Category: art

Duck’s Still Alert

So, I crashed after a walk with my friend Art. I don’t have many friends, least of all ones I want to take a walk with. He left me, cold, after telling me he was off to his doctor to find out about his blood test, one to determine the extent of his dementia. I cried, inside. All I have is CLL. Still have my mind. And he has so much to offer and remember.

So, I went to Bednar’s. Took a self-portrait. Bought some veggies and wine. Thought about I had a friend who wouldn’t be around for long.

Oranges and Jay Pirka

So, picking up where I left off. Been sick. Recovered. Back to still life from the Golden Age in the Netherlands.

Oranges. Make you smile. Symbols of good fortune. Skulls to remind us all we are mortal. And some flowers to lighten up our lives. But without a targeted medication, DEAD.

Ikebana at Morikami

Well, I started an Ikebana course at Morikami. This is my first creation. I didn’t do it all by myself. Instructor helped, showing me the form and beginning the message of the medium.

The 7 core principles of Ikebana (Japanese flower arranging) are Silence, Minimalism, Shape & Line, Form, Humanity, Aesthetics, and Structure, emphasizing conscious restraint, natural beauty, and a connection between the creator, materials, and space, often using a symbolic scalene triangle for Heaven, Earth, and Man. Perfect practice for my addled state of mind.

 

Martin Parr, Photo, Dead

Martin Parr died, leaving the photo world short two eyes. https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2025/dec/07/martin-parr-obituary

I am guessing he took the same meds as I take. This blood cancer shit is pretty scary. You don’t know how well you are or how sick and then you die.

I have 100 or so photo books. One of my favorites on many levels. Wish I had more of his work. I could be inspired.

 

Best Date Ever Still

So, we went to the Norton Museum to see the Rembrandt show. One Vermeer, one Franz Hals and several Rembrandts, including one self-portrait by a young Rembrandt. Show was more about the Golden Age of Dutch Art than just Rembrandt. Had a great time, especially when we remembered a Hals show at the Getty Modern and the Vermeer show at the Rijksmuseum (including Night Watch, of course). Lots of memories.

One the way out, we stopped at several exhibits, including this one in the Photography gallery on tone, light, and form. Sharon posed in front of one piece, after questioning, “…, why is this art?” It’s a long story, not about what I said in response, but the general question, what is art and how it this art. We don’t have the same amount of Museum Speak in our vocabularies, but we know enough to have a conversation.

How great is that?