“The real issue is not talent as an independent element, but talent in relationship to will, desire, and persistence. Talent without these things vanishes, and even modest talent with those characteristics grows.” — Milton Glaser
Tuesday evening, we went to see Bob Dylan at the Casino Del Sol AVA Amphitheater. When I listen to Dylan’s music, many images come to mind. One such image is the Dylan poster by Milton Glaser, which in turn reminds me of a line from the Chronicle’s Rick Mitchell’s review several years ago of Bob Dylan’s CD, “Time Out of Mind,” in which Mitchell said the title should have been, “Mind Out of Time!” I felt like writing the Houston Chronicle to express my disagreement, but I didn’t. However, in Dylan’s live performance, there are times when I began to think Rick was correct.
If you, like I, appreciate the work of Milton Glaser, then you will enjoy the 2008 documentary Milton Glaser: To Inform & Delight, which is now out on DVD.
“I [internalized] this idea that it didn’t matter whether I was called an artist or a designer or an illustrator or whatever else it was. The core value was always the act of making things, and the transformation of an idea that you hold in your mind that becomes real or material. That, to me, still is the glory of any creative activity.” ~ Milton Glaser
Glaser and Dylan are both real artists, regardless of what each may be called. Each in their own way is making things that inform and delight.
Looking back, I’m unsure which of us may have experienced the most anxiety. One might think it would be the cat (Kika), but Joy would probably argue that point. We had arrived in Tucson 36 hours before the moving van, so after unpacking the cars, we headed over to the Windmill Suites in St. Phillips Plaza for the night.
You might ask, why 53 weeks out rather than one year — I miscalculated, thinking we had arrived on the 28th rather than the 21st. Regardless, a lot has happened in the last 53 weeks, so much so it could be a short story. When all things are considered, we have done a lot to create a new home with the basics of life — friends, acquaintances, and circles of connectivity. Looking back, it amazes us how what we have been able to accomplish in 53 weeks — if only we had more visitors.
We are now looking forward to year two in the desert southwest, which will include more settling in contrasted with more traveling. The following poem is titled “Birthday,” but could have very easily been titled “Life.”
Turned around, Here am I. Knowing how, Not the why.
Young in heart Old in age. Feeling the itch, Pacing the cage.
Inner peace, Knowing the thou. Learning to write Thesis of now.
Turned around, Found love. Living the moment, Free as a dove.
Still learning, When to talk. Listening for, Beat of the walk.
Reality is now, Truth in the heart. Singing the knowledge, Requiem to smart.
Turned around, Found beauty in art. Traveling the future, With Dylan and Descartes.
“Self” — Image by kenne
Life Is A Dove of Painted Colors — Image by kenne
