Paideia
Friday, June 11, 2021
Friday, August 9, 2013
Friday Flowers: Hidden Flame
Red Hibiscus |
Another lovely Summer weekend has arrived.
Let's celebrate the day with some verse by John Dryden, born on August 9 (in the Old Style dating), 1631.
"Hidden Flame"
Enjoy!!!
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Who Will Riddle Me the How and the Why
Detail of a sphinx from an Eight-Light Candelabra (c.1785) possibly by Francois Remond |
Here are a couple more images from my recent trip to the Huntington. ;-)
In general, I tend to focus on the fine art, sculpture, and architecture, but the decorative arts on display are exquisite, very rich in detail. These images have a mythological theme, in a pseudo-Egyptian style.
As for the title of this post, it's a quote from Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem, "The 'How' and the 'Why'". I figured that it would be a nice nod to celebrate his birth date, August 6, 1809.
Detail of a lamia(?)from an Eight-Light Candelabra (c.1785) possibly by Francois Remond |
The sphinx and lamia are quite charming, but I find it a bit twisted, even for rococo sensibilities, to put mythical female sociopaths on the furniture. ;-)
Monday, August 5, 2013
Stairways, Multilevel
Stairways in the West Pavilion at the Getty Center |
Yeah, I'm still admiring various staircases around town.
It's been a while since I shared an image of one with you. So, here's a photo of the interior stairs at the Getty Center's West Pavilion, which switches back and forth, elegantly curving along the contour of the wall for three levels, going from the Impressionist paintings at the top to the photography exhibits at the bottom, passing by the decorative arts in the middle. ;-)
Enjoy!!!
Sunday, August 4, 2013
Back at Ground Control
Display of the Rocketdyne Operations Support Center at California Science Center |
Although I said a little while back that I would only be posting "Image of the Day" types of posts, the desire to share a bit more than a pretty picture occasionally gets the better of me. Since I have some time today, here are a few photos from my trip to the California Science Center to view the space shuttle, Endeavour.
It was an impressive exhibit. The various artifacts from the shuttle missions, diverse elements ranging from the "Space Potty" to the Space Shuttle Main Engines, presented a very engaging display of information. Merging the very human concerns of food and digestion with the highly technical elements of space flight, the exhibition was well grounded and very accessible.
The space shuttle Endeavour |
But I was surprised by how wonderful it was to see the actual craft. It's a bit embarrassing to confess, but I got slightly choked up on seeing the Endeavour, feeling a bit of something similar to religious awe. Walking around and under, measuring by stride its length and width, viewing the tiles and surface texture, personally experiencing one of humankind's most remarkable constructs was shockingly vivid.
I'm curious to return again, perhaps sometime after the crowds of Summer. I wonder if this numinous sense of something "transcendent" will persist.
Saturday, August 3, 2013
Friday, August 2, 2013
Friday Flowers: Days of Wine and Roses
White dahlias |
Vitae Summa Brevis
(By Ernest Dowson)
They are not long, the weeping and the laughter,
Love and desire and hate;
I think they will have no portion in us after
We pass the gate.
Love and desire and hate;
I think they will have no portion in us after
We pass the gate.
They are not long, the days of wine and roses:
Out of a misty dream
Our path emerges for a while, then closes
Within a dream
White Dahlia |
After highlighting roses throughout the summer, I couldn't do it again. Instead, our focus is on the "Angel of August", the white dahlia. Symbolic of elegance and dedication, it's an auspicious beauty to start off the month.
So, why the title of this post? We're celebrating the birth date of Ernest Dowson, featuring one of his most famous phrases. Anyways, it's closer to our premise than "gone with the wind". ;-)
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Don't Fear the Shadows
Mantel Clock (c.1780) by Joseph-Leonard Roque |
Another visit to the Huntington means another bunch of art and garden photos for the next few days. ;-)
It'll be fun, a feast for the eyes.
And our birthday musician for the day is Robert Cray, blues guitarist extraordinaire, born on August 1, 1953.
"Don't Be Afraid of the Dark" by Robert Cray
Enjoy!!!
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Sunset with Helicopters
A beautiful view of the sun setting into the Pacific ocean, marred by a couple helicopters |
I figured that we would wrap up the month with this odd photo. I don't know what those 'copters were up to or for what they were looking, but they certainly disrupted the idyllic mood of the lovely sunset. ;-)
Anyways, it has been an interesting month. Let's look forward to the treasures and thrilling adventures that August has in store.
Enjoy!!!
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Altered the Color of My Mind
Detail from a painting by Patricia Chidlaw, part of the Cityscape Show III at George Billis Gallery |
Well, let's allow our mind to dissolve away into the madness of night, with dreams both dark and bright, images both forlorn and hopeful to drive us into another precious day.
And, let's celebrate the birth date of Emily Bronte, born on this date in 1818, with an appropriate song. ;-)
"Wuthering Heights" by Kate Bush
Enjoy!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)