Threatening Faces in the Clouds

I remember, as a child, how much I enjoyed finding shapes in the clouds, horses, fish, and flowers, mostly a bygone pastime now.

Canyon of the Ancients
Colorado, May 2013

Until recently, when I  remembered my reaction to this snapshot, taken two years ago, on my first hike at Canyon of the Ancients in Southwestern Colorado.

That typically sunny day turned threatening, and rapidly turned stormy. I wanted to capture the contrast between the light colored stone outcropping and the looming black sky. But, more threatening than the sky were the two sky-faces I caught on (what used to be called) film. Can you see–the top one is wearing glasses?

Lost in the Past and Between the Pages

A couple of years ago, Russ and Katie told me about a friend who was reading Pride and Prejudice for the first time, someone who has lived in this country for almost three decades and managed not to know that story, the plot or the characters. We were jealous.

I’ve grown accustomed to the idea that I have already watched all my favorite movies, and that I have already read all my favorite novels. When I look back through time, I can still feel the thrill of living inside some of those stories, how riveting alive that made me feel.

Jim and I listened to the book tape of a new novel on our three day trip home from Colorado last week. We weren’t finished when we got here. So, we sat around our house and listened to the rest of the book. I’m not going to name it online because I don’t want to flavor anyone’s thought of reading or hearing this story. I only want to acknowledge the fact that in the middle of the ocean of forgettable and average, light-weight stories, fresh characters ARE drawing breath on new pages. Blood flows in their veins and through tender hearts. They are vulnerable, and what happens to them matters. I haven’t been able to move on since we finished the story, which is why this is Friday.

Back to myself next week, but not unaltered.In the meantime, the sea breeze is still blowing in off the Western Coast of France.

Photo Credit: Russell Anway

Speculative Exposition: Expressionist Paintings without Descriptive Titles

         Canyon of the Ancients, Colorado             May, 2013

I saw Clyfford Still paintings for the first time in Denver three years ago, and didn’t really know what to make of his work. But, the artist attracted my attention again last fall when we visited the new Anderson Collection at Stanford University, which includes one of Still’s paintings, 1957-J No. 1 (PH-142). Still identified his paintings in this numerical/alphabetical manner because he wanted the works to speak for themselves. No editorializing names.

As I’ve mentioned before, I love it when a title enhances my enjoyment, and gives me something deeper and richer to take from a work. But I do particularly remember Still’s painting at the Anderson Collection because of my reaction to the remarks on the wall beside the black, beige, and russet colored canvas, which referred to the painting as a landscape. No sky. No horizon. No shapes taken from nature.

Identified like it is, with just letters and numbers, how did anyone know to describe the painting a landscape?

There is more than one way to capture an audience, and as many ways to express ourselves as we are people. Still’s canvases are powerful. I just don’t know what particular element in that canvas would give anyone the authority to call it a landscape. If they didn’t talk to the artist, it’s speculation.

All of Still’s works are restricted by copyright laws. But, a wonderful online tour of his museum in Denver is available by using the attached link.

https://clyffordstillmuseum.org/

Check in next week, when I will be highlighting a painting that is greatly enriched by its title.