Monday, April 1, 2019

There and back again

Those of you who frequent this blog have probably figured out that my absences are either the dreaded "health issues" or happier grandkid excursions. Fortunately, the past ten days were spent journeying to and from St Louis, with only a minor cold or two thrown into the mix.

Our travels included a stop at the 108 Contemporary in Tulsa to see a combined exhibit by Jane Dunnewold and Mary Fisher.

Don and I were both taken by Jane's repurposing of quilt fragments, the backs of which were spackled (!), then embellished with stenciled paint ...

Or with graphite lines ...

which drew us in for a closer look ...

Likewise, Mary Fisher's work was intriguing, especially these forms ...

[video removed]

Not a bad way to break up a 900 mile road trip.

8 thoughts on “There and back again”


  1. Mo Crow

    had to look up the definition of spackled, Jane used plaster on the backs of her cloths like a rough gesso ground?
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    Mo – exactly … to very good effect! Now I’m regretting that I didn’t rescue a very ragged quilt top from the thrift store some time back. Next time I’ll know what to do.

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    1. takes balls, for sure. reminds me a bit of Rauschenberg’s works. The hanging ones are intriguing, to my mind, for being kind of gross. If you saw one of those floating near a culvert, for instance, I doubt you’d touch it. Inverted the idea of art being ‘pretty’?

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      1. In Jane’s pieces I liked the idea of reinforcing cloth that is otherwise disintegrating … and of toning down the sometimes off-putting colors of 20th century quilt tops.

        As for Mary’s hanging pieces, for sure not something I’d want to live with. But I viewed them in the context of her experiences with AIDS and cancer … causing me to consider what remains after life-threatening illnesses and the treatments they necessitate.

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      1. Hazel – indeed … I’ve been thinking about trying gesso and Inktense pencils next time I come across some un-quilted patchwork at the thrift store

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    3. LA – I never cease to be amazed by the creativity of other artists. I would not have even thought to take the steps to do the work that adds other new dimensions to existing, worn or discarded pieces. B

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Friday, March 22, 2019

Wildflower wander/wonder

As many times as I've posted about wildflowers, when spring comes to the Hill Country, I can't help but post again ...

Prairie fleabane

[c Bitterweed (I think ... maybe)

 

Prairie verbena

As always, looking for bluebonnets ...

So after dinner I went back out and this is what I found ...

A tiny little succulent that looks green when viewed from overhead, its subtle coral only visible when viewed from ground level. And it was everywhere I looked, just waiting to be discovered.

Note: video deleted

16 thoughts on “Wildflower wander/wonder”


do i understand correctly that these are a First Time being at your Place???? and “all over”???
this is Very Exciting!!!!!!!
and i miss wandering Out there with you…more please
it’s me, grace…., love,

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  1. Grace – they are new to me, but have probably been here all along, waiting to be recognized. And yes, I will continue to wander and wonder

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Haven’t seen that succulent growing wild but it’s about $2.50 for a 1/2 pint carton at Natural Gardener, it makes a nice grown cover/ potted plant.

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  1. Fiona – I likewise love seeing the incredible diversity of the flowers Barry photographs in your world … and the raw beauty of your Scotland home away

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  1. Nancy – I do love the delicate blush of color at the ends of those tiny petals! And I’m now thinking I may finally be able to give a sense of our land through video!

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The first sighting of cyclamens in the yard are a happy surprise every year. Thank you for sharing, especially loved how they quiver in the breeze.

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Hi LA – a delight to go wandering with you – the short videos can make it all the more real and personal. The wild flowers are gorgeous – and seem to be growing in a pretty tough and rocky environment. I never tore of the renewal of the seasons and discovering tiny wild flowers and other bits. Enjoy. B

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  1. Barry – I am always amazed at the detail of your floral iPhonography … now I’m wondering how far I can push the video idea while keeping it short and sweet.

    And yes, the flood plain is like a moonscape during the mid-winter and mid-summer dormancies, so I never cease being amazed at how much manages to grow on it between-times.

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  1. Jude – thanks for the name … there is so much that we don’t notice or attend to for want of an understanding of its place in the the world. Naming is the beginning of understanding …

 
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Sunday, March 10, 2019

Bibli-olio

I thought I was coining a new word, but not (I just Googled it and it already exists). Still, I'm liking the combination of the more familiar "biblio" with the crosswordese "olio" ...

And so, today, a miscellaneous mixture of books, beginning with a new library book that may end up as a purchase ...

And notice the new-to-me DMC Coloris threads found at Michael's, that perfectly match one of the author's opening statements that we need more bright colors in our lives (Cursillo friends will surely be taken with the similarity to "De Colores").

If needed, proof positive that colors elicit joy can be found in Judy Martin's latest post: https://judys-journal.blogspot.com/2019/03/isla-mujeres.html

There's also this sweet little book ...

which led me to a great linen source (Gray Line Linen). The author also has a blog, Miniature Rhino, which has been added to the Kindred Spirits list on my old blog. The book is nicely designed and such a simple pleasure to look at ...

Two other books entered our home as the result of local lectures we attended ...

The first got a great write-up in the Austin American Statesman and will surely be a big hit with South by Southwest attendees this month.

The second is a retrospective of local artist Randall Reid's assemblage art. He gave a great talking tour of his recent exhibit at the Davis Gallery in Austin and the book naturally came home with us ...

Last, but not least, I'm very much looking forward to adding an upcoming release to my bookshelf ...

Author Anna Quindlen has captured so much of our shared cohort's lives in print, so it's no surprise that she's at it again, just in time for (grand)Mother's Day ...

 

9 thoughts on “Bibli-olio”



Such a fun post! That stack of books peeking out from the background! Do you know Anna’s A Short Guide to a Happy Life? Did you like Obama’s book? After reading Michelle’s, I’d like to read his next.

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  1. Nancy – Yes and Yes (although in truth, I rarely remember what I read, just how I felt about reading it). Organizing my memoir collection by author is one of the few librarian conceits I have held on to … if I had made the view a little wider, you would have seen “Ruined by Reading: A Life in Books” by Lynne Sharon Schwartz with this one memorable quote:

    “I don’t remember much of what I’ve read. My lifelong capacity for forgetting distresses me. I glance at a book on the shelf that I once read with avid interest … and while I struggle for the details, all I recall is the excitement of the reading.”

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LA – I’m not sure one can have too many books entering one’s life – they uplift and inspire in so many ways. And of course we can gift them on when they have travelled with us for a wee while. Go well. B

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  1. Barry – Exactly! There are never too many books, but I’ve gotten choosier over the years … “weeding the collection” to make room for new/old treasures

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I really like the look of the wee one make and mend – that’s about where my sewing is up to, so shall hunt it out I hope. Also I love the alphabetical order of your books. I seriously thought everybody did this because it makes sense; but apparently not! Randall Reid’s work looks beautiful as well – a wonderful gathering of bookiness into your world. And I am completely and utterly with you and Sharon – I don’t always remember the content, but oh do I remember the feeling…

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Fiona – books have always been my joy … one of many reasons why I so love your Thursday Thoughts

 

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