For those of you who’ve followed my blog for a while you know I spend a great deal of time at Trinity Church in Copley Square for a variety of creative reasons. For years I’ve photographed the windows and taken pleasure in researching their stories and encouraging visitors to learn even more through the church’s self-guided and docent-led tours. Coming in June to complement these two opportunities to learn about this National Historic Landmark’s architectural significance will be an audio tour. Especially for friends and family who’ve yet to make it to Boston to see the church for themselves I’m happy to share this sneak peak unveiling the new audio tour that offers a glimpse of the church’s interior beauty and its activities as an active Episcopal parish. Enjoy, and hope you can visit! Promotional video by photographer Rodrigo Larioss.
Well, actually, so much more than just paint on the wall. At work on new scarf, this one based on the murals of Trinity Church. More details soon!
Posted in Inspiration | Tagged apparel, architecture, architecture inspired, art, beauty, color, fashion, Inspiration, Photography, scarves | 3 Comments »
I wrote about it on this blog last year or so ago. Of sitting by the pond in Copley Square on my lunch break. It was a bright sunny day. The surface of the water mirrored all that was around from trees to buildings. But of course the water was clear and so you could see the leaves and other detritus on the pond’s bottom. But the water circulates as well and so things floated on the surface. In the end there was a wonderful layering of light and color that became bright ribbons as the wind added even more motion.
One of those photos is the source of inspiration for this silk chiffon scarf. Now available for purchase here: http://bit.ly/2GcHRIf
Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes | Tagged apparel, artofwhere, beauty, Copley Square fountain, design, digital printing, fashion, Inspiration, nature, Photography, scarves, urban landscape, water, wearable art | 4 Comments »
There was a dandelion by the Mystic too.
Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes | Tagged beauty, dandelions, Inspiration, Mystic River, nature, Photography | Leave a Comment »
![DSCN1507[1]](https://wordsandimagesbycynthia.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/dscn15071.jpg?w=500)
![DSCN1509[1]](https://wordsandimagesbycynthia.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/dscn15091.jpg?w=500)
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes | Tagged birds, Inspiration, Mystic River, nature, Photography, robins, urban landscape | Leave a Comment »
… this floral detail caught my eyes.
Borders define and divide space. Depending on context, borders also complement and accentuate that which they surround. And that is the case with the four 19th century stained glass windows at Trinity Church designed by Burlison and Grylls, of London, England.
The four windows, located along two walls, purchased by four different families in honor of loved ones, depict in rich dark colors six stories from the bible and other illustrations representing faith, patience, fortitude, charity and hope. While the stories vary quite a bit, from Stephen being stoned as the first Christian martyr to Dorcas wrapping her cloak around someone less fortunate, each is framed by the same bold floral pattern.
In vibrant yellow gold, black and white, the borders create a sense of unity among the four windows, illuminating the stories across what could have been a very dark length of space. And they provide design inspiration.
When designing merchandise based on stained glass windows, I tend to deconstruct and then reconstruct. As I sorted through photographs of these windows, I eventually found myself staring at just one flower. And then as I played in GIMP with that one flower it began to grow, and grow, and return to its original self …
and this visual building would continue until something new emerged … a bold new pattern, derived from a wonderful sunlit border, that celebrates the original beauty, and reveals its own bright story in cloth, glass and ceramic.
Merchandise bearing this pattern, including silk chiffon scarf and coaster, will soon be available at the gift shop in Trinity Church located in Copley Square. Meanwhile, see the church windows and their glorious border for yourself. Tour information available here: https://trinitychurchboston.org/visit/tours
Posted in Inspiration | Tagged art, beauty, borders, creative process, design, gift shop, imagination, Inspiration, Photography, stained glass, wearable art | 3 Comments »
In the morning I like to sit at the kitchen table with my coffee and look out the window at the oak tree. In the time I’ve lived in this house it has grown significantly. Its branches have grown long and wide. Throughout the winter I watch the different birds, and squirrels, and occasional raccoon, rest upon its bare branches. But now, as it should be, spring green leaves are finally growing. And even as I relish the transformation taking place in front of me I have to acknowledge that my hallway garden that receives so much light in winter because of bare branches is about to become a shade garden and so I have some plants to creatively move around. 🙂
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes | Tagged indoor gardening, Inspiration, nature, oak tree, Photography, urban landscape | Leave a Comment »
I’m really pleased with the new canvas bag that arrived in the mail featuring a photograph I took of blossoming branches along the Charles River. You can find this tote and others featuring nature images here: http://bit.ly/2qBb3UD
The silk chiffon scarf featuring tree branches along the Mystic River can be purchased at the shop at Trinity Church.
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes, On the Road | Tagged apparel, beauty, fashion, Inspiration, nature, Photography | Leave a Comment »
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Kitchen Inspirations | Tagged fennel, herbs, indoor gardening, Inspiration, Photography | Leave a Comment »
Eventually I had to mute the television. I could not listen to his voice, and so I watched him speak. I watched him gesticulate wildly. I watched him make the schoolboy faces suggestive of a naughty teen making fun of others and which brings out the naughtiness of the other schoolboys who laugh though they mostly know they should know better. But since there’s no one around to hold any of them accountable, why not poke a little fun, right?
I watched the people behind him bathed in his dark light, their own eyes fiercely bright, as they gave praise to that which stood before them … this bold entity that made them feel good! Trump was nothing like them and yet in their minds they saw themselves or what they sought to be. A white man of inherited privilege and of wealth speaking crudely and with malice about all that was not wealthy and white and not American based on a skewed view of what it means to be American.
And what does it mean to be American? What would happen if every member of Congress had to sit and compose a 500-word essay on the subject? The President and V.P. could do it as well. How about everyone who is a member (so far) of the President’s cabinet? Or maybe better yet, as a writing prompt, have them each read the following poem by Emma Lazarus and respond to it in writing. Full sentences. No tweets. No emojis. Wouldn’t that be something to see?
Posted in Inspiration | Tagged Emma Lazarus, freedom, hope, immigration, Inspiration, musing, National Poetry Month, opinion, poetry, refuge, Statue of Liberty | 3 Comments »
Words + Images 