Hunters in the Snow– painting by Pieter Bruegel the Eider
As we experience the shortest day of the year, Pieter Bruegel the Elder’s painting, “Hunters in the Snow,” is an almost perfect picture of the contrasting scenes we experience this time of year, depicting isolation and melancholy producing a sense that we are being pulled into a silent landscape where the deep drifts of snow where you can “feel the cold and sense the audible dullness as the landscape sucks the sound from every little human vignette.”
His paintings are beautiful because his compositions make one of the opposites, based on Eli Siegel’s principle of aesthetic realism: “All beauty is a making one of opposites, and the making of one of the opposites is what we are going after in ourselves.”
Went looking for faith on the forest floor, and it showed up everywhere. In the sun, and the water, and the falling leaves, the falling leaves of time.
Truth never dies. The ages come and go. The mountains wear away, the stars retire. Destruction lays earth’s mighty cities low; And empires, states and dynasties expire; But caught and handed onward by the wise, Truth never dies.
Though unreceived and scoffed at through the years, Though made the butt of ridicule and jest, Though held aloft for mockery and jeers, Denied by those of transient power possessed, Insulted by the insolence of lies, Truth never dies.
It answers not. It does not take offense, But with a mighty silence bides its time. As some great cliff that braves the elements And lifts through all the storms its head sublime, It ever stands, uplifted by the wise, And never dies.
As rests the Sphinx amid Egyptian sands; As looms on high the snowy peak and crest; As firm and patient as Gibraltar stands, So truth, unwearied, waits the era blest When men shall turn to it with great surprise. Truth never dies.
There’s a section of Highway 93
between Wikieup to Wickenburg —
Joshua Forest Scenic Road.
California has its National Park,
Arizona has its Scenic Road.
This narrow,
hilly two-lane road
is part of our route
to Las Vegas
and Zion National Park
from Tucson.
It’s not easy to stop to take
snapshots of these majestic yuccas — no shoulders and only an occasional
ranch road that sneaks-up on you
while being pushed by speeding drivers
trying to pass you.
On a recent drive
we were able to pull-off
to the fence-line
where others had done the same
leaving behind trashed beer cans —
what a paradox.
The splendor of the Joshua tree
is as unique and identifiable to the
Mohave Desert
as the majestic saguaro cactus
is to the
Sonoran Desert.
One of my favorite places in Tucson is the De Grazia Gallery In The Sun — I go there every chance I get to learn about and admire the work of Ted De Grazia. The gallery is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and houses six permanent collections of paintings that trace historical events and native cultures of the Southwest.
Having just learned of a new book, De Grazia – The Man and Myths, by James W. Johnson and Marilyn D. Johnson, I’m eager to buy it and learn more about De Grazia. In the following video, the authors talk about the making of their book.
Family Visiting the Gallery While In Tucson
The Gallery In The Sun is a must stop for family and friends visiting us here in Tucson.
One of my favorite Ted DeGrazia paintings — Tambolero
De Grazia’s art work overshadows his skills as a musician and composer. A trumpeter, De Grazia had a “big band” orchestra during the 1930’s, which help pay his tuition at the University of Arizona where he earned a Master of Arts with his thesis, “Art and its Relation to Music in Music Education.” One of my favorite De Grazia painting is that of a drummer, “Tambolero,” which brings to mind Steve Gadd, one of the most well-known and highly regarded session and studio drummers in the industry. If you like big band jazz, you will love the following video, Steve Gadd & The Buddy Rich Big Band: Basically Blue.
Photo-Artistry by kenne
West Texas Sunset — Photo-Artistry by kenne
Leaves On A Log — Photo-Artistry by kenne
Desert Mission Scene — Digital Art by kenne
Guest Artist, Katie Turner Bailey
Prickly Pear Blossom — Painting by kenne
Artist In Sabino Canyon — Computer Painting by kenne
De Grazia Gallery In The Sun, Tucson
Family Visiting the Gallery While In Tucson
One of my favorite Ted DeGrazia paintings — Tambolero
Message In a Rainbow — Image by kenne
Golden Columbine — Computer Painting by kenne
Peace Struggles — Image by kenne
Bringing Peace of Mind — Computer Painting by kenne
Manzanita – Little Apple — Image by kenne
