Classic Tales Podcast

April 30, 2008 at 2:53 pm (aesthetics, creativity, story, storytelling)
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  The Classic Tales with B.J. Harrison

When preparing to travel across the state for work, I like to download stories and podcasts for the trip.  So, recently, I went onto itunes and downloaded The Classic Tales Podcast with B.J. Harrison. 

Ever a lover of great storytelling and classic lit, I wanted to have a listen.

Wow!  B.J. Harrison has an incredible voice and wonderful pacing throughout the story.   (And after my last post, this story just happened to be the perfect connection!)

Have a listen…

Episode 52, The Red Room, by H.G.Wells
The Red Room is haunted. Nobody knows how or why, but one man has lost his life while spending the night in the forbidden chamber. The horrors of the room drove him to madness. So, what will happen when another ambitious young man attempts to enter the room?

Also, as a family we enjoy listening to books on tape.  This podcast will be a HUGE hit with both boysJ 

 What types of stories do you enjoy?

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Things that make me uncomfortable…

April 28, 2008 at 7:24 pm (aesthetics, creativity, education, imagination, observation, visual arts)
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Andy Warhol, Electric Chair, 1971

Andy Warhol, Skulls, 1976

 Andy Warhol, Suicide 1962/4

One more entry on the Andy Warhol exhibit…I wanted to post the prints that gave me pause.  I was uncomfortable in one of the galleries.  Warhol was obsessed with death…and through these prints, I felt various degrees of unease.

I am working on my “uncomfortable-ness” with these works…beyond the obvious. I think I spend so much of my time focused on the now, positive, being/feeling happy.  This is evidenent as I look back through my blog.  But what about the darkness?  The worry over death I have myself?  It is constantly lingering around…illness, destruction, the news…is there beauty within?  Sometimes, my fear of it is completely covered by the “mask” of happiness.

So…Andy Warhol (who is now dead) speaks to me from beyond…through his art.  I am taking the time to be aware of this “uncomfortable” state…I still feel like running from the room, but I will stay a while and look it in the eye.

What makes you uncomfortable?  do you hide it?  put on your mask?  or face it head on?

 

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Andy Warhol…Grand Rapids Art Museum

April 26, 2008 at 8:34 pm (aesthetics, creativity, education, imagination, observation, visual arts)
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Andy Warhol, Martha Graham; Satyric Festival Song, 1986

Went to the Grand Rapids Museum of Art with a fabulous group of artists.  The color and openess of the exhibit was fulfilling.

I have posted the work that brought me the most joy…there are others that I will post in a bit.

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100th Post!

April 25, 2008 at 1:25 pm (aesthetics, creativity, dreams, education, imagination, learning styles, music, nature, observation, visual arts)
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Wow!  I have created 100 posts….with this post:)

I have gone back through each post and pulled a word from that post.  Adding one more word for today….there should be 100 words. I will take a look at them all and create a poem…and perhaps a painting.  Here we go:

bat, forsithia, organic, thoughts, drawing, spirals, spring, posphenes, vision, blooming, brain, tessalations, snakes, care, thinking, hugs, boating, protoza, aesthetics, speaking, questions, images, virtual, maple, mind, fish, play, time, music, woods, colors, creativity, walk, hello, yoga, mood, arts, observation, gratitude, partner, meditation, frozen, eclipse, winter, kinetic, motif, miniatures, possibilities, moment, artists, little, dream, dog, syncronicity, observation, poetry, singing, song, doodling, mandalas, schools, piano, moon, poem, sketching, blue, guitar, lists, lines, gratitude, paper, right, connections, skulls, noticing, reading, silence, learning, mother, snowflake, cycle, seeds, see, wandering, desk, collage, water, quotes, story, best, music, article, inspiration, lives, exploring, video, visual, metaphor, describes…and today’s word is…RAIN.

Whew!  Now on to put these beautiful words together into a poem…a work of art:)

Did you celebrate your 100th post?  What little things do you celebrate?

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Bat Houses

April 24, 2008 at 12:22 pm (aesthetics, creativity, education, nature, observation, visual arts)
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We had friends over for the weekend.  They brought the supplies and with my husband’s template for previous bat house constructions (and serious power tools!), the guys made bat houses and bluebird houses.!

So now…bug control…naturally:)

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Forsithia

April 23, 2008 at 10:17 am (aesthetics, creativity, imagination, observation)
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By taking a look around at the beauty and wonder in the world sets the tone for the day.  I truly believe it is important to let the mind switch to the “wonder” and “mystery” that surronds us.  For if we simply live our lives only looking to collect data, collect factoids, focus only on the “right” or “wrong” way to do things, we are robbing ourselves of the balance.

I have been watching the forsithia…the vivid yellow has emerged from the spring green.  My eye is pulled to the “aliveness” of my outdoor surroundings through the shift from blues of winter to greens and yellows of spring.  This overlapping of color in my mind is delightful and dances with my imagination each year.

“Aesthetics is the study of the arts: the nature of art objects. the making of art, the art (or aesthetic) experience, the relation between art and culture, the role of the perceiver, the sensual and imaginative aspects of art.” -Maxine Greene
http://www.maxinegreene.org/

 Time to paint:)

 

What do you do each day to allow awareness of your surroundings to connect with your imagination?

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Little Things I Love

April 21, 2008 at 8:20 pm (aesthetics, creativity, imagination, nature, observation)
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I love that paper-like encasement that is left once the daffodil has opened.

What do you love?

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Certified Organic Skin Care Products

April 21, 2008 at 1:33 am (creativity)
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I wanted to take a moment to share my interest and passion for organics.  I have been an Independent Representatitive for ONE Group, makers of Miessence Certified Organic Skin Care products for 2 years now.  I love the products and truly support ONE Group’s commitment to sustainability in the workplace and for the earth.

Click on the banner above to read about this wonderful company and take a look at the fabulous certified organic skin care products.

Ad for Earth month…favorite Miessence product:

 

 

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Thoughts from Childhood

April 19, 2008 at 1:38 pm (creativity)
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“Sun Salutation” by Bonnie Herman Zachary

Each morning, while practicing yoga, I try to let my thoughts go and also keep my eyes closed.

But the other morning I opened my eyes, and saw the ceiling.

 (the view upside down:)

I was reminded of times, as a child, where I would sit for hours upside down on the couch and think about what it would be like to walk on the ceiling.   Clear, open space with no furniture..like a wonderful dancers studio!

That thought came back to me as I stood in a yoga pose looking past my legs and up onto the ceiling.

What are memories of wonder that you recall from childhood?

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Drawing

April 18, 2008 at 4:48 pm (aesthetics, creativity, imagination, observation, visual arts)
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My eldest son wanted to draw just before bedtime with me, in place of reading together. 

Here is our creation:)

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