Sunday, August 25, 2013

moments

I am having one of those moments when I realize my life has been cast with it's players and over half of it has played out.  That it moves on with or with out my input.  Some days, some moments, I wonder why.  Why to most questions asked.  But then it's time to move on to other moments.  Sigh.  I like looking at rust.  This rust took some time to happen.  It is beautiful.  It makes me happy that it had it's time to develop.  That it had it's opportunity to have a history.  Now I can gaze upon it and enjoy its rich color in my moment...while I contemplate. K~








Friday, August 23, 2013

life in .5 second moments

As usual, I sit on my blogs because they never seem finished.  I really don't know why I write them, or frankly who I am writing too. Well that's not true, I am really not writing to anyone, I am writing to myself and for myself.  Sometimes I post them to facebook, because feedback may be nice, or, I just feel lonely that day, or sometimes, it's got not real reason behind it.  This topic I have been sitting on for about a week now. I feel like I want to develop more of my thought and then hit the button.  I will probably ruminate more on it as the days and weeks go on.  It seems to be a theme for me as I hit middle age.

So I was listening to MPR today (a week ago) for just a few moments.  I was on my way WRC.  There was something said that resonated with me.  Someone was talking about a website that someone can create 6 second videos... The Vine.  It is catching interest around the media world. It's the "new big thing".  Actually to be honest it is intriguing.  As an artist, I think it is a fascinating medium. And of course like MPR they had another person speak about how he appreciated blogging.  He didn't like seeing the human attention span getting shorter and shorter to where now it is measured in seconds. Soon it would be measured in point seconds.  

It is odd that this was on, because it is something that I have been thinking about lately.  I balance most of my day between bullet points and long drawn out memos. I spend most of my days alone.  I don't socialize much.  I see people on a regular basis on Wednesdays for about 4 hours and that is about it. Otherwise I am alone.  My thoughts are alone, my creations are grown alone, and my conversations are usually one sided (mine).  

Although I am used to it.  I don't get much practice in actual true conversation. I long for it.  I long for topics, back and forth, give and take, adding to a topic.  Conversation is an art, I believe.  I think that it quickly becoming a lost art.  I also think that true reading with deep thought and reflection is going to be lost.  Even cinema and visual medias are soon to be dumbed down to the point the thrills can be crammed in faster to move onto the next thing.  

I have really slowed down when it has come to my "art" and my thoughts.  I have needed to for my health but also I have wanted to because of the respect I think that the creative process deserves.  It's not to say that "fast" projects do not have their place in art, because they sure do.  I am a big fan of that! Art should include expression of all kinds.  However, we should be careful to not cheat ourselves out of intellect, respect and creativity deserves. Sketch, re-sketch.  Deadline? When it is finished it will be done.  

Just take one moment in time and think about it.  The stories that that moment can tell. The inspiration that that moment can lend to our life our imagination is numerous.  Slighting ourselves by hurrying seems unfair.



So to sum up, celebrate the seconds, but take as much time and expression as you need to do so. K~ 

Sunday, August 11, 2013

Yes even more moments of South Dakota :)



 A most beautiful sculpture of a bison at the falls in Sioux Falls




 Sheep were the second animals to greet us.  The Prairie Dog was the first.


 Our favorite camp site in the Badlands.  The wind never disappoints. That is the wind not a bend in the tent or a balloon tent.
 Last time at the Badlands the Bison gave me a pair of sunglasses on a Bison patty.  This year they blessed my drawings, by taking one of my pens by the winds and landing it on a patty.  Yes, this really happened. 


 'nough said!!
 Look at this quaint shapeless bison.  Adorable.
 This not so little friend joined us one night by the lantern.  
 Look closely, there is a huge billed up of mud around sandals.  There was a HUGE storm the second night.  The tent folded in on us from the wind.  It rained in on us the entire time.  After the lightning and thunder past and it was just rain, the children went into car to sleep as dry as they could the remainder of the night. 
 I love camping....
 Even little Bingers!
 Cora in the AM after the storm.
 The boys after the storm.
 Beauty. 
 Amazing.
 Stunning.
Even my Kirsten doll got to come with and get a picture on this creepy bison :) K~

Saturday, August 10, 2013

What is it about the buffalo?




I have been asked why I love the bison so much.  I can't really put it in words.  To me, it appears obvious.  They are majestic creatures that demand respect and awe.  They are the largest existing land animal in North America.  I also love their scientific names: Bison bison bison (plains bison) and Bison bison athabascae (wood bison).  They are second to only the Asian water buffalo as the largest bovid on earth and we have them right here!! Man!  I also like how untamed they are, how fences can't keep them in.  Respect is obvious.  I was lucky to get a bit of wild bison hair from a wallow.  I have it protected in a display case.  It's just a small clump, but it is beautiful.  I kept the grasses that insisted to remain attached and will put it along side my photographs.  Next year I will bring the proper materials to get a hoof print cast. K~