I am 3 days from my journey, and 4 days from my arrival. I find myself overwhelmed with the uncertainty of it all, which got me to thinking:
Why do I waste my time worrying about the things I can't control as if I'm ever in a situation where I have complete control?
Sometimes I forget how little I am and I struggle to see beyond myself. I'm there now. So once again, I'm left thinking "I need this." I need this.
I will attempt to update the progress of my trip here. Not much is charted, so its hard to say how often I will get on....it could be daily. It could be once I'm back in the states. Whatever the case I will not deprive you of pictures and a story or two.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Simply amazing
I have a friend who inspires me, his art is absolutely amazing and his technique is genius. I was searching the web and found his old blog (that had been abondened after only 4 posts). His last post has stuck with me since I've read it. I will copy it below...
For more information on the artist, visit:
www.bramblitt.net
Jacqi and I delivered paintings last weekend for a show that I'm having in Lake Charles, LA, and today we hung some paintings for a show that I'm having at the Loophole here in Denton. At both places they asked me where I learned to paint, and I told them that I learned to paint originally from the creative writing courses that I take at UNT, and the response was, "oh, so you are self-taught." Not that they were being disparaging in any way, but I'm asked that question a lot and it got me to thinking.
I explained my feelings that, as far as I have seen, art classes and writing classes cover a lot of the same material, and that in my opinion I have had some excellent art classes -- I just wasn't holding a brush at the time. The terms used are often different, a foil in literature is a term used when two characters have qualities that offset each other and intensify the qualities in each other - like the brave hero of the story who may have a cowardly sidekick. In painting the term of this concept is complementary colors, where one color is in stark contrast to another color and therefore intensifies both -- such as when red is placed next to green. The truth is that if you were to read a book on painting theory and one on writing theory at the same time you might feel as if you're reading the same book.
One thing that I hear over and over again in books on both painting and writing is that you can't be taught how to paint or write creatively. The only way to learn is through doing; books and classes are important because they give you ideas, but the ideas do you no good if you never put them into practice. To me this means that everyone is self-taught on a very real level. If a person could master material by just signing up for a class then every student would be an expert in every class that they attended. We know that this is not true, that to make a good grade you have to put in the effort. I think that sometimes people get confused and feel that that the school is more important, but I feel that it is the effort that is most crucial.
I have another problem with the idea that in order to excel in something you have to be taught it first, and that is when someone is doing something completely new. If I had to wait for someone to teach me to paint I would have waited a lifetime. There are no visual arts schools for the visually impaired, at least not yet. I think that instruction is important, I plan to teach someday myself, I just don't think the emphasis should be on the teaching, but rather on the learning.
For more information on the artist, visit:
www.bramblitt.net
Jacqi and I delivered paintings last weekend for a show that I'm having in Lake Charles, LA, and today we hung some paintings for a show that I'm having at the Loophole here in Denton. At both places they asked me where I learned to paint, and I told them that I learned to paint originally from the creative writing courses that I take at UNT, and the response was, "oh, so you are self-taught." Not that they were being disparaging in any way, but I'm asked that question a lot and it got me to thinking.
I explained my feelings that, as far as I have seen, art classes and writing classes cover a lot of the same material, and that in my opinion I have had some excellent art classes -- I just wasn't holding a brush at the time. The terms used are often different, a foil in literature is a term used when two characters have qualities that offset each other and intensify the qualities in each other - like the brave hero of the story who may have a cowardly sidekick. In painting the term of this concept is complementary colors, where one color is in stark contrast to another color and therefore intensifies both -- such as when red is placed next to green. The truth is that if you were to read a book on painting theory and one on writing theory at the same time you might feel as if you're reading the same book.
One thing that I hear over and over again in books on both painting and writing is that you can't be taught how to paint or write creatively. The only way to learn is through doing; books and classes are important because they give you ideas, but the ideas do you no good if you never put them into practice. To me this means that everyone is self-taught on a very real level. If a person could master material by just signing up for a class then every student would be an expert in every class that they attended. We know that this is not true, that to make a good grade you have to put in the effort. I think that sometimes people get confused and feel that that the school is more important, but I feel that it is the effort that is most crucial.
I have another problem with the idea that in order to excel in something you have to be taught it first, and that is when someone is doing something completely new. If I had to wait for someone to teach me to paint I would have waited a lifetime. There are no visual arts schools for the visually impaired, at least not yet. I think that instruction is important, I plan to teach someday myself, I just don't think the emphasis should be on the teaching, but rather on the learning.
Monday, November 10, 2008
art in its rawest form
Saturday I went to Temple Beth Shalom in Austin for Nic's Bar Mitzvah. Absolutely everything I know about the Jewish faith has come from my 10 year friendship with CiCi, and even then I realized Saturday that I don't know much. So I sat in the synagogue holding my prayer book upside down and backwards wondering what I was about to witness.
At 13 Nic can read, speak, and write in Hebrew. He spoke with such eloquence and confidence I was a proud "mom." I remember how painful it was for him to do his studies, but how easily it came to him. It was amazing that Saturday was a testament to his hard work.
During the Bar Mitzvah the Rabbi brought in the Torah and handed it to Nic's grandfather, who handed it to his grandmother, who handed it to his mother, and then to his father. It was then that the Torah was handed from Nic's father directly to Nic. Nic, who stands maybe 5'2 and probably 100lbs, was there holding up the massive weight of the Torah. Leaned against his chest and resting on his right shoulder, he carried the weight through the seats of family and friends, who would touch the Torah with their tallit or their prayer book. After he had circled the room he brought the Torah to the front altar and read Genesis 12:1-6, 15:1-5, and then Isaiah 41:8-14, all read in Hebrew. Following the readings Nic gave his thoughts on what he had read, which was then followed by the Rabbi's comments.
The symbolism of it all had me in tears.
Jordan (Nic's younger sister) and I used to play a game. We would get a blank piece of paper and I would draw an arbitrary design, Jordan would copy my act by creating her own design on top of mine. It would be my turn again and I would repeat the process just as Jordan would. Gradually our designs would intertwine and would develop into a picture. Initially our actions were based off of what each of us saw in the picture, however as the size and details of the designed progressed it would eventually form into something we both recognized, it was at that point that we would take turns adding the details to finalize our picture.
At 13, Nic is no longer that blank piece of paper, he has a foundation of where he stands and who he is, and now over time he will have friends, peers, strangers, and family all come in and out of his life leaving their own impression. At times Nic's interactions may alter his beliefs, while at others it will strengthen them, however each will play an important role in the ultimate determination of who he is and what he stands for. This is what I took from the Bar Mitzvah at least...
At 13 Nic can read, speak, and write in Hebrew. He spoke with such eloquence and confidence I was a proud "mom." I remember how painful it was for him to do his studies, but how easily it came to him. It was amazing that Saturday was a testament to his hard work.
During the Bar Mitzvah the Rabbi brought in the Torah and handed it to Nic's grandfather, who handed it to his grandmother, who handed it to his mother, and then to his father. It was then that the Torah was handed from Nic's father directly to Nic. Nic, who stands maybe 5'2 and probably 100lbs, was there holding up the massive weight of the Torah. Leaned against his chest and resting on his right shoulder, he carried the weight through the seats of family and friends, who would touch the Torah with their tallit or their prayer book. After he had circled the room he brought the Torah to the front altar and read Genesis 12:1-6, 15:1-5, and then Isaiah 41:8-14, all read in Hebrew. Following the readings Nic gave his thoughts on what he had read, which was then followed by the Rabbi's comments.
The symbolism of it all had me in tears.
Jordan (Nic's younger sister) and I used to play a game. We would get a blank piece of paper and I would draw an arbitrary design, Jordan would copy my act by creating her own design on top of mine. It would be my turn again and I would repeat the process just as Jordan would. Gradually our designs would intertwine and would develop into a picture. Initially our actions were based off of what each of us saw in the picture, however as the size and details of the designed progressed it would eventually form into something we both recognized, it was at that point that we would take turns adding the details to finalize our picture.
At 13, Nic is no longer that blank piece of paper, he has a foundation of where he stands and who he is, and now over time he will have friends, peers, strangers, and family all come in and out of his life leaving their own impression. At times Nic's interactions may alter his beliefs, while at others it will strengthen them, however each will play an important role in the ultimate determination of who he is and what he stands for. This is what I took from the Bar Mitzvah at least...
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
starting with a string instrument...ending in another country?
The order was placed and a mere five days later it arrived. Jon Bowermaster's latest book, "Descending the Dragon." I was surprised that the book was not a few hundred pages as hoped for, it has a meek 140 pages, and even then some pages are deprived of text and instead have magnificent photographs of Vietnam. I am not disappointed.
The book was to be saved for my trip, but the size was bigger than I had imagined. It does fit in my purse, but then, what doesn't? I convinced myself it was best I read it now. I will work on my patience later.
I quickly fall in love with books about travel. Donald Miller has a book called "through painted deserts," which apparently was his first attempt at writing a Christian novel, but as he later describes, instead it was just a book about his travels and God played his normal role in the background. The theme I liked most in the book was that much of his travel was uncharted until he was in the moment. The same applies for Jon Bowermaster: he wanted to reshape Americans view of Vietnam and more importantly, wanted to reshape the Vietnamese view of Americans. His destination was set, his limitations implemented from the government, and the rest was just to see what happens. I love that.
So in my typical fickle fashion, I now want to work for National Geographic. Yup...what a dream. I've never wanted to travel until now. Correction: I've always wanted to travel, I've just never been willing to give up the comforts on my extra plush bed, my sweet dog, my late night television, and my familiar surroundings. I suppose I'll need a talent now: I imagine it shouldn't be too hard to master AP (erasing APA will probably be more difficult), maybe learn how to work a camera (once attempted and quickly put down), get a degree in international relations..learn a couple new languages... what do I need to do to get there? I figure I could start on something even if to put it down a couple weeks later. I think my bachelors will help. Yes...surely I'm on the right track.
PS, Robin doesn't know this yet but I'm getting my violin soon. Yup, he is going to find it in his heart to let me make this purchase...more importantly, he is going to give in and deal with having to listen to me learn. If I can learn how to play violin, surely I can travel with national geographic. Right? .... Right?
The book was to be saved for my trip, but the size was bigger than I had imagined. It does fit in my purse, but then, what doesn't? I convinced myself it was best I read it now. I will work on my patience later.
I quickly fall in love with books about travel. Donald Miller has a book called "through painted deserts," which apparently was his first attempt at writing a Christian novel, but as he later describes, instead it was just a book about his travels and God played his normal role in the background. The theme I liked most in the book was that much of his travel was uncharted until he was in the moment. The same applies for Jon Bowermaster: he wanted to reshape Americans view of Vietnam and more importantly, wanted to reshape the Vietnamese view of Americans. His destination was set, his limitations implemented from the government, and the rest was just to see what happens. I love that.
So in my typical fickle fashion, I now want to work for National Geographic. Yup...what a dream. I've never wanted to travel until now. Correction: I've always wanted to travel, I've just never been willing to give up the comforts on my extra plush bed, my sweet dog, my late night television, and my familiar surroundings. I suppose I'll need a talent now: I imagine it shouldn't be too hard to master AP (erasing APA will probably be more difficult), maybe learn how to work a camera (once attempted and quickly put down), get a degree in international relations..learn a couple new languages... what do I need to do to get there? I figure I could start on something even if to put it down a couple weeks later. I think my bachelors will help. Yes...surely I'm on the right track.
PS, Robin doesn't know this yet but I'm getting my violin soon. Yup, he is going to find it in his heart to let me make this purchase...more importantly, he is going to give in and deal with having to listen to me learn. If I can learn how to play violin, surely I can travel with national geographic. Right? .... Right?
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