Vines and tiles

Vines

It was lovely to have some time off last week and get away to Seattle over the weekend. I was in the mood for art, so I made a point of wandering through a gallery dense area of the city – Pioneer Square – when I arrived on Friday afternoon. It was a very inspiring walk, and I’m hoping to post a few links work I saw when I get the chance later. For further arty inspiration, Hendrik and I visited the Olympic Sculpture Park and the Seattle Art Museum on Saturday afternoon. My favorite works from the park are the very clever Love & Loss, a beautiful stainless steel tree (Split), and the greenhouse containing a nurse log sustaining life as it would in a forest.

Guardian and Serenity

Guardian II

Serenity

The last two images from my manipulate landscape series, created for the Utata summer project. It feels good to stretch my creative wings.

Guardian I

Guardian I

I am very happy because my family sent me the new Harry Potter book for my birthday. Too bad I will have to wait until next week before I can start reading it. I’m sure it must be a crime somewhere to not drop everything and immediately start reading the last Harry Potter book.

Surfacing

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Surfacing

I have just started reading the book Art Objects, a collection of essays written by Jeanette Winterson about art. I can tell already this book will stimulate my mind, and give me a fresh perspective on all things art. The first essay is about learning to see the art object before you, how it takes time to see things fully and how said object can open the heart of it’s viewer. It reminds me of how little time I spend visiting real live galleries these days, and instead take in most of my “art viewing” via the internet, where my viewing time for things is less than a minute. Shame on me.

Carousel horse

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Carousel horse

Do you want to know the good thing about rainy days? (Because there has to be an upside to everything.) I get so much more done at home when the weather is crappy for any length of time, because it gets me feeling nesty. I’m on an organizational kick right now because I want my studio/workspace in my apartment to be more inspiring and organized. I see furniture rearranging in my future…

Five great moments from the weekend:
1. Yogathon in the rain.
2. Fresh made organic pizza.
3. Sunday morning breakfast at The Omlettry (I think that’s how you spell it.)
4. Finding bargains at a yard sale.
5. Making silly videos while waiting for our food to come.

Sometimes I just do these things for the colours…

…and also because I have really nice flowers in the house.

The yogathon is this Saturday, and I’m happy to say I was able to raise two hundred and seventy-five dollars in donations for Camp Moomba. This is all thanks to the many generous people who donated. Now I have to do my part and get through the yogathon without dying. I started a bit of training last week in preparation. I’m trying to do twenty minutes to half an hour of sun salutations almost every day (time permitting). It probably won’t completely prevent me from being sore after the event, but it does help me get psyched.

It looks like a divine intervention

It looks like a divine intervention
The heatwave from earlier this week has cooled to a more bearable temperature today, for which I am very glad. I am sitting beside a window here and there is a cool breeze blowing, keeping things cool and fresh. The sky is overcast and it actually looks like it might rain. I’m sure the plants could use it.

For the last week and a half I’ve been looking after my landlord’s garden while they’ve been away. It’s been a nice experience to do this, but I am amazed at how time consuming it can be just to water things. Since it’s been so very hot I’ve been out there every evening giving the plants, flowers, and veggies out back, as much water as I can. They don’t have a sprinkler so it means I have to stand there sprinkling everything by hand. I feel like I know the garden so much better now, and I am glad to contribute to the survival of this lovely green space that surrounds my home and gives me so much enjoyment.

New red parasol

New red parasol
A crop of a square format photo shot with my holga.

I think a parasol is essential to my survival during the summer weather. I can’t stand wearing a hat because it makes my head feel unbearably hot, and it wouldn’t protect the rest of me anyway. Sometimes I feel self-conscious when I’m walking around with my parasol because it’s a real eye-catcher, but the benefits of extra sun protection outweigh the drawbacks of attention.