inspiring things | 11

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Speaking of book design, I am all about these newly designed covers for five works by Flannery O'Connor, completed by Charlotte Strick and June Glasson. The Paris Review shows the sketch-by-sketch development of the designs and earlier editions' covers, as well. I think Mystery and Manners is my favorite redesign (and, perhaps also my favorite O'Connor book).

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inspiring things | 10

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I am in Washington D.C. for the day, and I made my way to the National Museum of Women in the Arts precisely to see a tiny exhibit on the fifth floor: Vanessa Bell's illustrations for Hogarth Press and Virginia Woolf (Bell's sister). There were probably only 6-8 books exhibited, but I love them all. 

Also, this, from Eric Gill: 

"That if you look after goodness and truth beauty will take care of itself, is true in both worlds. The beauty that industrialism properly produces is the beauty of bones; the beauty that radiates from the work of man is the beauty of holiness."

flowing in both directions

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This is a creative project I completed for a course on Biblical Bodies in the Old Testament. You can read my artist statement here. The audio recordings are not as high-quality as I would like (for lack of better equipment), but I am working with a professor to turn these scripts into a live reading and panel discussion at DDS at some point in the future.

I am spending some quiet days in my Durham apartment before packing up and leaving for the summer. The walls are bare and white now, and I am slowly moving all my books into boxes that are too heavy to carry down the stairs. Most of my friends have left for their field-education placements for the summer, so I am at loss with how to spend my time most days. I go on runs (attempting to train for that half-marathon), read some (currently: An Essay on Typography by Eric Gill), wander the farmer's market, spend too much time on the internet, and cook elaborate dinners for myself. Last night was golden beets, fennel, and kale with brown rice and feta.

Other things, lately:

A Few Good Reasons to Drop Out of Art School.

Gentler by Aaron Belz.

These cups from East Fork Pottery, one of which Anna gave me, and which I love.
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Alfonse Borysewicz, Holy Thursday, 2009-2014, oil & wax on linen.
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Paul Gauguin, Self-Portrait with Yellow Christ, 1890-1891.
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after this our exile

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Someone told me recently that the hardest part about the post-graduation life of an art major is to learn to say, "I am an artist and this is what I make." So here's to practicing: I am an artist, and this is what I've been making. It's called After This Our Exile and it's a combination of video and installation work. (Don't ask me why. It's all new to me and I never thought I'd be doing this for my senior show. But some things just work.) Come see it in Adams Hall. All are welcome to a little celebration / opening reception on Friday, February 21, 7-9pm. Maybe there will be music. There will definitely be fancy cakes. I'd be grateful to have you there.

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inspiring things | 4

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Hrabanus Maurus, Liber de Laudibus Sanctae Crucis, mid-ninth century.

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inspiring things | 2

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Rembrandt van Rijn, The Three Crosses, 1653.
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inspiring things | 1

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Today's inspiration: Agnes Martin. Oh gracious. I could stare at these all day. They remind me that sometimes you must create what you think is beautiful, even if it seems to have no purpose. A collection of lines and colors can have more purpose than we think. I think the world needs more abstract expressionists.

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the return of the dove

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John Everett Millais, The Return of the Dove to the Ark, 1851

I miss the afternoons in Oxford when I'd climb the steps to the third floor of the Ashmolean and sit in front of this painting for an hour or two. I just kept going back to this one, even though the air conditioner vent was right next to it and made an awful noise. Something drew me in, something about possessive hope, something like the persistent widow. Whatever that is, I want it.

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swings upon the hours

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Last month Derek and I went to NYC for the day and visited Ann Hamilton's installation The Event of a Thread at the Park Avenue Armory. It was like an indoor playground for both children and child-like adults, the type of place where there is no guilt for being happy. And it reminded me that this is the kind of art I want to make: art that presents strange new worlds.

"The Soul has moments of escape--
When bursting all the doors--
She dances like a Bomb, abroad,
And swings upon the Hours."
[Emily Dickinson]

[pictures from the armory, last one by derek]
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great waters fell from heaven

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Spending the weekend in Cincinnati with Em and Torunn: driving through windmill-land, listening to Josh Ritter and Dolly Parton, snuggling all three together in a double bed, eating Gram's best banana bread, lazy mornings spent laughing and drinking coffee, writing essays about the Haitian Revolution, etc.

In other thoughts: we talked in Renaissance Art last week about this watercolor by Durer and I cannot get it out of my mind, especially the words Durer wrote about the dream that inspired the painting.

Sometimes my dreams and hopes just seem fuzzy and obscure, like this watercolor. And that, I think, is why I find Durer's words especially profound: May the Lord turn all these things to the best.

Because, in the end of things, I find those are the only words left to say.
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