Author Archives: Laura

Art Sunday 12/23/07: Bottoms by Yoko Ono

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Bottoms up Everyone knows her name, but no one knows how “good” Yoko Ono is as an artist. By Sam Taylor-Wood FROM: Monday February 2, 2004 The Guardian Bottoms, by Yoko Ono ‘Here is something that you see every day in the street – but unclothed.’ Bottoms, by Yoko Ono. Photo: Lenono PhotoArchive I first encountered Yoko Ono’s work at a big exhibition at the Riverside Gallery in London. It was some time in the late-1980s, when I was at art college. I liked her … Continue reading →

Art Sunday 05/25/08: John Lennon

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Art was actually Lennon’s first love. He began drawing long before he had a guitar, then attended the prestigous Liverpool Art Institute for three years (1957-60) before the Beatles became a full-time occupation. He continued to draw throughout his life. John’s primary medium was line drawing, either in pen, pencil, or Japanese sumi ink. The limited edition artwork in this exhibition consists of lithographs, serigraphs, and copper etchings hand-reproduced from the original drawings. Each edition is limited to 325 worldwide and comes with a certificate … Continue reading →

Art Sunday 01/04/09: Salvador Dali & The Persistance of Memory

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Salvador Dali Exhibit The Museum of Modern Art New York City The Persistance of Memory, 1931 Oil on canvas The Museum of Modern Art New York City Time is the theme here, from the melting watches to the decay implied by the swarming ants. The monstrous fleshy creature draped across the paintings center is an approximation of Dalís own face in profile. Mastering what he called “the usual paralyzing tricks of eye-fooling,” Dalí painted this work with “the most imperialist fury of precision,” but only, … Continue reading →

Ansel Adams in Color

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Ansel Adams (1902-1984) was one the greatest photographers and environmentalists of the twentieth century. His career spans to more than sixty years. He created over 40,000 photographs. He is possibly the most honored photographer in history. I would say that he is my greatest inspiration in landscape photography. He really got me into it. He was the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom and numerous honorary degrees. His photographs have been exhibited at many of the world’s major museums. Ansel Adams began to photograph … Continue reading →

The Science of Being and Art of Living

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I have just revised this blog in honor of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who recently passed away in India. I wonder how many people in 2008 still read this book, “The Science of Being and Art of Living”. This book was very popular in the late 1960s around the time that The Beatles went to India to meditate and spend time with the Maharishi. The Beatles were very young, even though they thought they were so mature. They even had contests to see who could meditate … Continue reading →

Poetry Wednesday: 11/18/09 Landscape with the Fall of Icarus

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Landscape with the Fall of Icarus, 1554 Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium by Pieter Brueghel Oil on canvas In Ancient Greek mythology, Icarus succeeded in flying, with wings made of feathers secured with wax, but he flew too close to the sun, melting the wax, and fell into the sea and drowned. His legs can be seen in the water, just below the ship. Landscape with the Fall of Icarus by William Carlos Williams (1883 – 1963) According to Brueghel when Icarus fell … Continue reading →

Poetry Wednesday 10/07/09: Invictus

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Grandfather Mountain, North Carolina by Helen Hopper Invictus By W.E. Henley, 1875 Out of the night that covers me, Black as the pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul. In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbow’d. Beyond this place of wrath and tears Looms but the Horror of the shade, And yet the menace of the years Finds and shall … Continue reading →

Poetry Wednesday 07/01/09: Jazz Band

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Jazz Band By Frank Marshall Davis Play that thing, you jazz mad fools! Boil a skyscraper with a jungle Dish it to ’em sweet and hot- Ahhhhhhhhh Rip it open then sew it up, jazz band! Thick bass notes from a moon faced drum Saxophones moan, banjo strings hum High thin notes from the cornet’s throat Trombone snorting, bass horn snorting Short tan notes from the piano And the short tan notes from the piano Plink plank plunk a plunk Plink plank plunk a plunk … Continue reading →

Poetry Wednesday 06/24/09: Charlie Parker by Jack Kerouac

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    Charlie Parker by Jack Kerouac Charlie Parker looked like Buddha Charlie Parker, who recently died Laughing at a juggler on the TV After weeks of strain and sickness, Was called the Perfect Musician. And his expression on his face Was as calm, beautiful, and profound As the image of the Buddha Represented in the East, the lidded eyes The expression that says “All Is Well” This was what Charlie Parker Said when he played, All is Well. You had the feeling of early-in-the-morning … Continue reading →

Poetry Wednesday 06/17/09: Carl Sandburg’s Jazz Fantasia

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  Jazz Fantasia Carl Sandburg, 1919 Drum on your drums, batter on your banjoes, sob on the long cool winding saxophones. Go to it, O jazzmen. Sling your knuckles on the bottoms of the happy tin pans, let your trombones ooze, and go husha- husha-hush with the slippery sand-paper. Moan like an autumn wind high in the lonesome treetops, moan soft like you wanted somebody terrible, cry like a racing car slipping away from a motorcycle cop, bang-bang! you jazzmen, bang altogether drums, traps, banjoes, … Continue reading →