“All Self-centered thoughts limit our vast mind.”-Shunryu Suzuki, Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind

note:Readings novel on St. Augustine and the Confessions.  Augustine’s friend became ill and died.

His mother had a dream. 

I walked to the river yesterday. I had mild cramps in my left foot last night.

reading 23 pages a day

“There is no such thing as a solitary polar explorer, fine as the conception is.”-Annie Dillard

Progress Report

The Restless Flame

Augustine was introduced to Manichean teaching, the Principle of Light and Darkness.

The Confessions of St. Augustine

Augustine confessed his “soul was in profound darkness.”

I’m on track in reading  at least 23 pages a day.

I went to the gym yesterday. I didn’t have leg cramps last night.

love of play

The Restless Flame

When he learned that Melania, his servant girl, was pregnant with his child Augustine hugged her and felt pride, then fear. He didn’t know what to do. He went out and walked in the city. 

2 weeks later Harmodius, a childhood friend, visited him. Alypius noted that Augustine looked like his old self again.

The Confessions

Augustine attributed some his sins when he was young to his  “love of play.” 

Yesterday I worked out  in the gym for one hour. I did not have leg muscle cramps last night. My reading is on schedule.

the challenge begins

Pursuit of an Idea

The Restless Flame is divided into Book I to Book VIII. The Confessions of St. Augustine is divided into BookI to Book XIII.

The author of The Restless Flame has to use his imagination to create the story of St. Augustine especially the conversations between Augustine and his friend, Alypius in Book I.

Book I of The Restless Flame narrated the young life of Augustine and Alypius. Even at that age Augustine showed his strong character and ability to lead. Augustine cheats and steals and laughs about his bad behavior.

Book I of the Confessions reads like a prayer of praise to God and confession of his sins even starting from infancy and  an appeal for forgiveness. 

I finished both Book I of the 2 books. I walked to the river for almost an hour. Last night I experienced painful cramps  on both legs.

Pursuit of an Idea

Idea: How to Test Perseverance and Commitment

In my eCourse on Ignite Everyday Creativity we are asked to list 30 annoyances then pick one to solve creatively. Because most annoyances are physical solutions range from invention to creating a product. My annoyance is mental: Not finishing promised project, poor commitment.

Idea: It’s an idea or collection of ideas put together.I just celebrated my 75th birthday last month. My personal (self) challenge has 2 goals: to be committed with perseverance to a project until the project is done in the allotted time, and the other is to keep my mind active and body sound. My plan is to read the novel, The Restless Flame, a novel about St. Augustine by Louis de Wohl and Confessions of St. Augustine by St. Augustine in 30 days. I thought the 2 books should complement each other. The challenge starts tomorrow. To keep me honest and to encourage maximum effort I added two small (?) difficulties: I will write about my progress every day and publish it in this blog or in my other blog:

https://simpleimages2.wordpress.com

 and I’ll walk  for 1 hour or go to the gym 4 days a week. If I’m successful with this idea can I do a similar idea again or related idea every month and make it a way of life? 

The universe is widening, my mind roams for poetry. I’m dreaming.  “Some people see things as they are and say why? I dream things that never were and say, why not?” -Robert F. Kennedy

note: I promised Jeanne: http://www.collageoflife-henrqs.blogspot.com

that I’ll write everyday  in answer to her 28 day writing challenge in February 2015. I hope I can fulfill this promise.

       

read and write

For my new assignment I plan to read a novel, The Restless Flame, based on St. Augustine and Confessions of St. Augustine together and write about my progress in this blog. I have to read 13.3 pages a day of The Confession which is 395 pages and read 10 pages a day of the Restless flame which is 303 pages to finish both books in one month. I'll start the reading on Monday.