And he brought the two lightboxes from the lab. Since these will form a major part of my presentation this weekend, I am very happy that they are here. I plugged them in and they work. They look good too.
Albert is our hero.
4.29.2008
Albert est arrivee
And he brought the two lightboxes from the lab. Since these will form a major part of my presentation this weekend, I am very happy that they are here. I plugged them in and they work. They look good too.
Albert is our hero.
It's a long story
So, Mary was going to get the Aardbei milkshake. That actually sounded quite good to me, and I think I'll have to get one before I leave here. I resolved to get the Hazelnoot, because I figured it was a good day for it, what with the rain and the sun and the trip into town and the TV and well, the emotional turmoil underneath it all.
Long story short, they were out of milk (?) and couldn't make a milk shake. Don't ask me. I know it's a dairy. I have seen the cows. They even make their own ice cream. Still, now that I think if it, it was the son that told us last time they were out of milk. Does he not want to make them? Seems strange because they get 3 times as much for a milkshake...Mary got the Hazelnoot and so I got the Aardbei. It was good. Maybe next time though I'll have to order first.
Oh, right, TV Drenthe
Buy the time I got back I had completely forgotten about the fellow from TV Drenthe. It's good he was still here because otherwise I would have missed my chance to be famous on Dutch Television. He turned out to be really nice and sincere, and everybody had the same good feelings for him. He was here for 2-3 hours and talked to each of us. It was as if he actually was interested in what we were doing here, which given the previous intermittent attention we've gotten was sort of a surprise. He asked me to set up and shoot something, which I did. We tried to get him to stay and drink with us, but he had to get back to Assen, which is some number of kilometers away. The spot will run on Thursday, he said, and will be approximately 4 minutes long. It's very exciting.
After that we celebrated with a bottle of Prosecco that I got at Aldi for 3Eu: a dry white Italian wine that, having bubbles in it, is fizzy. It's perfect for an afternoon that is sunny, was sunny, or you wish had been sunny.
After that we celebrated with a bottle of Prosecco that I got at Aldi for 3Eu: a dry white Italian wine that, having bubbles in it, is fizzy. It's perfect for an afternoon that is sunny, was sunny, or you wish had been sunny.
TV Drenthe
The fellow from TV Drenthe came today.
It rained all morning. In fact it has been raining since Sunday and I don't think I have really left the house (Ok there was the mini-museum but other than that) for days. The light is bad for shooting, and I have been a bit despondent with most of the photos I shot and got back on Saturday because the lighting was uninspiring so the last thing I could do was shoot more film in the face of defeat.
The sun came out after one and I rallied enough to go to Meppel. I did several things I enjoy doing. I went to the Thrift Store briefly. I debated getting the Delftware stein that said "Heineken"on it because it was (still) 5 Euro. I like to drink black tea in a large ceramic vessel because I don't have the patience to fiddle with the stuff every 4 ounces or so, which I have to do here because the cups are small (at home I toss a teabag into a stein). I resolved a while back to get a large mug the next time I went to the store, and I keep balking at the 5 Eu price tag. Today they had a stein that was very dirty (50 E cents) and another stein that, while clean, had a Russian cartoon on it that didn't translate as funny, but it was only 1 Eu. I got 5 shot glasses with little stars on them.
Next I went to return the power converter Jason and I got when we first got here for use with the wireless router. Since the power supply I bought at the Thrift Store that same day for 1EU worked fine, I have been meaning to get back to that store under the 2 week limit and return the item, saving 12Eu, which I planned to use to buy a bottle of Havana Club Rum, which, being Cuban, you can't get in the States, and which, the last time I encountered was in San Francisco in 2000 on a big road trip. The rum happened to be in my friend's possession, and I happened to fall in love with it, and we happened to put the bottle to rest during my stay and I have always meant to replace the bottle, because it was A) good and B) mostly my fault that it didn't survive my visit. I went to a liquor store who only had the white, and who tried to sell me 6 different fabulous Rums, but since I wasn't in the mood I bailed when another customer made their selection. I went to another liquor store that did have the HC (all three: the White, the Anejo and the Especial. It's the medium priced one you want). I decided that because he lives in London he can probably get it all the time so I decide to check with him in case he preferred something different (like that lovely 15yo Methusela Rhum the other guy tried to sell me).
I agonized for a while over the bottle of Bols Jong Genever that comes in a Delft-ware gin bottle complete with a handle, a cork and a picture of a Windmill on it. I don't think I am much of a Genever man (I did get a bottle of Alt when I was going through Amsterdam on my way back from studying for the summer in Paris and fell in love with the two girls at the pizza parlor, but I don't remember liking it much) and the bottle was twice the price of the same thing without the bottle (and I just wanted the bottle anyway) so I didn't get it, but I thought it would make a nice souvenir of my trip to Holland. As if one couldn't have enough souvenirs, one had to have so many that one couldn't return home with them all and had to leave some memories behind for next time (maybe that's what turns the wheel of reincarnation).
I still can't tell if I will go back and get it.
It rained all morning. In fact it has been raining since Sunday and I don't think I have really left the house (Ok there was the mini-museum but other than that) for days. The light is bad for shooting, and I have been a bit despondent with most of the photos I shot and got back on Saturday because the lighting was uninspiring so the last thing I could do was shoot more film in the face of defeat.
The sun came out after one and I rallied enough to go to Meppel. I did several things I enjoy doing. I went to the Thrift Store briefly. I debated getting the Delftware stein that said "Heineken"on it because it was (still) 5 Euro. I like to drink black tea in a large ceramic vessel because I don't have the patience to fiddle with the stuff every 4 ounces or so, which I have to do here because the cups are small (at home I toss a teabag into a stein). I resolved a while back to get a large mug the next time I went to the store, and I keep balking at the 5 Eu price tag. Today they had a stein that was very dirty (50 E cents) and another stein that, while clean, had a Russian cartoon on it that didn't translate as funny, but it was only 1 Eu. I got 5 shot glasses with little stars on them.
Next I went to return the power converter Jason and I got when we first got here for use with the wireless router. Since the power supply I bought at the Thrift Store that same day for 1EU worked fine, I have been meaning to get back to that store under the 2 week limit and return the item, saving 12Eu, which I planned to use to buy a bottle of Havana Club Rum, which, being Cuban, you can't get in the States, and which, the last time I encountered was in San Francisco in 2000 on a big road trip. The rum happened to be in my friend's possession, and I happened to fall in love with it, and we happened to put the bottle to rest during my stay and I have always meant to replace the bottle, because it was A) good and B) mostly my fault that it didn't survive my visit. I went to a liquor store who only had the white, and who tried to sell me 6 different fabulous Rums, but since I wasn't in the mood I bailed when another customer made their selection. I went to another liquor store that did have the HC (all three: the White, the Anejo and the Especial. It's the medium priced one you want). I decided that because he lives in London he can probably get it all the time so I decide to check with him in case he preferred something different (like that lovely 15yo Methusela Rhum the other guy tried to sell me).
I agonized for a while over the bottle of Bols Jong Genever that comes in a Delft-ware gin bottle complete with a handle, a cork and a picture of a Windmill on it. I don't think I am much of a Genever man (I did get a bottle of Alt when I was going through Amsterdam on my way back from studying for the summer in Paris and fell in love with the two girls at the pizza parlor, but I don't remember liking it much) and the bottle was twice the price of the same thing without the bottle (and I just wanted the bottle anyway) so I didn't get it, but I thought it would make a nice souvenir of my trip to Holland. As if one couldn't have enough souvenirs, one had to have so many that one couldn't return home with them all and had to leave some memories behind for next time (maybe that's what turns the wheel of reincarnation).
I still can't tell if I will go back and get it.
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.
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.
"The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie" is one of my favorite films.
This just in (2)
from the Meppeler Courant:
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"
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.
4.27.2008
Tiny Raindrops
I wanted to say something a while back and it has been bothering me this whole time. I even tried, but I don't think what I said was really... I don't know, "It".
My interest in still lifes goes back a ways, and as I told you already, I realize that I have had a bias against representational art which is silly because I couldn't even paint badly if I tried, let alone as well as the people I have dismissed. In October, I went to a residency in North Carolina called Elsewhere, and while there I created a body of work. Photographs. They were photographs of objects available around the space of the residency, because this all took place in what had been until several years ago a Thrift Store. These photographs were taken with Mamiya 6x7 camera, which is maybe in some way important. This camera was the one I used 10 years ago to shoot abstract close-ups of bottles from a collection I had amassed for this purpose(and continue to expand to this day because, well, maybe I am not done with that body of work even if it has been 8 years since I last shot one of those bottle photos). The images were in some ways a return to that way of working I had started back when, arranging bottles in front of the lens, with the sun setting in the West. I stopped taking those photos – which were all shot on my porch – when they tore the 100 year-old Duplex, that I had been living in for six years on top of a hill overlooking Lake Union in Seattle, down. I didn't think of those as still lifes, but technically they could be considered as such. It would be useful if I could show you some of those images, but maybe that will have to wait.
At Elsewhere I found myself working with different things, not simply glass bottles. I found myself wanting to explore the idea that collections of objects could be arranged like a collage, or a map, representing ideas, or clusters of ideas, or trains of thoughts or trajectories or narratives. In Songlines, Bruce Chatwin talks about the idea that song predated language as a tool for mapping one's journey through the landscape. I wanted to see if there could be a visual equivalent I could create out of the relationships between objects in space.
There is, or was, an exhibit at the Exploratorium in San Francisco. Maybe these things exist everywhere, but that's where I saw it 18 years ago. It consisted of a closed clear box that had a pool of Mercury in the bottom. As you watched, you could see these little streaks form of tiny raindrops of Mercury that would materialize from thin air and drop to the bottom, creating consecutive ripples in the pool. Ostensibly the piece was to demonstrate the existence of tiny rays that travel through space. These rays or particles or whatever they were were said to be so small (I have to take their word for it because I didn't see them myself) that they passed through everything in existence without bumping in to anything. The only way we know they exist is because as they streak by they generate just enough charge to crystalize some of the vaporized Mercury as they pass, which causes the lines of tiny silver raindrops to form for the time it takes for them to realize their independence and plummet to their ultimate reunion.
I think ideas are like this and I keep thinking that somehow I can show this... (to be continued)
My interest in still lifes goes back a ways, and as I told you already, I realize that I have had a bias against representational art which is silly because I couldn't even paint badly if I tried, let alone as well as the people I have dismissed. In October, I went to a residency in North Carolina called Elsewhere, and while there I created a body of work. Photographs. They were photographs of objects available around the space of the residency, because this all took place in what had been until several years ago a Thrift Store. These photographs were taken with Mamiya 6x7 camera, which is maybe in some way important. This camera was the one I used 10 years ago to shoot abstract close-ups of bottles from a collection I had amassed for this purpose(and continue to expand to this day because, well, maybe I am not done with that body of work even if it has been 8 years since I last shot one of those bottle photos). The images were in some ways a return to that way of working I had started back when, arranging bottles in front of the lens, with the sun setting in the West. I stopped taking those photos – which were all shot on my porch – when they tore the 100 year-old Duplex, that I had been living in for six years on top of a hill overlooking Lake Union in Seattle, down. I didn't think of those as still lifes, but technically they could be considered as such. It would be useful if I could show you some of those images, but maybe that will have to wait.
At Elsewhere I found myself working with different things, not simply glass bottles. I found myself wanting to explore the idea that collections of objects could be arranged like a collage, or a map, representing ideas, or clusters of ideas, or trains of thoughts or trajectories or narratives. In Songlines, Bruce Chatwin talks about the idea that song predated language as a tool for mapping one's journey through the landscape. I wanted to see if there could be a visual equivalent I could create out of the relationships between objects in space.
There is, or was, an exhibit at the Exploratorium in San Francisco. Maybe these things exist everywhere, but that's where I saw it 18 years ago. It consisted of a closed clear box that had a pool of Mercury in the bottom. As you watched, you could see these little streaks form of tiny raindrops of Mercury that would materialize from thin air and drop to the bottom, creating consecutive ripples in the pool. Ostensibly the piece was to demonstrate the existence of tiny rays that travel through space. These rays or particles or whatever they were were said to be so small (I have to take their word for it because I didn't see them myself) that they passed through everything in existence without bumping in to anything. The only way we know they exist is because as they streak by they generate just enough charge to crystalize some of the vaporized Mercury as they pass, which causes the lines of tiny silver raindrops to form for the time it takes for them to realize their independence and plummet to their ultimate reunion.
I think ideas are like this and I keep thinking that somehow I can show this... (to be continued)
Yesterday was a big day. Later I'll post some pictures and write some things and backdate it to make it seem like there is no lagtime in blogland.
Now, there is a mostly empty glass of a Bordeaux that was two Euro at the store yesterday. That, and us. Ok, make that an empty glass. I like to joke that I am not a glass "half-empty" or "half-full" person, but a "as long as I can get a refill" person. Perhaps that's why people like the idea of reincarnation, the is always a refill.
There is a branch of Mahayana Buddhism that took root in China a long time ago - when an Indian monk known as BodhiDarma (also known as Daruma in Japan) went North and spent 9 years staring at a cave wall (and is considered the founder of Shaolin Temple) - which then spread to Korea and Japan, called respectively Chan or Zen (as we know it in the West) that you have probably heard of as it has become extremely popular as of late.
Zen is a glass "always full" kind of perspective. I'm still working on that one.
Now, there is a mostly empty glass of a Bordeaux that was two Euro at the store yesterday. That, and us. Ok, make that an empty glass. I like to joke that I am not a glass "half-empty" or "half-full" person, but a "as long as I can get a refill" person. Perhaps that's why people like the idea of reincarnation, the is always a refill.
There is a branch of Mahayana Buddhism that took root in China a long time ago - when an Indian monk known as BodhiDarma (also known as Daruma in Japan) went North and spent 9 years staring at a cave wall (and is considered the founder of Shaolin Temple) - which then spread to Korea and Japan, called respectively Chan or Zen (as we know it in the West) that you have probably heard of as it has become extremely popular as of late.
Zen is a glass "always full" kind of perspective. I'm still working on that one.
Still life, with sounds of China
An afternoon to recover.
An afternoon to lie of the couch, which is only two cushions wide, forcing me into odd and uncomfortable contortions as a matter of course. But then, if I were a river I'd overflow my banks regularly as a matter of course, so it's no surprise. It's actually quite remarkable how much misery we are able to put up with, given the right circumstances.
An afternoon to listen to "Release the Cheerfulness, China - Ground Up 2" the new CD field recordings and street and classical musics from Jason Kopec of Noise|Order Recordings. It was part of a crae package from home and a great way to lie on the couch.
An afternoon to wonder what the hell to do with my life.
An afternoon to lie of the couch, which is only two cushions wide, forcing me into odd and uncomfortable contortions as a matter of course. But then, if I were a river I'd overflow my banks regularly as a matter of course, so it's no surprise. It's actually quite remarkable how much misery we are able to put up with, given the right circumstances.
An afternoon to listen to "Release the Cheerfulness, China - Ground Up 2" the new CD field recordings and street and classical musics from Jason Kopec of Noise|Order Recordings. It was part of a crae package from home and a great way to lie on the couch.
An afternoon to wonder what the hell to do with my life.
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Mention email from local reporter apologizing for the fact that the piece about what we are doing here, including the open house with the "Good Neighbor Soup" isn't in the paper for some reason that isn't entirely clear. Maybe they didn't like the photo.
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