I love a new year. Within the newness lies an element of possibility that feels limitless. And that feeling, that sense of potential—it’s rare and short lived and all the more precious because of it. While I don’t make resolutions, I do think about where I’d like my energy to go and especially how I’d like to conserve it.
I’ve always been a bookworm, although I’m not exactly sure how that came to be. My parents were readers. Standard bestsellers for the most part. My mother liked to remind me—with hands on hips—that she’d read Atlas Shrugged when it was first published, as though that was an obvious walk on the wild side requiring no further explanation. And that’s what’s so odd. They never discussed what they read, at least not with me. As a kid, whenever I read something I enjoyed I couldn’t stop talking about it. And I’m still that way. Regardless, books were present in the house and my mom and dad supported my own interests. That must have been enough of a foundation to become an avid reader.
In October 2nd’s post, I spoke of a book I was beginning in lieu of visiting New York. At that time I’d only read about 50 pages and barely knew what I was getting into. Now, having finished it, I can say that Mark Stevens and Annalyn Swan’s de Kooning: An American Master, is one of the greatest and most inspiring books I’ve ever read. Sadly, what led me to the book in the first place, the retrospective at MoMA, ends in a week and I won’t be able to see his collected work in person. Nonetheless, the book was a priceless adventure that I hope others will also experience.
My point about energy management and conservation is this…. During the three months I spent reading de Kooning, I felt truly happy to be captivated by one simple thing, a book. It was a treasure and resource that I looked forward to picking up each day. I loved that it was long (630 pages not counting end notes) and that it was taking me forever to read it (mostly on breaks from work as I waited for my tea to steep). The writing, the subject matter: all art. I felt focused, invigorated, filled with ideas. It became at once central and centering. The entire experience was wonderful. And so much of the joy was derived from engagement in a single task that was free of distraction. Reading. Just reading.
Here’s to 2012, to good books, and to keeping it simple!
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I have a couple of apartment-dwelling friends who live in the heart of downtown Seattle on the 25th floor. Why I’ve not invited myself over before now is beyond me, but a couple of weeks ago I asked if I might come up for a visit at twilight with my camera. What I didn’t realize is that they have three balconies facing west in the direction of Elliott Bay and north toward the Lake Union area. Because that lovely time of night passes so quickly, I made a commitment to one vantage point and set up my tripod on the balcony facing north. The urban views are fabulous and so are my friends (they even fixed me dinner!). Here are a few results.
Carole Gomez is an accomplished photographer, gardener, cook, colleague, and friend. As image inspectors for iStockphoto, we enjoy a virtual rapport—the norm for a 100-member team that spans the globe. Carole lives in Aston, Hertfordshire (UK), a village 35 miles north of London and thousands of miles from my home in Seattle. While the distance makes it impossible to meet for a glass of wine after work, through emails I’ve come to learn what Carole’s up to when she’s not inspecting or creating her own lovely images. She’s either tending to her allotment (a plot of land similar to a community garden in the US but cared for by an individual rather than a group of neighbors) or she’s creating culinary delights in the kitchen, most often with ingredients fresh from her garden. And there’s no question in my mind. Photography, gardening, and cooking are passions she enjoys in equal measure.
I’m not a gardener and my cooking skills are purely functional. So when Carole mentioned being a fan of companion planting, I had no idea what she was talking about. (One person gardens and the other keeps her entertained??) I have since learned that companion planting is based on an idea dating back to ancient Roman times wherein certain plants can benefit others when planted next to, or close to one another. The goal is a balanced eco-system and a crucial part of that system is pest management. The natural substances of certain plants (roots, flowers, leaves) will either attract or repel insects, so planting appropriate flowers amongst their vegetable allies will attract beneficial insects and birds which are natural predators to unwanted pests. The tomato and one of its many allies, the calendula (aka pot marigold), is the pairing featured in the photo below and recipes that follow. Calendula benefits tomato plants by serving as a positive host (attracting beneficial insects that control pests) and as a trap host because it attracts pests from the tomato crop.
Inspiration: Diego Rivera at MoMA
MoMA’s exhibit includes murals and associated drawings made by Rivera in 1931. The museum had only just opened in 1929 and he was the subject of their second exhibit. The challenge was how to show work of a muralist whose art is defined by its creation at a particular site and on an immovable architectural structure. They ended up bringing him to New York six weeks prior to the opening and provided him with space to create portable murals. With the help of two assistants he worked nonstop and produced eight murals (six of the eight are featured here). Five pertain to Mexican history and three to New York history. My favorites are the New York murals as they very pointedly reflect the difficult time period he was here—the Great Depression … a recurring theme in this country.
This video provides a brief overview. The exhibit runs through May 14, 2012.