Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Estes showing at Biola University

Merion EstesStrange Fruit

LA painter Merion Estes will be showing recent work at Biola University.
 Opening reception is Tuesday, Sept. 23, 7:00 - 9:00pm
Estes will be lecturing on her work and her thirty-five year career in the LA art community on 
Tuesday, Oct 7th, 7-8:00pm
All events are open to the public, for details call the Biola University Art Department 562.903.4807


Saturday, September 13, 2008

out walking


I just started reading John Leax's, Out Walking, reflections on our place in the natural world. Leax is the poet-in-residence at Houghton College. I have been a fan of his for quite awhile. I have always appreciated his quite but purposed approach to issues of artistic craft, practice, and the role of an artist in community. Out Walking is a series of reflections on the relationship of humans to the places we occupy. Leax consistently moves from the personal to the public, from the specific to the universal. He is a storyteller at heart and by these potent little stories he challenges us to shape or reshape our ways of thinking and ways of doing. 

"The fate of all creatures now depends on humanity's willingness to restrain itself, to commit itself to maintain places where humans pass through. 
Consider an analogy. As part of the marriage ceremony, a couple promises, before God and gathered witnesses, to be faithful to each other until separated by death. This promise is not demanded by sentiment; it is demanded because everyone present at the marriage know the truth of human nature. Both bride and groom will change. Ambitions, new dreams, other bodies will attract them. Their only hope for success will be the reach of their vow.
We must marry the earth. We must promise to cherish and serve it )love it as ourselves) until death releases us from our responsibility. Our lives will change. We will be tempted. Apart from such a marriage, a commitment to limit our use of the earth before we know or imagine all possible uses, the earth and all of us on it are lost, for that commitment is our only just expression of hope." - John Leax

Friday, September 5, 2008

Short Memories



On Wednesday evening when the Republican nominee for Vice President, Sarah Palin, proudly and boldly proclaimed, "Starting in January, in a McCain-Palin administration, we're going to lay more pipelines... build more nuclear plants ... create jobs with clean coal ..." I was reminded what a ferocious and bloated appetite we Americans have and what short memories. We have been poor keepers of the garden.