All images by Lorraine.
Archive for the ‘Nature Notes’ Category
Spring in New York — Beautiful!
Posted in Guest Contributor, Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged Brooklyn, daffodils, flowers, Japanese quince, Photography, spring on April 14, 2011| 1 Comment »
Embodying Nature Through Collage
Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged collaboration, collage, culture, figurative art, geisha, illustration, kimono, nature, Photography, Zoe Langosy on April 14, 2011| 5 Comments »
In an article titled “Reading for Fashion,” Stan Tymorek writes of clothing inspiring poetry and of poetry inspiring clothing design. Near the end of the article he makes note of “… the elaborate Japanese geisha costumes that still manage to mirror nature.”
Well, the kimono robes that Zoe is creating as part of our collaboration do more than mirror nature.
Each geisha kimono is partially composed of nature photography — the images printed on acid free paper and then applied as dictated by Zoe’s overall design. Once completed, her two geisha will represent the span and overlap of all four seasons.
Here’s snow I photographed one winter in Newton, MA forming the belt of one kimono.
Here’s a shell photographed in summer off the coast of Maine fleshing out the petals of this kimono’s rose.
With each new image she shares with me, I grow increasingly inspired by Zoe’s unique expression of the geisha and the elaborate design of their attire. I consider myself a patient person but I am humbled by her ability to meticulously make her creative vision real … piece by tiny piece of paper.
View the completed artwork in just two weeks at Somerville Open Studios. Zoe will be joining me at my table, located in the Center for Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Avenue, Somerville, MA 02143. Who knows? We may be able to share highlights of our next collaboration. 😉
Below is the link for general visitor information. Hope to see you there.
http://www.somervilleopenstudios.org/visit/
Why I Chase Clouds and Look Up
Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes, On the Road, tagged Blue Ridge Mountains, clouds, nostalgia, perceptions, Photography, sky, Virginia on April 12, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Recently, people have asked me why I chase clouds and why I look up so much?
Have I shared these images of the Blue Ridge Parkway? The older I grow the more I realize how growing up in the foothills of the Blue Ridge has influenced my behavior and perceptions of the world.
In the Center of It All
Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged flowers, Photography, spring, stamen on April 11, 2011| Leave a Comment »
A spring flower seen while walking through my neighborhood this weekend. I’m not sure of the species. If you know, please share the name with me.
Simple Pleasures: Birdsong
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Music, Nature Notes, tagged birdsong, music, nature, Photography on April 11, 2011| 1 Comment »
This morning I lay in bed a long time listening to birdsong. It drifted in through multiple windows, from the trees and bushes surrounding the house, rich layers of sound that were deeply relaxing. At least, relaxing for me. I know the birds were hard at work “speaking” to each other. With spring finally sprung, I’ve seen many birds this past week, including cardinals, blue jays, robins, blackbirds, sparrows as well as the ever present pigeons. The intensely bright hues of the cardinals and blue jays startled me until I realized they were males trying to catch some attention. I don’t know which ones sing which songs but together they create quite the symphony. Care to hear or see for yourself? Below are a few links you might enjoy.
World’s Largest Archive of Animal Sounds
Returning to the Blue Hills
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes, On the Road, tagged Blue Hills Reservation, landscape, Milton, nature, Parks, Photography, travel, water on April 10, 2011| 1 Comment »
In Fall 2009, Steve and I visited the Blue Hills Reservation, a state park covering 7,000 acres south of Boston. There we climbed an observation tower where I was able to snap these landscape shots, including one of Boston from afar. With the weather warming up, we ventured back there recently. Here are a few images from the day. No tower shots … yet. 😉
Look Up!
Posted in Branches, Nature Notes, On the Road, Publication Updates, tagged creativity, Inspiration, light, nature, Photography, spring on April 7, 2011| Leave a Comment »
A new article appearing on Creativity Portal. Check it out. It’s a quick read. The focus? Simply look up. Enjoy!
The Waxwing
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged birds, Cambridge, Cedar Waxwing, Fresh Pond Reservation, nature, Photography on April 3, 2011| 2 Comments »
An unexpected Sunday sighting by Fresh Pond Reservation in Cambridge, MA, a Cedar Waxwing bird. When he wasn’t giving me attitude, he was feeding.
Beautiful Poetry and Song
Posted in Books I Love, Kitchen Inspirations, Nature Notes, tagged birdsong, poetry, Shadow of Sirius, W. S. Merwin on April 1, 2011| Leave a Comment »
There is no more selfish act, no more powerful gift I give to myself, then when I find a quiet corner to read a book of poetry. Through the author’s words — and the images evoked by those words — my experiences of this life are deepened. I especially felt that way today as I found a moment to read W. S. Merwin’s The Shadow of Sirius. You see, for days now, each morning as night gives way to morning, I have lain awake in bed listening to birdsong. I have struggled with how to capture the experience on paper. And then I read Merwin’s poem The Laughing Thrush, and I thought, “Well, one day the words may come about my bird and his song. But for now let me enjoy another’s.”
The Laughing Thrush
by W. S. Merwin
O nameless joy of the morning
tumbling upward note by note out of the night
and the hush of the dark valley
and out of whatever has not been there
song unquestioning and unbounded
yes this is the place and the one time
in the whole of before and after
with all of memory waking into it
and the lost visages that hover
around the edge of sleep
constant and clear
and the words that lately have fallen silent
to surface along the phrases of some future
if there is a future
here is where they all sing the first daylight
whether or not there is anyone listening
* from The Shadow of Sirius
Green, Please!
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged flowers, leaves, Photography, seasons on March 30, 2011| 2 Comments »
Well, I’ve just learned we have more snow coming up here in New England. Don’t get me wrong. I enjoy a lovely flake as much as anybody, but I am ready for some green and warmth. To help tide me over until the seasons really do change, I’ve pulled the following photos from my archives. These were taken during a walk in a Cambridge park.
I whine but of course I know spring is here. During a recent walk in my neighborhood, just a few days ago, I saw plenty of things sprouting on trees and springing from the earth. Fragile but tough, I expect they’ll survive the snow.
