4.28.2008

Memento Mori

I used to think this meant a remembrance of the dead, but turns out that is an admonition to remember that one is mortal. Don Juan tells Castaneda that Death is an "Ally," and that one should always keep in mind that Death is constantly at arm's reach, behind one's left shoulder if I recall correctly. That a constantly maintained awareness of impermanence can serve a useful and spiritual purpose I have no doubt. Indeed it is a central tenet at the core of Buddhist wisdom that nothing lasts forever except, well, Nothing. It's just that I don't do a good job of remembering Life's ephemeral nature. We spend so much time trying to hold on, it doesn't occur to us that nothing can truly be held for any length of time.

"And ice cream?" "Yes, and ice cream."



Today, I had the Aarbei (lit. "Earth Berry").

Jason tried the Snikker, which looked like it was Vanilla that had caramel and peanuts in it. I think he confirmed my suspicions, but I can't remember. I didn't try it.

Monique didn't have ice cream, it being fairly early in the day, but she went along to give some soup to the woman who makes/sells the ice cream as a thank you. She had given Monique some Beef Bones ("from the best part of the cow") to make soup with. I think they made a difference. They talked for maybe a half an hour, which I suppose translated to something roughly like "Hey, Thanks for the bones - they were great" and "Cool".

I noticed one of the things that I particularly like about this ice cream. It is intensely cream, certainly, but there is a chewiness that I especially respond to. Alan said he thought that it meant that they use gelatin, or some sort of thickener/stabilizer. I have no idea. Today it was cold and drizzly, which may or may not have had anything to do with it but the scoops were themselves harder (more frozen) than they have been previously. Even Jenny (if that's her name) commented on it.

What I noticed was that I am an ice cream chomper. I tried to lick the ice cream, like when you wrap your lips around the scoop and draw up, which I admit makes for a creamier mouthfeel. I couldn't keep it up for long, however, because the minute I stopped deliberately licking the ice cream I would bite down on it, like the Owl in the old Tootsie Pop commercial. I dug the tart bite of the strawberry cutting through the buttery sweetness of the cream and I loved the, well, toothsomeness is the word that has stood the test of time for describing things of this nature so I will continue to rely heavily on its ability to deliver the meaning I intend.

This is the part where I tell you about my trip to the mini-museum, and the delightful fellow and his wife, and their rabbit and the two fruit trees

Dutch Television

The reporter from TV Drenthe called to say that he had had a concussion recently and won't be coming to video today, but maybe he or his colleague will come tomorrow.

"The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie"
is one of my favorite films.

This just in (2)

from the Meppeler Courant:

Kunstproject kaasfabriek bijna op smaak
zondag 27 april 12:48
KOLDERVEEN - Nog één week duurt de werkperiode in de oude kaasfabriek, van 1 tot en met 5 mei is het eindresultaat te bewonderen van het kunstproject New Riddles & Constellations 4. Kunstenaar Monique besten en haar drie beeldende collega‘s uit de Verenigde Staten gaven zaterdag al een kijkje in de keuken voor belangstellenden. De ‘artist in residence.‘ Monique Besten vergeleek het kunstproject met het bereiden van soep. Een vuurtje, een pan met water, groenten en een soepkip, of creatieve mensen en muziek in een kaashal. Er komt altijd iets lekkers of verrassends op tafel.‘ New Riddles & Constellations 4 is bijna op smaak.

De soep werd zaterdagmiddag daadwerkelijk bereid en geproefd in de voormalige zuivelfabriek ‘De Venen‘. Terwijl zij met een pollepel in twee dampende pannen bouillon roerde heette Monique Besten de belangstellenden welkom. In de uitnodiging voor de tussentijdse kennismaking met New Riddles & Constellations 4, werd de gasten gevraagd ingrediënten voor de soep mee te brengen. Aan die vraag werd overvloedig voldaan. Manden vol prei, kervel, ui en gehakt werden afgeleverd in de open soepkeuken. Zelf zorgde Besten voor water, een pan, toewijding en armspierkracht. Het welslagen van de soep werd zo medeafhankelijk van de inbreng van de bezoekers. De soep werd in de loop van de middag met smaak gegeten.

Musici Jodi Gilbert, Alan Purves en Albert van Veenendaal spreidden al intermezzo experimentele geluidslandschappen uit. Keltische zanginvloeden (in een boeiend optreden van de Amerikaanse zangeres Jodi Gilbert), inventieve percussie en moderne elektronica smolten daarbij samen tot een spannend geheel. Op de achtergrond draaide een presentatie met oude foto‘s, geleend uit het archief van de Historische Vereniging Nijeveen.

Buiten op het straatbord was de mededeling ‘De Amerikanen komen!‘ met stift veranderd in ‘...zijn gearriveerd!‘ Kunstenares Monique Besten woont sinds begin maart op het terrein van de voormalige zuivelfabriek en nodigde voor het eerste deel van haar ‘residency‘ drie bevriende kunstenaars uit de Verenigde Staten uit. Jason Ferguson, Christian French en Mary Rothlisberger voeren samen en naast haar een kunstproject uit. ‘Het is boeiend om hun kennismaking mee te maken met een totaal ander omgeving dan die zij gewend zijn. In Kolderveen leren zij een ander landschap en nieuwe mensen kennen.‘

Beeldend kunstenaar Mary Rothlisberger gaf een lezing over haar werk. Ook was er alvast werk te zien van de vier kunstenaars. Bijzonder in het oog viel daarbij een ronde tafel met daarop een perfect ronde graszode. Op het beeldscherm dat in het gras stond, zag de bezoeker de kunstenaar in actie in een weiland. Zwoegend spit hij in het rond en graaft de ronde zode en de banen daarom heen uit. ‘Een variant op de graancirkel,‘ gniffelde een bezoeker.

1 t/m 5 mei: expositie in de Kaashal met werk van Monique Besten, Jason Ferguson, Christian French, Mary Rothlisberger, dagelijks 13.00 - 17.00, toegang gratis. 4 mei: speciaal programma in de Kaashal met kunst, muziek, lezingen en performances vanaf 14.00 uur, toegang gratis


I heart Babelfish

art project cheese factory almost on taste
Sunday 27 April 12.48

KOLDERVEEN - still one yielded the work period in the old cheese factory lasts, of 1 up to and including 5 May the final result is of the art project admire New Riddles & Constellations 4. artist Monique besten and its three beeldende collega`s from the United States gave already a look in the kitchen for belangstellenden to Saturday. The ` artist in residence.` Monique Besten compared the art project with preparing soup. A vuurtje, a pan with water, vegetables and a soup chicken, or creative people and music in a cheese hall. There always something comes lekkers or surprising on tafel.` New Riddles & Constellations 4 is almost on taste. The soup Saturday afternoon was effectively prepared and was tasted in the former dairy factory ` the Venen`. Whereas she stirred with a pollepel in two fuming pans soup were called Besten Monique the belangstellenden welcome. In the invitation for the interim familiarisation with New Riddles & Constellations 4, the guests were asked bring with ingredients for the soup. To that question it was satisfied abundantly. Baskets full leek, chervil, onion and gehakt were delivered in the open soup kitchen. Itself ensured Besten water, a pan, devotion and arm worm strength. The success of the soup became this way medeafhankelijk of the input of the visitors. The soup was eaten in the course of the afternoon with taste. Musicians Jodi Gilbert, Alan Purves and Albert van Veenendaal spread out already interlude experimental sound landscapes from. Amalgamated Celtic song influences (in captivating a performance of the American singer Jodi Gilbert), inventive percussion and modern elektronica thereby to stretching entirely. On the context a presentation twisted with old foto`s, lent from the file of the historical association Nijeveen. Outside on the straatbord the communication ` the Americans komen!` with stift had changed in `... have been gearriveerd!` art ares Monique Besten have lived since beginning March in the field of the former dairy factory and had invited for the first part of its ` residency` three bevriende artists from the United States. Jason Ferguson, Christian French and Mary Rothlisberger implements together and beside her an art project. ` it is captivating their experience familiarisation with total other one surroundings then which they have got used. In Kolderveen they learn a another landscape and new people kennen.` Expressive artist Mary Rothlisberger gave a reading concerning its work. Also there in advance work was see of the four artists. Particularly thereby a round table with then a perfectly round turf caught the eye. On the display device which stood in the grass, the visitor saw the artist in action in a pasture. Heaving he digs in round and digs the round zode and the job for this reason gone. ` an alternative on the graancirkel, ` sniffered a visitor. 1 till 5 May: expositie in the cheese hall with work of Monique Besten, Jason Ferguson, Christian French, Mary Rothlisberger, daily 13.00 - 17.00, access free. 4 May: special programme in the cheese hall with art, music, readings and performances as from 14.00, access free"

The Horses are around the bend

Albert took two slides to the lab in Amsterdam this morning and ordered two Duratrans prints to go into the two light boxes that will be part of the final presenting of the work done here. They have to be done by tomorrow, because Wednesday is a National Holiday ("Queen's Day") and Thursday is another Holiday ("Ascension Day") and because Monday is an optional Holiday ("Yippee we're free day") most people just give Friday a miss and call it good. Thursday is the opening of our closing exhibition, so let's hope everything is ready tomorrow.