I picked up this little red book of poems of big ideas by Diane di Prima (1934-2020) at the airy bookshop/cafe Fitz Books. Originally published in 1971, Revolutionary Letters remains relevant, such as this letter #17 . . . we will all feel the pinch there will not be a cadillac and a 40,000 dollarContinue reading “Enough: poem, biking, bonfire”
Tag Archives: life of an artist
Not the Daily News: ordinary life
Poet William Carlos Williams wrote: so much depends upon a red wheel barrow glazed with rain water beside the white chickens. Consider a yellow chair and a green shed. In 1986 I pulled this sturdy oak chair from a dumpster on Franklin Street in downtown Manhattan. I carried it around the corner to my artContinue reading “Not the Daily News: ordinary life”
Pandora’s Box: horror, guns, and sadness
A hundred years ago Gertrude Stein wrote one of her truisms that speaks to this moment: There ain’t no answer. There ain’t gonna be any answer. There never has been an answer. That’s the answer. Carrying on as an artist is nearly impossible as mass shootings mount up around us. Without time to process theContinue reading “Pandora’s Box: horror, guns, and sadness”
Words & Pictures: finding poetry everywhere
It’s April 3rd and we are into National Poetry Month. Tim posted this haiku on Facebook today: Morning and still,A little snow sweeping,Across the deck. I wrote a previous post about the three simple lines. Now and then I create what I call a “Picture and Word Box,” essentially an image with a haiku. IContinue reading “Words & Pictures: finding poetry everywhere”
Wintering: another month to go
It’s in my DNA. Growing up in Western New York imbeds the feeling of cold, ice, and snow into the spirit. I did spend a few years in San Francisco where it never snowed. Tim lived many years in southern places that rarely saw snow, but he has been grandfathered into winter after thirty yearsContinue reading “Wintering: another month to go”
Writing the Truth: the inspiration of others
“We forget all too soon the things we thought we would never forget,” wrote Joan Didion (1934-2021). Another important artist has passed on. She started out writing essays in Vogue magazine in the 1960s and her social commentary on the counterculture and society followed. She was the voice of an era. I especially enjoyed herContinue reading “Writing the Truth: the inspiration of others”
Looking Ahead: seeing things afresh
A trip to another place does wonders to clear away the fog of begin stuck. After a visit to the charms, waters and wonder of Seattle, we are back to the actuality of this place. Autumn is upon us Studios are ready for new work. A mishap left my treasured cracked cup with a missingContinue reading “Looking Ahead: seeing things afresh”
Looking Back: curious things about us
I have always appreciated the phrase “live the mystery.” Art is finding parallels and connections that unravel something more. It turns out that each of our mothers owned the same set of Desert Rose china, popular in the early 1950s. Anyone who knows Tim discovers over time that he is drawn to stumps . .Continue reading “Looking Back: curious things about us”
Painting-a-Gogh-Gogh: Beyond little fluffy clouds
Can a post impressionist Dutch painter from the 19th Century be repurposed and to entertain and inspire 21st century techno-savvy and pandemic-weary citizens? Cities around the world have been hosting five different versions of the Van Gogh immersive experiences. I attended the one in Buffalo, New York called Beyond Van Gogh, created and produced byContinue reading “Painting-a-Gogh-Gogh: Beyond little fluffy clouds”
Little Fluffy Clouds: when it’s not that simple
The recent documentary about the popular television artist Bob Ross (Happy Accidents, Betrayal and Greed) reminds viewers of his lush landscapes, happy trees and little fluffy clouds–his love of painting the beauty of nature and teaching others to do it. An aside related to little fluffy clouds . . . This summer we took aContinue reading “Little Fluffy Clouds: when it’s not that simple”
cottage industry 