November 13, 2017 by Cynthia
Between the coastal waters, the River Liffey and all the various bodies of water to be found in green places like St. Stephen’s Green, birds are to be found everywhere, and most wonderfully so … though local folks do mention that there may be a problem with seagulls in the city. I recognized a few … the mallards, the herons, the gulls, the swans, and the lovely, loud magpies.
The most surprising capture was walking the trails of the University College Dublin-Belfield campus, getting lost, crossing a bridge, peering through some branches at a stream below and seeing this …
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes, On the Road | Tagged beauty, birds, dublin, Inspiration, nature, Photography, travel, urban landscape, wildlife | 1 Comment »
November 12, 2017 by Cynthia
You have only to do an online search for “street art” and “dublin” to discover the backstory as well as the ongoing evolution of graffiti arts in Dublin, Ireland. One of my favorite quick reads was this 2014 article: https://untappedcities.com/2014/02/24/the-evolution-of-dublins-street-art-scene/
Even on the cloudiest days, art brightens the city. I expect that one could orchestrate a whole tour of the city focused on street art and the artists who produce the very diverse works. It can be found up high …
and down low …
there’s the fun …
and the poignant.
There appeared to be few limits on presentation given this sculptural figure on a wall.
More so than any other city I’ve been in, Dublin with its art everywhere made me want to put away my phone and to truly look around me. You never knew what you might see.
Posted in Inspiration, On the Road | Tagged art, creativity, culture, dublin, graffiti, grafitti, imagination, Inspiration, Photography, street art, travel | 3 Comments »
November 7, 2017 by Cynthia
It will take awhile for me to download all of the pictures taken during this road trip once more to Dublin, Ireland but one image that I do want to share is of these trees painted on the restaurant window of di luca wines & trattoria. A local artist works with the restaurant to change the window scene. After I am gone the window will become more winter themed though these white trees do remind me of winter. We were lucky enough to get a table at this restaurant. Food was great and the people, both staff and other diners, were wonderful. If you have chance, do visit: https://www.diluca.ie/
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Kitchen Inspirations, Nature Notes, On the Road | Tagged art, beauty, creativity, decoration, di luca wines & trattoria, drawing, dublin, Inspiration, Photography, restaurants, travel, trees | 3 Comments »
November 6, 2017 by Cynthia
To see the painting of the girl and her dog up close, a painting rather different than so many of Gainsborough’s other portraits … very moving.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Gainsborough
Posted in Inspiration, On the Road | Tagged creativity, Gainsborough, Inspiration, ireland, National Gallery of Ireland, painting, Photography, portraits, travel photography | Leave a Comment »
November 6, 2017 by Cynthia
The poem, Song of the Mad Prince, was part of Walter de la Mare’s collection Peacock Pie (1913). Clarke dresses his prince in an Elizabethan style as he stands before his mother and father. A variety of colors and tones are achieved by plating and etching of two planes of glass. It is a small piece actually with a custom case of walnut produced for a friend and patron of Clarke, Thomas Bodkin, who at one point was Director of the National Gallery of Ireland.
Sources and Additional Reading
http://onlinecollection.nationalgallery.ie/objects/2389/the-song-of-the-mad-prince
https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/song-of-the-mad-prince/
Posted in Inspiration | Tagged creativity, dublin, Harry Clarke, Inspiration, National Gallery of Ireland, Photography, stained glass, strange beauty, travel, travel photography | 3 Comments »
November 5, 2017 by Cynthia
I’ve long known of Harry Clarke and his illustrations and during previous trips to Dublin I learned of his work in stained glass, like at Bewley Cafe, but for this trip I was a bit by the seat of my pants and so I did not know there was some of his glass on exhibit at the National Gallery. And as we chanced upon his work, a docent for the museum led in a group and began to talk about why Clarke was so special in his use of layered glass for jeweled effect and his use of dark colors to direct the eyes of the viewer to the lighter glass to see what he wanted you to see. One window on view was the Mother of Sorrows, depicting the story of Mary holding the lifeless body of her son.
According to an accompanying curatorial note, the window had been designed as a WWI memorial but instead became a memorial to Sister Superior Mary of Saint Winifred who had commissioned it.
In addition to Mary holding Jesus, St. Francis stands to one side and St. Catherine on the other.
And always angels looking on.
The window is currently on view at the National Gallery. Entrance is free (though not all exhibits are free).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Clarke
https://www.nationalgallery.ie/
Posted in Inspiration | Tagged beauty, colors, creativity, dublin, Harry Clarke, Inspiration, Photography, sorrow, stained glass, stained glass windows, travel, travel photography | 1 Comment »
November 5, 2017 by Cynthia
Detail from The Startled Bird (1961) by painter Norah McGuinness on view in Dublin at the National Gallery of Ireland. Many beautiful works in the building but the colors and textures of this painting especially caught my eyes.
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes, On the Road | Tagged birds, colors, creativity, dublin, Inspiration, National Gallery of Ireland, Norah McGuinness, painting, Photography, travel | 1 Comment »
November 4, 2017 by Cynthia
… and so we walked into the Church of the Assumption Howth. Howth is a fishing village east of Dublin and easily accessible via DART, the public rail transportation system. We were walking, quite frankly trying to find another destination, when we noticed a church and though there did not immediately appear to be stained glass inside we took a chance and entered. Built in 1899, the church was designed by William H. Byrne. Not every church needs stained glass windows but it was a pleasant surprise to venture far enough inside to see the three apse windows dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
The sequence begins with the angel Gabriel announcing to Mary that she is bear a son.
The next features the Assumption of Mary into heaven, based on text from Revelation 12, her body and soul raised up to heaven.
And finally Jesus placing the crown of Queen of Heaven on Mary’s head. She gazes down on humanity while angels keep watch from a sky full of stars.
A quick, lovely, unexpected visit. You can read more about the village of Howth here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howth
You can learn more about the church here: http://www.howthparish.ie/heritage
Posted in Inspiration, On the Road | Tagged architecture, art, beauty, faith, Inspiration, ireland, Photography, stained glass, stained glass windows, travel, travel photography | Leave a Comment »
November 2, 2017 by Cynthia
I’m in the mood to plan a winter garden. I think in the coming week that is one of the things I shall endeavor to do in one of my blank notebooks. Design a garden. Now planning such a garden, and even implementing it, will in no way save the world or “fight the powers that be” but it will center me and that’s important for when I am ready to deal with the insanities of this world through words or images, my pocketbook or my vote.
I did garden this past spring and summer. It was a hodge podge, not a great failure, but not quite the success of previous years. Even so I did find joy in cooking with the fresh herbs and even in watching their beautiful decay when I would forget to water them. Ahem.
Growing lavender indoors was a spur of the moment experiment. Not wholly successful but still growing and smelling delightful. That’s the plant I unfortunately watered too much. But I’m learning.
Part of the winter garden will include the geraniums given as a gift by a young friend not knowing that I mostly grow herbs inside. The red petals, when fresh and now dried, brighten several rooms and I hope they will do so this winter. We’ll see …
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes | Tagged beauty, garden design, gardening, indoor gardening, Inspiration, Photography, plants | Leave a Comment »
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