Print: Richard Fozard's 'Five Geese a' Cackling'

An Afternoon Detour to York Art Gallery

After a reading group meeting 'again' 'accidentally' taking place on a Bank Holiday Monday, I stepped in York Art Gallery. I was drawn to an exhibition, 'Richard Fozard: Printmaker', by this image of geese on its recent brochure.

Richard Fozard was a prinkmaker in Leeds, his works were inspired by the natural environment of Yorkshire Dale and were meant to represent the beauty that he had enjoyed. 'Five Geese a' Cackling' is a print from a woodcut. The rough and vibrant lines of shadow and light present a very dynamic composition. I breathed the air of solidarity that the ink and the lines create upon the paper, thinking the texture of paper, wood, and ink.

The show room was small, the size of the exhibition was mini, the other works were not entirely impressive, but this afternoon break in the company of these geese was pleasant enough for me to get ready for another half day's work.

Cloud, Sky, and Houses, on the way home

I was remembering some proto-images of landscape that I used to draw when I was small. They were about my imaginations of home.
Always, there were white and marshmallow-like clouds, blue sky, red brick houses, triangular roofs, square windows, plus trees as fence.



Poetic sky filmed in the neighborhood.

Chicago, Kalamazoo (MI), and New York City: 09-17/May/2007

One more reason to love Chicago!

Cloud Gate by Anish Kapoor, an Indian artist based in London, rests in Millennium Park in Chicago city. I missed it last year owing to bad weather on the day that we planned to pay our visit. It was not mentioned in my guidebook (it seemed) as it was just dedicated to the city sometime right after my trip (May 2006) even though its completion is noted to be sometime much earlier, in 2004.

At first I wondered what it was when I saw this 'Bean', its nickname, everywhere on postcards.

It is such an impressive and fascinating artwork that fully engaged my attention and stimulated every fiber of my body when I stood right in front of it this year, 2007. Snatching some 15 minutes before my train to Kalamazoo from Chicago, I did visit this giant 'bean'. The sight stimulated tremendous visual enjoyment and amazement and drew a smiling curve on my lips!

What a clever idea of Anish Kapoor!!

Looking at the work, I saw the skyline of this city of skyscrapers be entirely absorbed on its glossy surface. (Imagine what sight it will offer if we have any chance to take a look of it from above!) Everything is contained within this work in spite of the unmeasurable vastness of the city. The real skyline stretched out in front of me when I turned my eyes to see the real world.

It is a gate, as I suppose what its name--Cloud Gate--suggests, that greets visitors to the city. It is a bean, a name that I somehow prefer, a nickname that denotes its position as the origin and the beginning point of any organic development. Life begins in a bean (no matter what kind it might be), and a bean has everything to nourish the life that grows from it. The microcosmic vision of the bean leads us to witness and imagine how the entire city grew out of and is maturing in a talented and artistic temper.

Chicago, Kalamazoo (MI), and New York City: 09-17/May/2007

Aki and I kind of want to know who the guy in blue shirt and sunglasses is.

We had to pass by Trump International Hotel in Columbus Circle quite often every day during our stay in New York. There were always some people (fans? or amateur journalists) , equipped with notepads, photos, and cameras, waiting outside the entrance, while we always 'happened' to carry grocery bags with us. Apparently he is not unpopular. Some photos were taken and autographs were given at the request of enthusiastic folks.

Who is he, by the way?

Objects

A miniature of St. James is now standing on my book shelf, it is a present from A. We had between us a secret code of miniatures of sacred figures, nothing to do with any religion seriously though. A started this idea. After our exchange of these objects and after it has stayed in my collection for a while, I gradually understood why and how this idea of possessing objects like this sparkled in her mind years ago when we first met. Nowadays whenever I hold it in my palms, the solid substance provides a steady center to which all of my untamed thoughts orient, and its concreteness gravitates the course of my unfounded worries. It is not anything magical or spiritual, I would say, it's more to do with the idea that it's a material substance that is able to distract its holder from an alter world of fancy. Or it is the connection bewteen friends that is created by these miniatures that assures me.
Thanks for passing on this steadying force, A.




J, a friend from my primary school days, just gave birth to a baby girl. I went to see her last week in New York, the first meeting after a couple of long years.
This tooth fairy was a present to her and her girl, Audrey. It was meant to preserve baby's first teeth. (Before discussing with the shop assistant, I had no idea that it will take 6 to 7 years to have baby teeth fallen though!!) Perhaps I was just too fond of this fairy that I resisted any other more appropriate and perhaps more reasonable choices. Although it won't be immediately in use, I insisted giving it to the new mother and the newborn. (A very stubborn gift-giver, I know!) However, it seems to be an excellent choice in the end, I think. Audrey is just like a princess who is loved well by her caring and loving parents.
I have no doubt that the young parents' love for each other and their innate kindness will nourish princess Audrey until the day when she will pass on this love. An emotional tie that binds together generations who sing the same melody of family.
The tooth fairy is not only a tooth fairy, I hope, she is also a fairy assistant to Audrey's fairy-like parents that will accompany this girl into her maturity.

Roses 2007 in York

R had been practicing hard for this competition of dance between the university of Lancaster and the university of York. Amazingly but not surprisingly, he and his dance-mate won 4 champions in the end, that actually means that he won every single competition.

R's parents and grandmother were very supportive. They drove all the way from the north to York to share with him his excitement and to witness the presentation of his efforts. They cheered for him and were very proud of his performance. R's mum is a very nice lady. She was always looking at her son with pride and joy, with smiles in her eyes.

She told me that she and R's father came to know each other through dance when they were doing their first degree, and she was so happy to see R dancing.

I like this lovely family story, a story that brings the whole family together.