Forever Blowing Bubbles…

You all know the way that old tune goes.  My song, if ever I have one, goes…I’m forever sorting photos, tra la la la.

In late 2019, I decided that my current photo sorting system (if indeed, it was a system) was not working.  My plan to stick to location as the guiding principle did not work as well as I had hoped and I began to lose track of exactly where I was in this maze of a collection.  So, the realisation that it would be far gentler on the brain cells if it was sorted by year, slowly began to take shape. 

First of course, were many, many sessions at the altar of YouTubers, many of whom had excellent ideas and helped me to picture what my work-around would mean and how it would look.  I did have a few setbacks though, one of which was to try renaming photos (not a good idea for me, it turned out!) and another was to eliminate all those dreadful photos.  Fine if you’re a professional, not so good for me making travel memories.  To know yourself and have goals is important.

Northern New South Wales coast to deliver a birthday quilt

I began sorting with the earliest backups I had (something else I wasn’t good at) from photos taken in 2004 when I went digital (sort of).  I had managed to lose some from trips away that could now sadly, never be recovered.  There were also successes.  This deep dive into old collections allowed me to find photos missing from a London visit with my cousin and his family.  The biggest problem I had was not fully understanding how Picasa stored original files when edits were made.  So, losses of these originals were many and I’m not sure that all have been found, but at least I’ve tried.  What did really help me sort my photos was to keep original file numbers, if I could.  Order (numerical) in chaos, thankfully.

After the demise of Picasa, I moved on to Lightroom – that’s a whole new level of learning experience for you!  I actually do like its capabilities, enabling me to sort by date and time at a minimum.  And of course, another round of YouTubers to help me become familiar with it.  A special mention should go to the whole Covid experience that ensured, during lockdowns, that I moved forward with this project of 48,000 photos.  Last year, I managed easily to assemble all Year 2022 photos and back them up on multiple hard drives that are set aside just for my photo inventory. 

Adelaide's Art Gallery showcased Textiles
including those by Sera Waters

Of course, I’m still not done yet.  There are many files of photos that need double checking, just to be sure I’ve not missed any.  And one should not forget the boxes and albums of old-school photos and slides awaiting my attention. 

One question though, that I have yet to resolve for myself, is whether to shoot raw.  I’m perfectly happy with JPG for now, and my plan is to eventually make travel photo books for my family.  Another task that awaits is to start editing; selecting the very best from each year and to add family detail that will help future family learn how we lived in the 21^st century (if indeed they can access our digital archives!).  So, for now, I guess it’s back to YouTube then!

Loving a visit to Adelaide to break the photo sorting monotony

A Brush with Fame

I was fortunate to see a travelling exhibition of Spanish Surrealist, Salvador Dali’s works in Dubrovnik.  It was quite refreshing to be allowed to take photos; thankfully someone’s realized the marketing potential of blogs and social media!

Speaking of marketing, Dali’s eccentric behaviour was another golden arrow in his quiver of talents.  In brief, Salvador Dali’s (1904-1989) life story makes for interesting reading.  He was a consummate showman and a great technical artist with a vivid imagination.  One famous quote that resonates for me when viewing his work is simply put: “Intelligence without ambition is a bird without wings.” 

 

Dali’s best known work is perhaps, “Persistence of Memory”, those melting clocks that at once captivate then frighten.  We though, were lucky enough to see the fabulous Mae West lips, translating sexy into functional and, at the exhibition, a range of his captivating prints.  Some were for sale!  My quick talking however failed to make an impression on my “man with the wallet”.  I obviously need to learn more from Dali.

You might enjoy this fabulous site WikiArt.

Captivated by the Dali Exhibition

Plop Art. Seriously?

Just when you think you’ve heard just about everything (Is that really possible in these days of mass media?) I read of an urban sculpture described as “plop” art.  Wiki of course, has a definition but in essence it is public art that does not sit well in its urban environment.  “It’s been just plonked”.  So does that make it bad art?  Or perhaps architects, town planners, city workers etc. are to blame for not making integration easier.  

Seriously though, some of these artistic offerings are causing a little bit of frisson between the relationship of art and architecture, and statements about what is culturally acceptable.  Ah, now that’s more to the point!  So who is making these decisions?

Plop was used to describe Niki de Saint Phalle’s sculptures that enthusiastically grace New York Ave in Washington DC.  Washington is very formal, rather reserved and a tad grey.  That doesn’t mean I didn’t like the place.....  But there isn't a coffee shop on every corner and we did have to walk a fair way to find a restaurant or two, so it wasn’t surprising that at times the streets seemed empty, even dull.   

So, to see these colourful and energetic figures tingling with joie de vivre, almost skipping down New York Avenue was a bit like watching a natural energy (like kids at play or koi at feeding time- you know the kinda thing!).  Strange bedfellows maybe but to me, the works add another dimension to an already complex Washington. 

As to art that has come to a bad end, or bad art that has come to an end - perhaps not!  An acceptable solution I’ve seen for seriously bad art to be preserved for all time (just to make sure we are remembered at our worst) is the MOBA.  No relationship to the MOMA, but what a great way not to take ourselves too seriously.  When you’re done with that, join the queues to visit one of Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museums.  No one could possibly be offended there (because it’s cloaked in four walls?).

(As an aside, plonk used to describe sherry or fortified wine, popular pre-dinner drinks a few years ago.  We Aussies are wine and beer drinkers now, but some still say "it's a bottle of plonk".  Usually a cheap one!  Here's cheers and enjoy a tipple or two for the New Year celebrations.)

Washington: Art & Museums

Washington is awash with museums and it was a difficult choice to make (other than the Textile Museum of course!).  And whilst the lure of the famous Smithsonian was terribly strong, I jumped in at the Women in the Arts Museum. 

I am pleased to say that an artwork by Emily Kingwarree (1916-1996) is in the collection.  Her painting “Yam Story” is inspirational; strong, bright brushstrokes sing over a dark background.  Nearby works by LC Armstrong “Blue Shift” and Valerie Javdon “Ace in the Hole” gave me great ideas and I wanted to start sketching immediately.  A classic sculpture by Barbara Hepworth made me appreciate her talent. The main exhibit was by talented Elisabetta Gut.  She presented 22 Artist Books all focused on recording dreams and memories.  She used symbolism, purposeful signs and engaging metaphors to manipulate her medium of books.  She collaged, constructed book objects (cut-outs etc.) and drew poems that captured, to my mind anyway, the intrinsic qualities of fleeting dreams and vague personal memories.

Textile Art in the Renwick Gallery

The next gallery I visited was the Renwick Gallery with exhibitions of Gaman (Japanese WW2 ephemera) and Timber.  Some of the timber pieces were stunning and I often found myself wondering if indeed they were actually timber, such was their grace and beauty.

Gaman was an exhibit of items created by Japanese (even American born Japanese) during their internment during WW2.  The works were beautiful given what little they had and showed the detainees resourcefulness, even in times of great sorrow.  The piece I could not take my eyes off was a small sleeveless white silk vest.  It had red thread sashiko, a painted tiger on the back and 5 buttons.  

Called “Senninbari”, thousand person stitches, this vest had been knotted by separate individuals to bring good luck, good fortune and long life to its wearer.  The tiger motif symbolised courage.  This vest of a thousand knots was often worn into battle.  In some cases, senninbari could also be a scarf or a sash.  Textiles as charms, full of meaning and ritual.

(Photo from Review)

Back to the Met then off to AFAM

I was going to deal with the Met and AFAM together but… 

I spent another whole day (Sep10) surfing the corridors of the Met in NYC.  Again, it was wonderful and again disappointingly, I only covered so little of it.  This time however, my camera died and all I have to show is a couple of photos of paintings by Surrealist, Yves Tanguy.  So this is my Yves Tanguy story. 

Many years ago (truly) a friend challenged me to depict his favourite poem, “The House of Yves Tanguy” by French Poet Andre Breton (1939).  I had visions of bright stars lying scattered like sequins on a velvety dark "night" – more Vincent Van Gogh style – and had not been able to conceptualise beyond that. A little bit corny and not really textile arty!  Clearly I had not seen any work by Tanguy!

The Met however gave me a real buzz.  This was my opportunity to see up close & personal, Tanguy’s amazing surrealist pieces. Described as some of the strangest paintings ever created, my preconceived ideas were challenged!  So after some thought, I’ve taken up my challenge, again - something decorative; something stimulating; something remote. Mind you, there isn’t a whole lot to show for this revival in interest at the moment other than these photos and the odd bit of surfing to discover what surrealism is all about (and what Breton was on about).  Isn’t it rather odd that Breton, author of automatic writing (writing without deliberate thought) requires, if indeed I am to finish above mentioned challenge, so much research and careful thought!      

Another UFO in the making...although, don't hold your breath!

Arty Business in Portland

I first noticed amazing signage in some of the older towns as we meandered our way up the Atlantic ICW.  Colonial Williamsburg has quite a collection too, strongly supported by the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Collection.  Clearly there is a quite a tradition in the US for making great art out of regular, everyday signs. So, I happily snapped away last year, amassing a collection of signage photos, as we bobbed our way up and down the Maine & New England coasts. 

Perhaps the best I saw, as a whole district effort, was in the old dock area of Portland, ME.  Maybe their interest in arty things is influenced by a nearby Art College and heaps of students about town (creative minds sporting colourful tattoos and body piercings).  The historic dock area with cobbled streets and converted warehouses has quite an exhibition of signage and some thought-provoking street sculpture. 

Whist I’m recommending Portland, we enjoyed a pint at Gritty’s then an excellent curry (the real thing – no relation to food hall atrocities) round the corner at Passage to India.  Yum!

So, in all it was worth our while to "look up" as we walked the streets of Portlands historic port area.  We recommend you do too!