I recently visited First Church in Cambridge with my camera. Looking forward to sharing what I saw. Have a good Friday!
Posted in Inspiration | Tagged architecture, beauty, churches, faith, Inspiration, Photography, stained glass windows, Tiffany | Leave a Comment »
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my view out the kitchen window on a windy morning
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Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes | Tagged abstract beauty, beauty, Branches, Inspiration, nature, oak tree, Photography, trees | Leave a Comment »
I stepped into another church again. This one also sat in the middle of Dublin’s city centre, this time on Clarendon Street. The website describes St. Teresa’s as a quiet oasis of prayer and that was certainly true. On the streets, people were rushing about but once inside, there was utter quiet.
People entered and wandered into particular chapels to light candles, pray. Perhaps to simply sit and be.
I wandered …
… just enough to “discover” the stained glass.
I didn’t wander long but I didn’t need to in order to see the beauty of the place.
I could find no literature on the tables about the building’s art and architecture.
An eclectic mix of styles accrued over time as tastes vary.
Whatever one’s desire, for prayer, for quiet, to view beautiful art, it is a lovely place for a respite. More about St. Teresa’s on Clarendon Street, Dublin can be found via this link: http://clarendonstreet.com/
Posted in Inspiration, On the Road | Tagged art, beauty, churches, dublin, faith, Inspiration, Photography, St. Teresa, stained glass, stained glass windows, travel | 2 Comments »
It was about 3 miles there by foot, and three miles back, and that’s excluding the times I got lost and had to retrace my steps but it was well worth the visit that had been encouraged by my host.
Glasnevin Cemetery is not old by European standards, having first opened in the early 1800s, but it is significant as a burial place for so many people who were key figures in shaping modern Ireland’s history and culture. It remains an active burial place open to people of all and no religions.
It reminded me of Boston’s Forest Hills and Mount Auburn Cemeteries, with their beautiful and poignant statuary, and a similar commitment to provide current generations access to the history and legacies of those buried through lively tours, books and other media.
My time was limited but I was able to shadow a tour long enough to realize that if I am able to return one day I will schedule time to take the formal tour with one of the knowledgeable guides and then visit the neighboring Botanical Gardens.
Though I chose to walk, public transportation is available. You can learn more about the cemetery, its museum, genealogical services and more via this link: https://www.glasnevinmuseum.ie/
Posted in Inspiration, On the Road | Tagged burial places, cemeteries, dublin, Glasnevin Cemetery, Inspiration, Photography, statuary, travel | Leave a Comment »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
Words + Images 