Women and the Trees They Love

This will be the first of a few holiday blog posts that are all based on photo albums with a certain theme. Holiday pictures are a staple among most of us. And they can be predictable, especially with social media. The office Christmas party, a meal out at a special restaurant, our finished tree or the house lights, and of course countless pics of our dear children on the laps of Santa's across the country. But each of my posts will find a different tangent that is both traditional but also unexpected. 

This one features our tradition of the indoor Christmas tree. The original folklore came from the Lutherans of Germany & Latvia as a symbol of life throughout the cold winter season by bringing the evergreens indoors. As the Victorian era entered, they were then popular with simple decorations of colored paper chains, popcorn, apples and lit candles. The US escalated those trends with the addition of electric light strings in the 40's and everyone exploded with concepts of glass globes, candy canes, gingerbread men and exotic tree toppers.

You know how we often think that people resemble their pets, especially their dogs? This collage of vintage holiday photos show how the suburban woman of the house reflected the trends in her trees. I am guessing most are from the mid 50s into the late 60s. Kitsch was in fashion and trees became less "life like" and artificiality was embraced as style. The line between garish and fashion was blurry to be sure. But you cannot deny that they were unique as well as special.

Enjoy the few that I have posted and check out the link for all 43 photos.

Vintage Everyday - Holiday snapshots

Cookie Cutter

The holiday season is upon us and one of my favorite annual tasks is the art of cookie baking. Cut-out cookies are a uniquely American form of baking as they are considered biscuits among other things in other countries. I have hosted many cookie decorating parties and this year the tradition will return. I collect a handful of things - cufflinks, plants, Original Cast albums. But my cookie cutter collection has gotten big enough that I nabbed a garage sale plastic chest to store them all in. There is a drawer for Christmas shapes. One for various other holiday seasons. And a third for unusual options from kangaroos to roller skates. I just bought a new one in the shape of a fox and am going to make gingerbread red foxes instead of men.

I recently found this short video that shows how actual metal cookie cutters are made on an assembly line. It is an interesting process that makes such logical sense on viewing.

The adjective of being "Cookie cutter" that has come into our vernacular over the last century is that something alludes to conforming or being exactly like those that have come before and after. Ironically this is the total opposite of how I view myself. I like to think that the shape of each piece of pastry may be the same, but it is the frosting, color and decorations added to them that make each unique. I believe the last time I had my cookie party, I made a challenge to take the shape of the cut-out and conform the cookie into something transformed!

Throwback Thursday - tossing it WAY back

 

I still get off on the occasional Throwback Thursday post to Facebook. I know the trend has faded quite a bit from its original hey day 4-5 years back in favor of new trends and lists. But being that I have always been a photo fanatic, I enjoy it as a time to go through years of pics and bring some of those personal "classics" into the digital age.

Some are meant to shame; usually myself. Others are a keepsake of a special moment. Some are meant to jolt a friend back as a conversation piece. I am never embarrassed to post something that is either unflattering or bordering on inappropriate... But we all have those 1 or 2 pictures that are our worst nightmare. The ones that we hope never surface from a yearbook or holiday card.

Somehow the Mind Circle has stumbled onto a few of these. I would have to assume that the scorned parties were not asked if they would choose to submit these garish images into cyber space. And yet - here they are. "You've never looked - Worse!"



 

http://themindcircle.com/people-share-their-most-embarrassing-childhood-photos/

Backstreet Boys Blow It!

I am quite sure that I posted a parody video a few years back by One Direction on Dancing with the Stars where their vocals were dubbed; in horrible fashion. Apparently this is a new form of  "shattery" called Shredding. An actual video clip is taken from a noted public performance and then someone dubs atrociously bad vocals on top of it.

These artists, and I call them that, are better at lip syncing than most of the singers themselves. By watching, you can't believe that the sound is not actually coming out of the vocal cords and into the microphone. They are absolutely hilarious. There are entire stations on YouTube devoted to this craze. Since today is a rainy, dreary day with a bit of time to kill - I have gone into the vortex of the web and this is what I've come up with again.

So without further adieu, here are the Backstreet Boys performing "live" on Oprah.

And if that wasn't good enough; how about the original studio recording of We Are the World? OUCH!

Summer of Love

As summer comes to a close, a short reflection on both the glorious season and a look to the past. I am a bit inspired from my sister's Woodstock party she threw this month to celebrate.

1967! San Francisco. Although I was alive - I was far too disconnected from the radical flower children to really understand the world they were striving to live in. Our family was much more akin to the Mitch Miller Gang and Peter Paul & Mary. I was aware of the "folk" aspect, but had no idea about the hallucinogenic drugs and hippie culture that existed. I was however drawn to the fashion. The fringe vests, choker chains and suede Chelsea boots - mainly from the images I would see on television. They certainly weren't in our JC Penney catalogs.

Even the pop music I would listen to, went completely above my head. Groups like Santana, CCR, the Lovin' Spoonful, Jefferson Airplane or vocalists like Melanie, Janis Joplin or Joe Cocker were all there. But I am guessing I missed any insinuations of unrest or rebellion. I thought Goldie Hawn was sexy on Laugh In and only now understand just how cutting edge the show really was in defiance against the ruling classes. Kent State was just a short drive away, but to me it was just a story on television.

Even now, the images still conjure up joy and peace instead of a revolution. Hippies inspired a coolness to me not an aversion. And I wanted to be one of the cool ones. Time marches forward always.

For the Love of Animals

Everyone loves a dog, or their cat, or a fuzzy koala bear. I can't imagine my home without a dog at hand. And most of them came to me as a shelter animal; some critter that had fallen into the wrong hands and ended up in a pen with sad eyes. They are all broken in some way. Poor Riff was just too much of a handful for a family and needed some good coaching & structure. Waylon is an unknown, but I'm pretty sure that he was a hurricane or storm victim from Oklahoma and went wayward from a good home and never found his way back. He just wants a safe space to share.

This entry is a video feature via 60SecondDocs. The photographer is Alex from Australia and her calling is to showcase disabled animals. Damaged ones who still have an incredible sense of dignity and charm that translates into photos. They are misfits in the animal kingdom who might be blind, missing a leg or have scars from humans themselves. Like any good photographer she finds character in each and you can see a joy and a resilience in their eyes.

Slip of the Tongue

I would never call myself a linguist. Although, I do have a large vocabulary and took pride in winning the Spelling Bee in both 7th & 8th grades. But as I get older, I think my span of the English language shows itself in my letter writing and certainly my blogging. I also dabble a bit with my own cabaret lyrics as well as writing what I hope to be good script for my cabaret sets. Crossword puzzles can eat up hours of my time on a rainy day like today.

So when I stumble across an interesting feature on #Words, it piques my interest for sure. Especially when you bring politics into the mix! The Broadway force that is #Hamilton is a great arena where the two can clash with fireworks. Via a great story on the Mind Circle, it lists 30 "lost" words in the English language compiled by York University. With typical British "cheek" they also bounce off the tongue easily which makes them all the more fun to insert into conversations. All the words have something to do with corruption. Some favorites:

Coney–catch, b, v: To swindle, cheat; to trick, dupe, deceive

Quacksalver, n: A person who dishonestly claims knowledge of or skill in medicine; a pedlar of false cures

Peacockize, v.: To behave like a peacock; esp. to pose or strut ostentatiously

Merry-go-sorry, n. A mixture of joy and sorrow

Ear-rent, n. The figurative cost to a person of listening to trivial or incessant talk

Be sure to check out the article link so you can see the entire plethora of definitions. Use one in a sentence soon! 

30 Lost Words 

For Real?

A good dose of humor is often needed in these turbulent times. I found some prime examples of bad architecture and poor planning as a photo series. They are all compiled by Mind Circle. And must be seen to be believed. Take a look at the entire link as each one seems to get more convoluted than the previous. What the Hell were they thinking?

Mind Circle: Design Fails 

Adult Education

I have always been an inquisitive learner. I excelled in school and sort of conquered in college with 2 degrees and a Minor in 4 years! I just finished a mini MBA in my "elder" years. But in my daily life I am also constantly seeking new methods, uncovering new facts and exploring new fields. Continuing Education for the long haul.

I have never been the bookish type who learns from reading. I would rather DO and intuit by trail & error. I was surprised to stumble onto a suggested website via Facebook this week. How did I ever miss this in the first place? But a new virtual learning center called Masterclass.com. If you aren't familiar with the term - a Masterclass is a studio audience with a seasoned pro; or a Master in the field. There is an contingent of artists who are watching while a small handful of bold students are asked to come "on stage" and demonstrate where they are critiqued by the professional and given suggestions to improve upon said performance. It requires an open mind to be subjected to such scrutiny in front of peers. But it is also immediate for the entire class to learn valuable tools in real time.

So this concept of an on-line masterclass is brilliant in that you get many of the same lessons, without having to put yourself in the spotlight for feedback that can be intimidating. But most impressive are the credentials of the on line masters. These are not B-leaguers from Dancing with the Stars. They are true masters of their craft. Names like Ron Howard in film direction. Helen Mirren in Stage Acting. Hans Zimmer in Film Composition. Herbie Hancock in Jazz. The roster goes on and on into everything from Tennis to Chess. And what is even more impressive, is that they are not just a single session. Each topic has been broken down into a Program that packs lesson plans and plots out each step of development. For instance: Annie Liebowitz offers up a 15 class session on photography that goes from Portrait Photography to Working with Light to Influences. At $90, each class breaks down to around $7/ per. What a great bargain. Even better is to pay up $180 for unlimited access across the board. I may have to splurge on this!

Masterclass.com 

Oscar Glamour

This is a dated post, but I wanted to share it before we get too far away from the Awards Season. Obviously, there are so many prizes handed out in every genre from Nobel Prizes to roses on the Bachelor. We are an American society obsessed with gratification. And I don't mean in any way to acquiesce to that mentality. But I do mourn the loss of our local Ivey Awards. Yes they were awards in name; but so much more in spirit. It was equally about celebrating our community and theater history in the Twin Cities.

In a earlier times, the Academy Awards seemed to be in that same vein. Yes there were the backstage dramas and publicity stunts back then. But there was also an absence of political slant, endorsements and awards campaigns by the film companies. There used to be more elegance & reverence to the whole festivity. This is different than a garish costume and walking the red carpet for flimsy questions doled out by a pseudo celebrity from the E! network.

This is not to say that there aren't still true "Stars" in the Hollywood ranks. Those writers, cinematographers and actors who have a sense of integrity and carry themselves with distinction. I caught a lovely photo montage in the official Vanity Fair portraits shot by Mark Seliger. They are regal, timeless and introspective. Works of art in themselves. Telling of each "model." See the entire album at: Bored Panda: Variety Fair Oscars

the Enigma of it All

This post takes a shift from politics and/ or art and delves into the genre of classical music. Many people may not know I have an affinity for it and actually do quite well at my Music History 101. I can thank my time at college, #HarryJohnBrown and his infinite wisdom as a mentor for guiding me into this realm. I fondly remember his house with a library of old reel-to-reel recordings of his famous concerts with the Milwaukee Symphony as my introduction.

I gravitate to both the grand drama of the Russians and even their impressionistic masters like Scriabin. Also the regal stylings of the Romantic Brits like Grainger and Bax. And certainly the flowery Chopin. Edward Elgar fell into this latter grouping. I've grown to appreciate both his symphonic and choral works. But it is his Enigma Variations that intrigue me more than anything else. The majesty of the Nimrod movement, but also all the other diversions along the way. While experimenting as a young choreographer in college, I once had this vision of them as a concert work - where each movement would be staged by a different dancer to make up a complete pastiche of an evening.

 If you are not familiar with them, they are a suite of 14 variations written in 1899. It is known that each statement is in homage to a personal connection of Elgar's. One to his wife, one to his publisher etc.... He started with a melody at his piano and then improvising on that same melody. In its early life he intended it to be variations that would parody many of his contemporaries such as Arthur Sullivan. But what premiered in London a year later is the suite we all know now as the Variations. That is where the mystery begins. All through his life he insinuated at the core melody of the piece, but took the inspiration to his grave. So for the last 100+ years, musicologists have been trying to uncover the elusive source. There have been guesses as varied as "Auld Lang Syne," "Twinkle Twinkle" and "Rule Britannia." Some have tried to alter short passages into minor keys or even play phrases in reverse to unlock the cryptogram. Much like the Beatles Revolver album and it's mysteries played backward.

This short podcast revives the puzzle and points to a possible solution in "A Mighty Fortress." My natural sense for solving puzzles is stirred by the discussions as scholars and musicians weigh in on the endless possibilities. Will it ever be solved?

NPR Enigma Variations - All Things Considered 

Tearing Down Walls

The insane quest to construct a massive border wall on the Mexican national line has continued to divide both literally and figuratively over the last 12 months. Conversation continues to bubble and brew. Sides are deeply entrenched as well. I definitely know where I stand on the subject - liberal snowflake that I am. Inclusion has always seemed like a better option as compared to alienating. Giving each other voice and a place at the table at least offers up humanity & dignity, even if any two sides ultimately agree to disagree. I think so much of it is generational and younger minds don't carry the baggage of their elders. This week I was drawn to 2 unique commentaries on this Wall. Both of course, are shared by artists. But more importantly, both also involve and engage community which is key to any conversation. 

The first is a French artist named simply JR and occurred back in Oct '17. He is a street artist whose work is usually pop-up in nature and meant to invoke. This project involved a bench-table built at the border in the small town of Tecate Mexico. It was called the Giant Picnic as the table was built on both side of the border with an "eye of the dreamer" on each of the two areas. Once built, what followed next was a community meal shared over one massive table with live music during the feast. And rather than being met with resistance, even Boarder Security agents joined in the festivities as part of a toast.



The second is the blurred line where art & inspiration meets corporate branding. It is a short film produced by Diesel and directed by David LaChappelle. It is called Make Love Not Walls and stars ballet sensation Sergei Polunin. It is not any defined place, the wall could be any alley separated by metal and barbed wire. It is sexy and slick, but features free spirits from every culture imaginable coming together to burst through the barriers and unite in one generous tribe of joy.

Both signal of Hope and Unity. And both charges are led by the inspiration of a new and bold younger generation.

Guns Give Way to Cameras

I had originally shelved this post as a foray into art commenting on cinema. But on reflection it seems that it could also be slightly reclassified as a comment on the #GunControl epidemic that has seized our country with the revitalized attention in Parkland Fla. 

The visual content itself is a humorous take on sci-fi and crime movies where the deadly weapons have been replaced with a selfie stick. This of course totally changes the context of the scene into something with satire. But as I was rethinking the situation, it raised some consciousness with me about a side conversation that sometimes bubbles into the equation.

Violence and Disturbing Images in film. I have also heard some blame cast on video games that engage young and adult audiences. With the addition of virtual reality, games take a strong detour into real experience. And it is fact that almost ALL center on the dominance of guns, warfare and battle of personalities. Whether it is Game of Thrones, Westworld or even the drug violence of Breaking Bad. No one would question that each of these are given credit as television that breaks barriers. Not to mention the countless arena of Marvel and DC Comics canons that are perceived as heroic, when they are also very heavy on destruction and casualty. But the question emerges about the blurred line between so called fiction and a real experience that takes lives and has consequence. How do you license and balance creativity & vision with censorship? I'm not sure, but somehow, for years there have been similar platforms in place for sexual content. Maybe it is a time to look at film ratings and have some sort of violence statement present in so many of these genres where it has become mere acceptance.

But for now, here are some of those incongruous images that have gone from mortal combat into a photo op.