So excited......The Project Life kit has arrived!!! I got out of the groove the beginning of 2010, but now I am going to get back on track.....A Picture A Day For Life!!!!! You don't realize just how important and interesting your life is, until you document it daily.

Here is the write up I did for my History of Women in Art class. I was unable to find a suitable piece of art at the Bishop Museum (see last blog).

SERENITY'S WINDOW

I have chosen a work of art titled "Serenity's Window", by Sandra Blazel. I was able to view and briefly talk to Ms. Blazel today, in the Hale'iwa Art Gallery. The gallery is located in the small beach town of Hale'iwa at 66-252 Kamehameha Highway, Hale'iwa, Hawaii.

Sandra Blazel grew up in Hawaii, specifically Manoa Valley on Oahu. The landscapes, beautiful plants, flowers, and trees were all part of her everday world. Ms. Blazel graduted from Puahou School in Honolulu, in 1975; from there she headed to the University of California where she majored in Painting, Drawing, and Graphic Arts. Ms. Blazel has received numerous awards and commissions; and continues to create art today. Sandra Blazel describes the content of her art as "old Hawaii"; allowing all that embodies Hawaii to take center stage in her work.

The painting I chose to concentrate on is titled "Serenity's Window". I chose this painting, honestly, because it was able to evoke an instantaneous emotion from me. I was drawn to the shutters. Just seeing the shutters took me back to my childhood visits at my Grandmother's house (I thought only the smell of Ivory soap could do that). My grandmother had similar shutters on her windows, and while the view didn't even come close to what Ms. Blazel portrayed, I remember looking out the window with the shutters swung open in the same fashion.

"Serenity's Window" was created in 2009. The painting was done in acrylics, one of the artist's favorite mediums. The painting is visually realistic; depicting the scene just as it could be in real life, right down to the shadows of the palm fronds that are cast on the shutters. The dark brown on the wall with the white shutters creates a cozy, warm feeling that a home would possess. The landscape outside is not as vivid and bright, lacking the intensity one would normally expect of Hawaiian waters, this makes me believe that the painting is depicting either early morning, or early evening, when the sun is not sitting as high. Coincidentally early morning and early evening are generally viewed as the most peaceful or serene time of the day, playing into the title of the painting. Taking all this into account, I can almost imagine someone sitting in front of the window with a cup of coffee, or a glass of wine (depending upon the time of day) in their hands, and charging up or relinquishing the stress of the day. Another possible reason for the diminished intensity of the water is that of atmospheric perspective, since the water is seen from a distance, it could possibly lack the intensity it contains when viewed closer. Chiaroscuro is used throughout a good portion of the painting, giving the walls and shutters dimension. This allows the viewer to accept the realism of the painting, as it creates a three dimensional mass that a normal window would have. I think there is a gendered interpretation of the subject, and I say this because there is the feeling of a home, versus that of just a house in the painting. There is also some linear perspective in the painting, which allows the viewer to acknowledge the realism. The slant of the windows and how they are sitting next to each other is a realistic view of someone who would be sitting down and to the right of the windows, it almost makes me believe that there could be a third window we don't see, and someone is sitting in a seat in front of it, and has just looked to their left.

I really loved the feeling that came with this painting, and enjoyed the visit to the Hale'iwa Art Gallery. Sandra Blazel has many other great paintings that can be seen by googling her or viewing Hale'iwa Art Gallery's web page at www.haleiwaartgallery.com.

Lost Artist

I had this paper I had to write for my History of Women in Art class. The paper required that I go to a locale museum, view a painting, photo, or drawing by a female artist. Sounds simple enough, right.

I arrived at the museum super early, no traffic that day. So I entertained myself by taking a few pictures outside of the museum. There was this great stone face, reminded me of Easter Island. Then, as usual I got distracted by the great plants, flowers, and trees here in Hawaii. This tree was amazing, It had this huge fruit on it, like the size of cantaloupes. So, of course I took a few pictures of it.

I finally headed inside as the doors were being opened, and was directed to a docent, hoping to have them help me speed up the process. The docent immediately directed me to a piece of art by Meleanna Aluli Meyer, a beautiful painting of a Ku god, done in blues. Unfortunately it was displayed in a part of the museum that does not allow photography, and the painting was done in collaboration with another artist (Soloman Enos), creating almost a mural. I decided against this as my subject, because of the fact it was not a solo work, and because I couldn't photograph it. I did however write all the information down in hopes that someone else had taken a picture of it and posted it out there on the internet. This was in anticipation of maybe needing a Plan B. I posed my dilemma to the docent, hoping that he could direct me towards something else by a female artist; and blow me away, he said that was all there was. I could not believe this, how could there be nothing else there by a female artist? He did tell me to check out the portrait gallery and maybe there might be something there. I headed up to the third floor portrait gallery, where there were some botanical prints that were acquired by women, but did not positively state that they were drawn by a woman, so I continue on. I discovered this beautiful painting titled "'Ulu". 'Ulu is the Hawaiian name for breadfruit, and coincidentally that was the fantastic tree that was out in front of the museum that I was taking pictures of. I decided that this was a sign, this painting was the one I was suppose to use. The painting was done by Margaret Girvin Gillin (1833-1915) ca 1880. I copied the information written under the painting. "Margaret Girvin Gillin was unusual in her time, for she was successful enough as an artist to support her three children as a single parent. A native of Canada, Gillin studied in France before moving to California in 1869. Her time in Hawaii extended from 1880-1884. 'Ulu (breadfruit) trees are known for their beautiful dramatically shaped leaves along with their edible and decorative fruit. This lovely depiction of an 'ulu branch was originally purchased from the artist by Bernice Pauahi Bishop in 1884, it is therefore appropriate that today it is exhibited here in the museum that honors Pauahi's memory."

So I am walking on clouds now, I have my painting, was able to actually take a picture of it, and based on the information given, I was fairly confident that I would be able to find out plenty about the artist and the actual painting on line. Stumbling upon this painting happened rather quickly, so I headed to another portion of the museum, partly because I was there and I couldn't help myself, and partly because I am always looking for Plan B and Plan C.

The Bishop Museum is displaying three very large Ku wooden idols (probably 6 feet tall, not counting the pedestals) . This is the first time they have been reunited in over 190 years so I wanted to check that out as well. You will never guess what was on one of the plaques in front of the statues......"All three images are made of 'ulu (breadfruit) wood, a kinolau, or body form of Ku. Ku is said to have sacrificed himself for the good of his people during a time of famine. From his remains grew the first 'ulu tree, the fruit of which is a staple among many Pacific peoples." I could not believe it, I knew that I could work this into my paper.

I finally get home, and figure I will do some research on the artist. There is nothing out there about Margaret Girvin Gillin!!!! I spent numerous hours on google, images, and web. I went through college databases, art encyclopedias .....nothing. The only thing out there about Margaret Girvin Gillin, is just the connection to the Bishop Museum, and an auction site that is selling a painting by her. This woman supported her family with her art (not an easy task as a woman in the 1800s and early 1900s), where was all the information on her, and her bodies of work. I find that I am very disheartened by this, and it makes me sad that her and her work can not be readily found on this great world wide web that we all use so much. I don't like thinking that she may vanish from the world of art.

Turns out backup plans are a good thing, unfortunatley none of mine worked out. Had to resort to Plan D.......you will have to stay tuned for that.....

Sleep Porch

The sleep porch.....mostly a Southern thing, I think......a screened porch where you would sleep during the summer when it was just too hot inside. I never thought about it much, seen it in movies, pictured it from the pages of many book's story lines.......but never actually slept on one, until moving to Hawaii. Think our upstairs porch (not screened) is actually called a lanai here in Hawaii.....but I prefer to call it our sleep porch (or more aptly our napping porch!). We have no air conditioning at our house....but we do get great tradewinds; today it was a little stuffy so I headed for the "napping porch" with a good book in toe. I kicked back on the chaise, letting the cool breeze spill over me, and followed (envied) Elizabeth Gilbert as she ate her way through Italy .....sweet dreams indeed!!!

Homecoming

Some like the smell of roses.....I prefer the smell of dirty, sweaty soldiers in dirty, sweaty uniforms returning from a year's deployment.

My physical feelings at a homecoming ceremony are not all that different than my physical feelings from the deployment ceremony. I am nauseated, perspiring, and anxious. When he leaves, I make myself sick knowing I have to say goodbye, that it will be a long time till I see him again, and that he will be in harm's way. When he comes home, I make myself sick knowing he will be here any minute (even though his arrival time has changed easily a dozen times), and eager for my empty arms to be filled with that longed for familiar form. We come out in droves; the wives, children, family and friends.....we bring banners, posters, flags, leis; anything we can think of to make our soldier feel loved. Then we wait patiently as our soldiers are marched out in formation, and endure a brief ceremony that no one has any interest in.....because all eyes are scanning to find their soldier. This brief dog and pony show, from what I can recall, consisted of honoring the flag, the soldiers singing a song (for which I know that most of the words out of my husband's mouth were "marshmallow, marshmallow, marshmallow".......because it is what you say when you don't know the words to something.....it gives the appearance that you do), and someone spoke; about what I have no idea, and am willing to bet everyone around me wouldn't be able to tell you either......and then finally our soldiers are released to find their way into their loved one's embrace. We wait an entire year ......for this one beautiful moment.

Intro

The Whole Shabang......that is what I intend on blogging about.....everything and anything that pops into my head.



I am starting this blog, not as a platform for anything, just to write. I like to write, and am currently trying to get myself back into college, hopefully heading towards a BA in Communications, with a minor in Journalism. A mentor of mine, Vivian, asked me how often I was writing. I had no choice but to hang my head and answer (although it was nothing but an excuse) that I was soooooo busy that I didn't have time for it. I know Vivian didn't say much more than I need to start writing......but my conversation with myself goes a little like this: "How can you expect to ever write anything worthy of being read by others if you won't even work on your skill. Athletes, scientists, artists, writers, doctors, musicians, actors.......they don't just happen.......many, many, many years of practice and training go into the creation of something memorable. Stop throwing out time constraints as an excuse......you have the same 24 hours in a day that Einstein (not that you are comparing yourself with him) had; and it's not like you have to produce genius material.....you just need to write something.....anything really.....on a regular basis.....just to build up your skill." .....And THAT led to this Blog!!