Archive for the ‘Nature Notes’ Category
Blue Flower, Blue Butterflies and the Rain
Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged blue, drawing, flowers, Photography, rain on March 21, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Simply the Moon
Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged astronomy, full moon, lunar images, night sky, Photography on March 21, 2011| Leave a Comment »
The Butterflies
Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged butterfly, Photography on March 17, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Just Petals
Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged color, flowers, petals, Photography, red, yellow on March 15, 2011| Leave a Comment »
In Jane’s Mug
Posted in Inspiration, Kitchen Inspirations, Nature Notes, tagged flowers, Photography, pottery on March 13, 2011| Leave a Comment »
With Spring on the Horizon …
Posted in Branches, Guest Contributor, Inspiration, Kitchen Inspirations, Nature Notes, On the Road, Photography Exhibits, Postcards, tagged art, collaboration, family, nature, open studios, Photography on March 10, 2011| 3 Comments »
It was back in December that I last posted a Words+Images update. It focused on end of year inspirations. Now with spring on the horizon, I thought it time to share new updates. Let’s see … 😉
Preparing for Somerville Open Studios
Somerville Open Studios 2011 is rapidly approaching and so I am trying to get myself in gear. I’ve been sorting through images, selecting a set that will be turned into notecards and others that will be matted and framed. For the first time, I will also have postcards available for sale. The images will be representative of the changing seasons. Seasons is the theme of my collaboration with artist Zoe Langosy.
Leading up to show there are many wonderful opportunities to exhibit including the upcoming SOS2010 Volunteer Show.
Sharing Stories
My business cards say “writer/photographer.” A better title would be “storyteller.” That is what I do whether with words or with images. With the passing of my Aunt Thelma recently, those fires within have been stoked to listen closely to those around me and to tell their stories well.
Finding Perspective
There’s all sorts of things I could say about finding perspective this year. With my camera, at least, let’s just say I found perspective by getting up close and personal with house plants and cut flowers.
One snowy day, I found a lemon …
And when the sun came out, I spied this bird sitting high in a tree.
I think that’s about it. More to share in the spring … which is only 8 days away!
The Beauty of Collaboration
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged collaboration, collage, craftsmanship, illustration, Photography, Somerville Open Studios, visual art on March 10, 2011| 2 Comments »
I must admit when I took these picture of trees aflame in the fall, and of snow mounds after a winter storm, I did not envision their images forming the vibrant patterns of a geisha’s flowing silk robes. But luckily I know Zoe Langosy, a figurative artist with a unique view of the world.
Zoe grew up in Somerville in an area made notorious in the 1980’s by Whitey Bulger and the Winter Hill Gang. It was in fact that gang’s activities and the negative impacts on Zoe and her sister that convinced her parents to move the family to Lexington. There, in school as well as in her family’s bohemian household, Zoe’s artistic talents were fostered. Eventually she traveled the world, living in London and Los Angeles before returning to the Boston area.
Her beautiful melancholic images have been exhibited in galleries in Boston, Los Angeles and London. She and I became friends while working together in a local shop. Somerville Open Studios has presented a great opportunity for collaboration that has already sparked conversation about future projects. Time will tell. Right now the focus is Open Studios where Zoe’s contemporary geisha — three of them — will be clothed, and in some cases tattooed, with bits of sunlit leaves, shimmering snow, and rain-kissed flower petals.
View more of Zoe’s work here.
Finding Calm …
Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged calm, family, letter writing, Photography, stationary on March 7, 2011| Leave a Comment »
I know I’ve got too much going on when I feel too agitated to sit down and write a short letter or send a funny card to friends and family. So this Sunday, I took a moment to sit at the kitchen table and send out a few notes to find out how people are and to share some updates from my life.
To Everything There is a Season
Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes, On the Road, Photography Exhibits, tagged luna butterfly, Photography, Somerville Open Studios, visual art on March 5, 2011| 1 Comment »
“To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under the sun.”
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
This year in particular I am made aware of the seasons and how, as Annie Dillard writes in Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, “There is a bit of each season in every season.” The sun is shining later, and so I am able to spend more time outside with my camera, and I swear, there is already a bit of green to be seen even through the snow. When Spring does arrive, I am truly looking forward to participating in my second Somerville Open Studios with collaborator Zoe Langosy where our exhibit will focus on the complex overlapping beauty of the seasons. But first up I am excited to be participating in the 2011 SOS Volunteer Show at Bloc 11 in Somerville. The exhibit opening will be Monday March 14th from 6:30 – 8 pm. I’ll have on display the luna butterfly above, taken in Maine this past summer. Maybe I’ll see you there. 😉
Who Killed Cock Robin?
Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged birds, family lore, nostalgia, Photography, robin, storytelling on March 5, 2011| 4 Comments »
Do you know the story of Who Killed Cock Robin? I was reminded of the tale (and of this photo taken years ago) while visiting with family this past weekend. My uncle told a tale of growing up in rural Virginia, in the ’40s I believe, and of being infatuated with little speckled sparrows. One day, he had a grand idea. To capture a sparrow and make it his own. And how would he do that? Well, he chose a mouse trap as his device with bread crumbs as his bait. The bird was of course caught and the bird was of course killed. As for the connection to robins …
For years afterward, his sister, in the way of older siblings, found a unique way to mess with her little brother when he was getting on her nerves. If he was getting too big for his britches, she would simply start reciting that poem about the murder of a little bird. “Every time,” my uncle said with a chuckle, “Every single time, she had me in tears.” And then he began to recite:
Who killed Cock Robin?
I, said the sparrow, with my bow and arrow, I killed Cock Robin.
Who saw him die?
I, said the fly, with my little eye, I saw him die.
All the birds of the air fell a-sighing and a-sobbing
When they heard of the death of poor Cock Robin,
When they heard of the death of poor Cock Robin.
Who’ll catch his blood?
I, said the fish, with my little dish, I’ll catch his blood.
Who’ll make his shroud?
I, said the beetle, with my little needle, I’ll make his shroud.
Who’ll toll the bell?
I, said the bull, because I can pull, I’ll toll the bell.
Who’ll dig his grave?
I, said the owl, with my little trowel, I’ll dig his grave.
Who’ll be the clerk?
I, said the lark, if it’s not in the dark, I’ll be the clerk.
Who’ll carry the coffin?
I, said the kite, if it’s not in the night, I’ll carry the coffin.
Who’ll bear the pall?
I, said the wren, both the cock and the hen, we’ll bear the pall.
Who’ll sing the psalm?
I, said the thrush, as she sat in the bush, I’ll sing the psalm.
Who’ll be the parson?
I, said the rook, with my little book, I’ll be the parson.
Who’ll be chief mourner?
I, said the dove, I’ll mourn for my love, I’ll be chief mourner.
Words + Images 