Sunday, September 05, 2004
First Friday addendum
Forgot to mention the "seed pod" exhibit at one of the galleries. Someone, whose name I can't remember, nor the gallery, collected scads of various seed pods while living in Guyana (spelling?) South America. Some looked like sycamore burrs, some like monkey tree pods, some like the tips of small artillery casings, some like tiny copies of horns from longhorned steers. He had a basketful of individual samples we could touch; the "minature horns" one was surpisingly smooth. Although he had several sheets identifying the scientific names of the pods, I didn't really get a chance to study it so I can't be more exact at this time.
He created several wreaths with rolled bark that looked like sycamore or cinnamon bark. He created hanging orbs from the shell casings and the sycamore burrs. But the two most interesting displays were made from the minature horns and the monkey tree pods. The minature horns were threaded (with wire I think) through the base of each one and stretched across the floor of the gallery, curved into a large spiral and then brought up to the ceiling about twenty feet away. When I first walked in, I saw only part of the diagonal line on the floor and I thought it was the vertabrae of some animal. He had to have collected a huge number of these pods because they're smaller than two inches across, about the size and shape of wingnuts. Then down both long walls of the gallery, he had pinned the monkey pods in waves to the wall using macrame "T" pins, which you couldn't see at first. Depending on where I stood I had the impression of a huge flock of blackbirds/starlings taking off and flying up from the horizon. I've driven along roads in the dusk and startled such flocks into flight. They seem to be few in a number on the ground but taking off they go in one continus, sinuous curve, like a long silk scarve lifted into a strong breeze, swooping and swirling enmasse. I couldn't begin to estimate how many pods or pins he used.
I guess this was art and not craftwork because craftwork is self-contained. You buy the wreath or decoration and take it home, hanging it where you want. I can't see someone buying the monkeypods and pins and putting them up at home. I also had the thought of someone coming to NJ and collecting maple tree "whizzards", sycamore burrs, pinecones, etc., and setting up such a display in Africa or South America. Of course I've been known to collect such "throwaway" stuff; I just never have the creativity to display them like this.
Ultimately, however, it was God the creator who designed all of these pods. His joy in creating such items, down to the minutest detail usually escapes our notice because they're so "ordinary" and every day occurrences. I'm reminded of all the awesome florescent fish and undersea life He created but which only He knew existed until a few short years and decades ago. In the book of Revelation, it is written: "Worthy are Thou to receive glory and honor and power for Thou hast created all things and for Thy pleasure they were created. (emphasis added.) The book of Romans reminds us that all of us know we are created beings, yet we fail to honor God as creator or give thanks. My response to the gallery display was almost indifference to the craftsman's assembly of the pods but amazement at God's creativity. I have the impression from the guestbook and comments overheard that most people there put the emphasis on the craftsman, not the Creator.
He created several wreaths with rolled bark that looked like sycamore or cinnamon bark. He created hanging orbs from the shell casings and the sycamore burrs. But the two most interesting displays were made from the minature horns and the monkey tree pods. The minature horns were threaded (with wire I think) through the base of each one and stretched across the floor of the gallery, curved into a large spiral and then brought up to the ceiling about twenty feet away. When I first walked in, I saw only part of the diagonal line on the floor and I thought it was the vertabrae of some animal. He had to have collected a huge number of these pods because they're smaller than two inches across, about the size and shape of wingnuts. Then down both long walls of the gallery, he had pinned the monkey pods in waves to the wall using macrame "T" pins, which you couldn't see at first. Depending on where I stood I had the impression of a huge flock of blackbirds/starlings taking off and flying up from the horizon. I've driven along roads in the dusk and startled such flocks into flight. They seem to be few in a number on the ground but taking off they go in one continus, sinuous curve, like a long silk scarve lifted into a strong breeze, swooping and swirling enmasse. I couldn't begin to estimate how many pods or pins he used.
I guess this was art and not craftwork because craftwork is self-contained. You buy the wreath or decoration and take it home, hanging it where you want. I can't see someone buying the monkeypods and pins and putting them up at home. I also had the thought of someone coming to NJ and collecting maple tree "whizzards", sycamore burrs, pinecones, etc., and setting up such a display in Africa or South America. Of course I've been known to collect such "throwaway" stuff; I just never have the creativity to display them like this.
Ultimately, however, it was God the creator who designed all of these pods. His joy in creating such items, down to the minutest detail usually escapes our notice because they're so "ordinary" and every day occurrences. I'm reminded of all the awesome florescent fish and undersea life He created but which only He knew existed until a few short years and decades ago. In the book of Revelation, it is written: "Worthy are Thou to receive glory and honor and power for Thou hast created all things and for Thy pleasure they were created. (emphasis added.) The book of Romans reminds us that all of us know we are created beings, yet we fail to honor God as creator or give thanks. My response to the gallery display was almost indifference to the craftsman's assembly of the pods but amazement at God's creativity. I have the impression from the guestbook and comments overheard that most people there put the emphasis on the craftsman, not the Creator.
Saturday, September 04, 2004
Covert political actions at Philadelphia's First Friday
The "First Friday" of each month brings swarms of people to the "artsy" galleries in the Old City area of Philadelphia. Few parking spots but good people watching times. Everything and everyone strolls about (well, except for maybe the people who could really afford the prices posted on some of these pieces; I've never noticed them around. Maybe because you have to walk and can't be chauffered?) First person who caught my eye today was dressed in a flowing wizard's tunic, outlined in florescent red/pink fabric marker. He even had a black "beard", cut from plastic and outlined in the same colored florescent marker.
There were couples on first dates. You can tell because the girl is wearing a hip dress with heels while the guy is wearing shorts and a short-sleeved button down shirt that isn't tucked in. I don't think I've ever seen the reverse; that is, a guy dressed nicely (at least khakis and tucked in shirt! anything extra is a bonus) accompanied with a too-casually dressed female. Groups from work eating al fresco. And those who used to be called "the hip". I'm showing my age, I don't even know what the cool descriptive terminology is anymore.
Of course several (young) folks on corners with flyers and placards on behalf of Klueless and Konniving Kerry. Several of the "art" galleries had derogatory images of the POTUS. Then I saw someone selling T-shirts with pictues of George Washington and GWB. Under Washington's picture was the statement, "Couldn't tell a lie." Under Bush, "Could". So I asked him if he had one with Clinton that said "Did" and one of Kerry that said "Does." Not truly effective but I was outnumbered and surrounded by hostile forces. (Nah, they weren't really hostile, just astounded someone would/could disagree with them I think.) Maybe I should market the Clinton/Kerry shirts myself. Wish I could stand on the opposite corners with Swift Boat Vet flyers but the state government agency I work for probably bring me up on charges. (I'm serious about that; they claim I'm not even allowed to write letters to the editor of local papers about anything. I'm supposed to get their permission to be on the recycling committee of a condominium association! The KGB is alive and well and ensconced in Trenton NJ, all branches of government.)
Additional digression: The T-shirt was able to say only "could" about GWB. The worst thing the media could ridicule/attack Quayle with was his misspelling of the word "potato". What an incredible legacy to hand to his children to exit a political career unsullied with dirty dresses, strange bank loans and colleagues who maybe committed suicide or who maybe had some help.
As an example of the dichotomy between the First Friday attendees and the galleries, there was a rather nice table in one gallery that specializes in "artistic furniture". The table wasn't that large but not too small, maybe mahogany, and the price tag was over $47,000!!!! It was the most expensive item I've ever touched (besides a house, my acquaintance pointed out). I've never even touched a car that cost that much! If I were a gallery owner, I'd be freaking out with worry that some nincompoop klutz (if the shoe pinches. . .) might nick or knock something. (I should mention that many of these galleries have receptions on First Friday, with alcohol and munchies, open to the public. Which is truly the big drawing point I know.)
There were couples on first dates. You can tell because the girl is wearing a hip dress with heels while the guy is wearing shorts and a short-sleeved button down shirt that isn't tucked in. I don't think I've ever seen the reverse; that is, a guy dressed nicely (at least khakis and tucked in shirt! anything extra is a bonus) accompanied with a too-casually dressed female. Groups from work eating al fresco. And those who used to be called "the hip". I'm showing my age, I don't even know what the cool descriptive terminology is anymore.
Of course several (young) folks on corners with flyers and placards on behalf of Klueless and Konniving Kerry. Several of the "art" galleries had derogatory images of the POTUS. Then I saw someone selling T-shirts with pictues of George Washington and GWB. Under Washington's picture was the statement, "Couldn't tell a lie." Under Bush, "Could". So I asked him if he had one with Clinton that said "Did" and one of Kerry that said "Does." Not truly effective but I was outnumbered and surrounded by hostile forces. (Nah, they weren't really hostile, just astounded someone would/could disagree with them I think.) Maybe I should market the Clinton/Kerry shirts myself. Wish I could stand on the opposite corners with Swift Boat Vet flyers but the state government agency I work for probably bring me up on charges. (I'm serious about that; they claim I'm not even allowed to write letters to the editor of local papers about anything. I'm supposed to get their permission to be on the recycling committee of a condominium association! The KGB is alive and well and ensconced in Trenton NJ, all branches of government.)
Additional digression: The T-shirt was able to say only "could" about GWB. The worst thing the media could ridicule/attack Quayle with was his misspelling of the word "potato". What an incredible legacy to hand to his children to exit a political career unsullied with dirty dresses, strange bank loans and colleagues who maybe committed suicide or who maybe had some help.
As an example of the dichotomy between the First Friday attendees and the galleries, there was a rather nice table in one gallery that specializes in "artistic furniture". The table wasn't that large but not too small, maybe mahogany, and the price tag was over $47,000!!!! It was the most expensive item I've ever touched (besides a house, my acquaintance pointed out). I've never even touched a car that cost that much! If I were a gallery owner, I'd be freaking out with worry that some nincompoop klutz (if the shoe pinches. . .) might nick or knock something. (I should mention that many of these galleries have receptions on First Friday, with alcohol and munchies, open to the public. Which is truly the big drawing point I know.)
Thursday, September 02, 2004
Purple Hearts
I skimmed the chapters posted on the blogsphere of Unfit for Command about Kerry's Viet Nam dishonorable medals, especially his first Purple Heart. Sorry, don't have the link handy. But the alleged sharpnel was minisicule, tiny, teensy, dare I say microscopic. The wound was covered by a small bandaid, emphasis added. In contrast to that, I ended up with a 3-inch-long sewing needle embedded in the calf of my leg while packing up care packages for the troops in Iraq and the Stan. I needed one of those big elbow patches to cover my wound and I needed surgery under general anestetia* remove it. Maybe I should run for President too. But I don't have the pre-requisite millionaire spouse or family. (That cuts across both parties.)
*I lose my cursor whenever I try to highlight something to use spell checker. Just another mystery to be solved at a later time.
Twilight zone update: Sgt. Hook is back at the keyboard but the AWOL posting is still not there where it belongs. Considering the sergeant's caveat about firing squads, I'm declaring to all hands that it was my intent to save information for posterity, not infringe on copywrites!
I haven't had many free Saturdays to go yardsale-ing so my collection of shoes for Operation Shoefly goes slowly. Most are from Goodwill which seems expensive when you're used to the yardsale cruising. But they did have new kids' socks for 50 cents, so that helped. Gotta go pack up some more boxes for the troops--a local supermarket has cans of "junk e-mail" on sale this week. (Think about what we call "junk e-mail".) Offending words are blacked out on the cans before shipment.
*I lose my cursor whenever I try to highlight something to use spell checker. Just another mystery to be solved at a later time.
Twilight zone update: Sgt. Hook is back at the keyboard but the AWOL posting is still not there where it belongs. Considering the sergeant's caveat about firing squads, I'm declaring to all hands that it was my intent to save information for posterity, not infringe on copywrites!
I haven't had many free Saturdays to go yardsale-ing so my collection of shoes for Operation Shoefly goes slowly. Most are from Goodwill which seems expensive when you're used to the yardsale cruising. But they did have new kids' socks for 50 cents, so that helped. Gotta go pack up some more boxes for the troops--a local supermarket has cans of "junk e-mail" on sale this week. (Think about what we call "junk e-mail".) Offending words are blacked out on the cans before shipment.
