Art Changes Lives (Dot) Com

The Urban Environment, originally uploaded by shadow_mason.

At the Hirshhorn, I learned about an artist that I didn’t know–Yves Klein. His work really intrigued me. According to the Hirshhorn exhibition catalog–he is self-identified as “the painter of space,” and he sought to achieve immaterial spirituality through pure color.

I found a prayer he must have recited to his higher power and patron saint. Due to the limited space permit me to paraphrase, “May you live in my works so that they may become more beautiful and that I may discover regularly new things in my art–may all that emerges from me be more beautiful.”

This brought back memories of the relationship I had with my higher power when I was young… was nice to be reminded. Really appreciated the discovery.

I know… the dangers here with the word beautiful but substitute any word that is more relevant to you and your work.

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Skies over the National Mall, originally uploaded by shadow_mason.

I am in Deale on an internet connection that cuts in and out for an internet junky this is very frustrating. Sadly, just wrote the most intelligent blog posting that I have ever mustarded up… and lost it.

In short, it was about all this sky images I have been posting. Skies over this and that… I am really questioning why I am so enthralled with all these backlit or sky shots. I guess bottom-line, I am still questioning our perception of reality and our unique experience of it. I look into my cat’s eyes and wonder… knowing she is a conscious character that breathes the same air. Is totally aware of my presence but reacts to her environment differently. We are vessels … each of us separated by our physiology, our mental capacity and environment.

Got to see a James Turrell work of art yesterday at the Hirschhorn and I had confirm with the guard what I already knew. I asked, “The room that I see… is not the shape of the room that I am in, is it?”

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PA — Train Ride, originally uploaded by shadow_mason.

The ride from the Twin Cities was wonderful and gave me a chance to decompress. There was no internet along the way but guess that was good too–no e-mails. Amtrak’s routes are beautiful and sitting in the upper passenger compartments gives you a perfect vantage point to see the country.

It stormed through the entire state of Ohio and the lightening put on a great lightshow. We reach Pittsburgh about 5 a.m. and we able to experience the river valleys and the rolling hills of PA. We zigzagged through the states of Maryland and W.V. Last stop in W.V. was John Brown’s hometown–Harper’s Ferry.

Steven picked me up in D.C. and we had a great home cooked meal. Damn it was hotter than Hades D.C. and today every bit as hot. All in all having a great time.

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Surfside at home, originally uploaded by shadow_mason.

Wonderful time with our niece, Erin, and Michael. A bit a hiking and lots of R and R. The weather has been great. We went to Grand Marais for breakfast at the Angry Trout. Still playing with back-lighting and ground vegetation. Great for being outside and playing with a camera. Found this quote and one of RSS feeds I am following… seems appropriate.

Working trying to decide which photos I might keep to upload but need another day or two with them. I am getting in the habit of deleting the images that are not up to the quality I need. I am rejecting these images in part due to the composition but lighting focus are coming more and more into play.

“Work is more fun than fun.” ~ Noël Coward

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Harriet walk, originally uploaded by shadow_mason.

Over exposed under exposed… having some fun. The summer has been terrific. Have two great classes… Everyone is working their heart out. Only a couple more weeks then off to D.C. and New York. Stumbled across Frank Chimero work on the web. Wonderful site and he offers some great insights. The latest he offers his thoughts on critics and I as the chief critic in my classroom this caused me to pause and think.

“We risk very little, yet enjoy a position over those who offer up their work and theirselves to our judgment. We thrive on negative criticism, which is fun to write and to read, but the bitter truth we critics must face is that in the grand scheme of things the average piece of junk is probably more meaningful than our criticism designating it so.”–Frank Chimero’s blog.

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Harriet walk, originally uploaded by shadow_mason.

Interesting photo not sure what appeals to me. The lens flare catches my eye and then of course the contrast between the darker areas of green and the texture of leaves. I am wrestling with a few more I took on that trip. I will be uploading them as the days pass. . Definitely prefer it larger size. Heading to my parents this afternoon… funny thing about blogs. Can’t talk about anyone but yourself or your feelings… one would like to use this as a journal but really can’t.

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Working with Mike in the yard… it is an exceptional day. Warm and beautiful. Getting ready for a weekend filled with family. My folks tomorrow and Laura ad Joe’s on Sunday. Maybe even fireworks. Even got some prep work done for my Web Layout and Design class. Off to buy some boards for the fence.

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