A Gift

Today I received a most unexpected yet perfect gift. My first Moleskines!

“Moleskine Volant Mini (Extra Small) Plain Notebook (Set of 2) (2.5 x 4 inches). The Moleskine Volant Mini Plain (Set of 2) Notebooks, come packed in set of two notebooks consisting of two different shades of the same color, (except in black). Each Volant soft cover notebook has 56 acid free paper, thread-bound pages (28 leaves). The pages are micro-perforated so they can be detached, perfect for loose notes. Red set (1 Red and 1 Burgundy)”

“History: For two centuries now Moleskine® (mol-a-skeen’-a) has been the legendary notebook of artists, writers, intellectuals and travelers. From gifted artists Henri Matisse (1869–1954) and Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890), to poet and leader of the surrealist movement André Breton (1896-1966) to Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961) considered the most influential writer of the last century, to famous travel writer Bruce Chatwin (1940-1989). These notebooks have proven they can withstand the trials of travel and abuses that ensues from normal use. This is the one true trusted travel journal.”

I feel I am in good company. The lovely woman who gave me these notebooks suggested they would be “gr8 for secret note taking @ exhibitions? :-)”

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I heard the owl

I was looking at some of my online profile information recently and I always put down the book “I Heard the Owl Call My Name” by Margaret Craven as my favorite book. I could put down any number of books. Edmund White’s “The Farewell Symphony” perhaps or John Irving’s Hotel New Hampshire. Not very high-brow huh?

All these books are ones that had a huge impact on me at particular points in my life. Another is The Missionaries by Norman Lewis and most that I know of the history of Afghanistan and the surrounding area is from A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush by Eric Newby.

I could go on – but back to the owl book. Read it. Actually read any of the above, but seriously, read Craven and tell me what you think…and don’t look up wikipedia because it gives away the ending. And a good book to read in tandem with it is Beautiful Losers by Leonard Cohen – which I am glad to have recently found a copy of for my shelves.

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Idolatry

I came across this great article about religious art and idolatry and it fitted in with my recently reading about Colin McCahon. Its worth the read. I liked this quote near the end:

“Art in itself cannot change society, but good art, whatever its form, helps us both individually and corporately to perceive reality in a new way, and by so doing, it opens up possibilities of transformation. In this way art has the potential to change both our personal and corporate consciousness and perception, challenging perceived reality and enabling us to remember what was best in the past even as it evokes fresh images that serve transformation in the present. This it does through its ability to evoke imagination and wonder, causing us to pause and reflect and thereby opening up the possibility of changing our perception and ultimately our lives.”
(John W. de Gruchy, ‘Holy Beauty: A Reformed Perspective on Aesthetics Within a World of Ugly Injustice’ in Reformed Theology for the Third Christian Millennium: The 2001 Sprunt Lectures, 14–5).

Colin McCahon From 15 Drawings for Charles Brasch 1951-1952

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Jammin’

I have been listening to the Cultural Icons series of podcasts on Jam Radio. I stumbled across them when I was doing research for the  Barry Brickell book when I found a wonderful interview of Brickell by Hamish Keith.

“Jam Radio of Depot Artspace received significant funding to assist in creating a series of interviews with iconic New Zealanders who have shaped the Auckland arts and culture scene over many years. The Cultural Icons project is being produced over a two-year period, with audio and film from the interviews made accessible online. It includes, amongst others, artists, writers, biographers, actors, arts critics and commentators and features people such as Ian Wedde, David Eggleton, Barry Brickell, Vincent O’Sullivan, Shonagh Koea, Dean Buchanan, Denys Trussell, Martin Edmond, Hamish Keith, Kevin Ireland, Martin Rumsby, the Daughters of ARD Fairburn, Graeme Lay, Rachel Power, Julian McCarthy, Louis Rawnsle and Archie Bowie.”

This is an amazing project and an invaluable resource. I can only hope that the idea takes off or is expanded to other regions.  Today I listened to Par.t II of an interview of Martin Edmond by Hamish Keith – great stuff and there are more on the way.

Just because I like the Bob Marley song and everyone needs more ukulele in their life

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