A box of film negatives purchased at a Chicago auction in 2007 by John Maloof, a young real estate agent, may turn out to be the discovery of the Emily Dickinson of Photography. To date, little is known about this private, “keep your distance” excentric. Yet, as the photography world becomes aware of her captivating photos, she quickly becomes a much-admired photographer after her death two years ago. Starting the past Friday, the Chicago Cultural Center has a one-woman show, “Finding Vivian Maier: Chicago Street Photographer.” Only time will tell if Vivian Maier will reach the statue of an Emily Dickinson of Photography, but interest she has already created can’t help but make one wonder.
Here are some links where you can learn more, see some of her work, and judge for yourself:
Michael passed away in early December. He was a gentle person, a musician, and a teacher. Over the years, I have had many opportunities to photograph my friend. Currently, I have to go through my photos to produce a video. — kenne
TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — It’s been just over a year since Old Tucson Studios closed its doors. The famous western attraction shuttered because of the pandemic. Now, after a long and at times secretive process, Pima County is getting ready to announce who will take over the lease.
“The proposal period now has closed and they are actively considering whatever proposals have come in,” said filmmaker and Chair of the Arizona Film Expo, Daryl Mallett.
Mallet was also a member of the Pima County Old Tucson Task Force. They helped in the county’s process of finding the right developer to take over the lease of Old Tucson. Although he doesn’t know who County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry will recommend to the supervisors, he does get a sense the decision will be announced soon. — Source: KGUN9.com
View of Lower Sabino Canyon and the Tucson Basin from Phoneline Trail — Panorama by kenne
On a clear day Rise and look around you And you’ll see who you are. On a clear day How it will astound you That the glow of your being outshines ev’ry star.
You’ll feel part of ev’ry mountain sea and shore. You can hear, from far and near, A world you’ve never heard before. And on a clear day… On that clear day… You can see forever and ever more!
— from On A Clear Day You Can See Forever by Burton Lane and Alan Jay Lerner
This posting contains a poem first written in 2009 and has appeared other times in this blog. I’ve made a few changes to the verse in this posting. — kenne
Yet, some claim the words of poetry, as if anointed announcing to the world, “I know the code!”
Poetry is not code, allowing entrance only to a few fettered and packaged for the scholarly.
In the end, there is no right or wrong answer —
poetry is like dancing, if it feels good,
do it!
— kenne
I wrote this poem, March 2009. Having been part of a literary group that took pride in being a part of the academic establishment. I love poetry. I write poetry. But I take pride in not being a part of the traditional literary establishment, having never taken formal writing classes, preferring…
‘On Connection’ delivers a message worth subscribing to
Author extolls the importance of finding meanings in the little things
Image by JACK PORCARI
“On Connection” by Sunday Times-bestselling author Kae Tempest.
For musician, poet and playwright Kae Tempest, 2020 was a year to ruminate on the small details of life and find meaning in the little things.
In their 2020 book-length essay, “On Connection,” Tempest reveals the dangers of a polarized society out of touch with the deeper elements of life. Drawing from personal experiences, excerpts of Carl Jung’s “The Red Book” and William Blake quotes, Tempest argues that creativity — in any form we define — is a pathway to self-discovery, unity and most importantly, connection.“We have lost each other under this selfless system of hyper-competition,” they write. “Music is the great invigorator. Artists don’t make their work to inspire your collusion, your submission or your consumption of their ideals. They serve a purpose that is higher. Bigger. Deeper. Which is why you feel higher, bigger, deeper as you connect with their output.”
Tempest expresses two prominent themes that call back to Jung’s “The Red Book.” These are the “spirit of the times,” or the egoist elements of oneself, and the “spirit of the depths,” or one’s inner expression of uniqueness. Tempest calls on readers to channel the depths by trying to feel the world around them a little more: they recommend taking a moment to notice the sunset, observe how the people around them are walking in tandem or listen to the sound of life around them:
“So
Put your phone down.
Listen to the birds.
Build a fire in a quiet place.
Pay attention to the details when you kiss your lover.”
Tempest says these small moments give our spirits the guidance they need: “There are many ways to access a more resonant place. It starts by acknowledging that everything is resonating.”
The first time I read “On Connection,” I felt a sudden wave of relief, as if Tempest was accompanying me during my moments of triumph and despair. The book felt less like an essay and more like a roadmap to mindful living; it teaches the reader how to navigate a world that is complex and exploitive, while still being in touch with the beauty of the present moment.
This book-length essay is perfect for anyone looking for a change of pace, something that will make readers think about life in a way they wouldn’t have otherwise. Tempest’s writing extends beyond the page, speaking to the spiritual and human truth that at our core, we are all one.
Tempest meditates on their past as they create a poignant and empowering narrative of self-acceptance. The author artfully weaves their story into the narrative, which opens doors for readers to reflect on the content on a deeper level.
Tempest delivers on their promise of making readers feel a higher, bigger and deeper connection to the truths the author spoke of.
August 19th, 1936 — Federico García Lorca dies. Andalusian poet/dramatist/artist. Murdered by Franco’s fascists. Accused of subversive activity, however evidence today suggests that it was a hate crime in response to his homosexuality. His writings remained censored until Franco died in 1975. Despite this, Lorca became one of the most widely read writers in the world.
Gacela of the Dark Death
I want to sleep the dream of the apples, to withdraw from the tumult of cemeteries, I want to sleep the dream of that child who wanted to cut his heart on the high seas? I don’t want to hear again that the dead do not lose their blood, that the putrid mouth goes on asking for water. I don’t want to learn of the tortures of the grass, nor of the moon with a serpent’s mouth that labors before dawn. I want to sleep awhile, awhile, a minute, a century; but all must know that i have not died; that there is a stable of gold in my lips; that i am the small friend of the West wing; that i am the intense shadow of my tears. Cover me at dawn with a veil. because dawn will throw fistfuls of ants at me. and wet with hard water my shoes so that the pincers of the scorpion slide. For i want to sleep the dream of the apples, to learn a lament that will cleanse me of the earth; for i want to live with that dark child who wanted to cut his heart on the high seas.
Images Source: http://www.vivianmaier.blogspot.com/
Computer Art by kenne
Becoming is Superior to Being 