louise bourgeois, influential french-born american sculptor, died on monday in manhattan. she was 98.
for her full obit in the ny times, click here.
her work is amazing - emotionally charged, vulnerable, visceral...she translated suffering and pain into tangible abstractions.
great slide show of her works here.
“The subject of pain is the business I am in,” she said. “To give meaning and shape to frustration and suffering.” She added: “The existence of pain cannot be denied. I propose no remedies or excuses.” (NY Times)
cups of coffee: 1
mood: how is it june already?!?
Monday, May 31, 2010
Sunday, May 30, 2010
graffiti
a little late night graffiti action with friends...
and one fun shot with the hipstamatic app on my iphone
ray of light
and one fun shot with the hipstamatic app on my iphone
ray of lightcups of coffee: working on 1
mood: grateful
mood: grateful
Saturday, May 29, 2010
of beauty, justice and building empires
at dolce & gabbana opening with friendsfriday evening, after a great concert at the gallery, some friends and i attended the opening of dolce & gabbana's new store on glizty nanjing road. free flow of champagne, canapes and beautiful people. lavish and ludicrous.
ironically, the next day we held a lecture given by a designer/teacher on the topic of "art and equality" at our gallery. his lecture was a brief overview of philosophical foundations for social justice in the arts and a glance at some inspiring contemporary examples. he packed so much into one hour and though far from comprehensive, his lecture provided much room for continued discourse and deliberation. about 50 people attended, most of them architects, designers or other creative professionals, and i think everyone left with a lot to think about and hopefully with some challenges to consider in their own work.
this morning in my personal reflection time, i came across this passage in frederick beuchner's listening to your life about "a point of no return". beuchner summarizes john marquand's novel, point of no return, in which the protagonist strives his whole life to achieve this one position that he thinks will bring him stability and prestige and when he finally attains it, at the cost of other things in his life, finds it empty and unsatisfactory. sadly, this truth comes too late.
buechner sums up the implications of this protagonist's realization nicely here:
There is nothing moralistic or sentimental about this truth. It means for us simply that we must be careful with our lives because it would seem that they are the only lives we are going to have in this puzzling and perilous world, and so they are very precious and what we do with them matters enormously. Everybody knows that. We need no one to tell it to us. Yet in another way perhaps we do always need to be told, because there is always the temptation to believe that we have all the time in the world, whereas the truth of it is that we do not. We have only a life, and the choice of how we are going to live it must be our own choice, not one that we let the world make for us. Because surely Marquand was right that for each of us there come a point of no return, a point beyond which we no longer have life enough left to go back and start all over again.
- Frederick Buechner
this resonates with every fiber of my being. we are mortal yet we have the capacity to be part of immortal things - to build and cultivate what will ripple through the history to come and into eternity. our time is so limited - so limited! - and with each day, not a breath is promised. we are grateful for each moment.
i want to build empires. i mean that in the sense that i want to be part of something bigger than myself, i want to explore and create with tenacity and fearlessness. the danger here, of course, is the ego and in building empires for the sake of erecting statues in my own image. that is not my intention (not my conscious intention, for the most part). i want to build for the sake of Greater Good and Glory, building empires in light of the Greater Story and the Beautiful Kingdom to come.
we all build empires in big and small ways, in the areas of life where we have been given dominion. whether we are building empires as fashion tycoons or building schools and sustainability in rural villages, we are all contributing to something with our talents and time.
if we know our time is limited, what then shall we choose to build?
cups of coffee: 1 1/2
mood: ready for the day!
ironically, the next day we held a lecture given by a designer/teacher on the topic of "art and equality" at our gallery. his lecture was a brief overview of philosophical foundations for social justice in the arts and a glance at some inspiring contemporary examples. he packed so much into one hour and though far from comprehensive, his lecture provided much room for continued discourse and deliberation. about 50 people attended, most of them architects, designers or other creative professionals, and i think everyone left with a lot to think about and hopefully with some challenges to consider in their own work.
this morning in my personal reflection time, i came across this passage in frederick beuchner's listening to your life about "a point of no return". beuchner summarizes john marquand's novel, point of no return, in which the protagonist strives his whole life to achieve this one position that he thinks will bring him stability and prestige and when he finally attains it, at the cost of other things in his life, finds it empty and unsatisfactory. sadly, this truth comes too late.
buechner sums up the implications of this protagonist's realization nicely here:
There is nothing moralistic or sentimental about this truth. It means for us simply that we must be careful with our lives because it would seem that they are the only lives we are going to have in this puzzling and perilous world, and so they are very precious and what we do with them matters enormously. Everybody knows that. We need no one to tell it to us. Yet in another way perhaps we do always need to be told, because there is always the temptation to believe that we have all the time in the world, whereas the truth of it is that we do not. We have only a life, and the choice of how we are going to live it must be our own choice, not one that we let the world make for us. Because surely Marquand was right that for each of us there come a point of no return, a point beyond which we no longer have life enough left to go back and start all over again.
- Frederick Buechner
this resonates with every fiber of my being. we are mortal yet we have the capacity to be part of immortal things - to build and cultivate what will ripple through the history to come and into eternity. our time is so limited - so limited! - and with each day, not a breath is promised. we are grateful for each moment.
i want to build empires. i mean that in the sense that i want to be part of something bigger than myself, i want to explore and create with tenacity and fearlessness. the danger here, of course, is the ego and in building empires for the sake of erecting statues in my own image. that is not my intention (not my conscious intention, for the most part). i want to build for the sake of Greater Good and Glory, building empires in light of the Greater Story and the Beautiful Kingdom to come.
we all build empires in big and small ways, in the areas of life where we have been given dominion. whether we are building empires as fashion tycoons or building schools and sustainability in rural villages, we are all contributing to something with our talents and time.
if we know our time is limited, what then shall we choose to build?
cups of coffee: 1 1/2
mood: ready for the day!
Thursday, May 27, 2010
barefoot artists and the casserole of hope
two completely unrelated items:
1) barefoot artists - my friend chelsea heard about this organization through a friend of a friend. their mission statement:
barefoot artists seeks to bear witness to the forgotten and the oppressed, and works to share their stories with the broader public to promote understanding and action. it seeks social change through innovative methodology and empowerment of people at the grassroots level.
um, hi. can i come work for you?
2) i love this tongue-in-cheek blog, stuff christians like. i found this post on "the casserole of hope" hilarious because it's true. we do like to give each other a lot of food when tragedy happens. i don't think it's necessarily a bad thing, though. there is something comforting (on both sides) in being able to provide something tangible that meets an immediate need.
cups of coffee: 2 + 1 iced
mood: friday? friday?
1) barefoot artists - my friend chelsea heard about this organization through a friend of a friend. their mission statement:
barefoot artists seeks to bear witness to the forgotten and the oppressed, and works to share their stories with the broader public to promote understanding and action. it seeks social change through innovative methodology and empowerment of people at the grassroots level.
um, hi. can i come work for you?
2) i love this tongue-in-cheek blog, stuff christians like. i found this post on "the casserole of hope" hilarious because it's true. we do like to give each other a lot of food when tragedy happens. i don't think it's necessarily a bad thing, though. there is something comforting (on both sides) in being able to provide something tangible that meets an immediate need.
cups of coffee: 2 + 1 iced
mood: friday? friday?
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
50 years, 50 events
this summer, at least 50 parties will be thrown across america to celebrate the 50th anniversary of a classic book: to kill a mockingbird.
more info in this new york times article: "a classic turns 50, and parties are planned"
one of my favorite books of all times, definitely in the top five ranking. scout was such an amazing, lovable character, and atticus finch is one of my literary heroes (especially after seeing gregory peck bring him to life in the film version).
tom brokaw is slotted to read from the novel in bozeman, montana on july 11. tom brokaw reading atticus finch?!? hmmmm....maybe i should swing by montana on my way to the east coast this summer...
cups of coffee: 2
mood: bouncing (albeit slowly) back
more info in this new york times article: "a classic turns 50, and parties are planned"
one of my favorite books of all times, definitely in the top five ranking. scout was such an amazing, lovable character, and atticus finch is one of my literary heroes (especially after seeing gregory peck bring him to life in the film version).
tom brokaw is slotted to read from the novel in bozeman, montana on july 11. tom brokaw reading atticus finch?!? hmmmm....maybe i should swing by montana on my way to the east coast this summer...
cups of coffee: 2
mood: bouncing (albeit slowly) back
Monday, May 24, 2010
thoughts for the day
two quotes from a new website find:
Aesthetic life is not something sophisticated – that’ s a humanistic lie. Aesthetic life is as integral to being human as building sandcastles on the beach and giving your children names. Calvin Seerveld
The sweetest thing in all my life has been the longing… to find the place where all the beauty came from. C.S. Lewis
cups of coffee: 2
mood: *yawn*
Aesthetic life is not something sophisticated – that’ s a humanistic lie. Aesthetic life is as integral to being human as building sandcastles on the beach and giving your children names. Calvin Seerveld
The sweetest thing in all my life has been the longing… to find the place where all the beauty came from. C.S. Lewis
cups of coffee: 2
mood: *yawn*
one of those days
it's one of those days (weeks/months). i feel like i need a "brownie husband." and maybe a tequila puppy.
http://www.hulu.com/watch/141546/saturday-night-live-brownie-husband
cups of coffee: 2 but clearly not enough
mood: oh light, you better be at the end of the tunnel...
http://www.hulu.com/watch/141546/saturday-night-live-brownie-husband
cups of coffee: 2 but clearly not enough
mood: oh light, you better be at the end of the tunnel...
Sunday, May 23, 2010
sense of wonder
just read a wonderful chapter on being observant in lamott's bird by bird.
thought-provoking excerpt:
I honestly think in order to be a writer, you have to learn to be reverent. If not, why are you writing? Why are you here?
Let's think of reverence as awe, as presence in and openness to the world. The alternative is that we stultify, we shut down. Think of those times when you've read prose or poetry that is presented in such a way that you have a fleeting sense of being startled by beauty or insight, by a glimpse into someone's soul. All of a sudden everything seems to fit together or at least to have some meaning for a moment. This is our goal as writers, I think; to help others have this sense of--please forgive me--wonder, of seeing things anew, things that can catch us off guard, that break in on our small, bordered worlds. When this happens, everything feels more spacious.
- Anne Lamott
thought-provoking excerpt:
I honestly think in order to be a writer, you have to learn to be reverent. If not, why are you writing? Why are you here?
Let's think of reverence as awe, as presence in and openness to the world. The alternative is that we stultify, we shut down. Think of those times when you've read prose or poetry that is presented in such a way that you have a fleeting sense of being startled by beauty or insight, by a glimpse into someone's soul. All of a sudden everything seems to fit together or at least to have some meaning for a moment. This is our goal as writers, I think; to help others have this sense of--please forgive me--wonder, of seeing things anew, things that can catch us off guard, that break in on our small, bordered worlds. When this happens, everything feels more spacious.
- Anne Lamott
strict joy
gray skies, cool breeze...a day when the city seems to be muffled by clouds. i have the whole day off and i intend on doing nothing but sleeping, reading, writing and eating. ahhhhhhhhh.
perfect day to listen to the swell season's most recent album, 'strict joy.'
glen hansard and marketa irglova of the swell season were thrust into the limelight after the unanticipated wild success of the movie (and soundtrack) 'once'. as much as i love the 'once' soundtrack, i am head-over-heels enamored by 'strict joy'. besides the sheer musical brilliance and lyrical poignancy of the songs, the whole theme of the album is compelling. the name of the album of comes from a poem penned by irish novelist and poet james stephens. the poem is called "strict care, strict joy!", which you can read in full here.
my favorite stanza from the poem:
the basic thread of the poem is the outworking of grief, sorrow and disappointments into things of beauty and gold. the album follows the same strain--the transformation of sorrow into joy, the intentionality that it takes and the willingness to address the sorrow and not bypass or stifle it. for a great brief explanation about the album, click here.
it's the thrust of life, isn't it? how we as broken, fallen creatures so desperately crave for wholeness. how we long for our mourning to turn into gladness and our weeping into dancing. how we desire to go through the fire and come out on the other side not destroyed but refined, made stronger and purer as finest gold.
cups of coffee: 1 1/2
mood: recuperating
perfect day to listen to the swell season's most recent album, 'strict joy.'
glen hansard and marketa irglova of the swell season were thrust into the limelight after the unanticipated wild success of the movie (and soundtrack) 'once'. as much as i love the 'once' soundtrack, i am head-over-heels enamored by 'strict joy'. besides the sheer musical brilliance and lyrical poignancy of the songs, the whole theme of the album is compelling. the name of the album of comes from a poem penned by irish novelist and poet james stephens. the poem is called "strict care, strict joy!", which you can read in full here.
my favorite stanza from the poem:
For, as he meditated misery
And cared it into song—strict care, strict joy!
Caring for grief he cared his grief away:
And those sad songs, tho' woe be all the theme,
Do not make us grieve who read them now
—Because the poet makes grief beautiful.
the basic thread of the poem is the outworking of grief, sorrow and disappointments into things of beauty and gold. the album follows the same strain--the transformation of sorrow into joy, the intentionality that it takes and the willingness to address the sorrow and not bypass or stifle it. for a great brief explanation about the album, click here.
it's the thrust of life, isn't it? how we as broken, fallen creatures so desperately crave for wholeness. how we long for our mourning to turn into gladness and our weeping into dancing. how we desire to go through the fire and come out on the other side not destroyed but refined, made stronger and purer as finest gold.
cups of coffee: 1 1/2
mood: recuperating
Friday, May 21, 2010
bird by bird
in my sophomore year of college, anne lamott's bird by bird was required reading for one of my writing classes. i was introduced to the sharp wit of lamott and found myself an instant fan of her tough persona that veiled surprising warmth--shucked by her incisive insight to expose willing vulnerability.
when i visited my parents back in march, i dug up bird by bird from a box of old college textbooks and brought it back with me to china. i'm currently re-reading it, needing to be encouraged/inspired/motivated to write again. though the book is geared towards (aspiring) writers, lamott provides great gems for just living life as well. i'd forgotten how much i enjoyed this book.
one chapter is on perfectionism - the demon that terrorizes so many writers (artists in general, i think). it's a terrible tease: seeing the vision of what you want to create--not even in full sometimes, just its wonderful golden aura that bathes your mind--the lifting of your heart as you catch sight of it, and then as you try to grab it by its elusive tail and flesh it out on paper, how the vision suddenly takes flight, disappearing as a vapor, and you are left twirling a feather in your fingers if you're lucky. then you become so scared of disappointment, of failing to catch that beauty of a vision, afraid of desecrating the very vision by your inability to capture it...until finally, you just stop trying.
the pattern happens in life as well: afraid to make mistakes, afraid to choose unwisely, afraid of disappointment, rejection, failure and everything in between....cornered into surrender.
anyway. back to the chapter.
i love this section that lamott writes to start off the chapter:
"I think perfectionism is based on the obsessive belief that if you run carefully enough, hitting each stepping-stone just right, you won't have to die. The truth is that you will die anyway and that a lot of people who aren't even looking at their feet are going to do a whole lot better than you, and have a lot more fun while they're doing it."
cups of coffee: 2
mood: week..almost...over....
when i visited my parents back in march, i dug up bird by bird from a box of old college textbooks and brought it back with me to china. i'm currently re-reading it, needing to be encouraged/inspired/motivated to write again. though the book is geared towards (aspiring) writers, lamott provides great gems for just living life as well. i'd forgotten how much i enjoyed this book.
one chapter is on perfectionism - the demon that terrorizes so many writers (artists in general, i think). it's a terrible tease: seeing the vision of what you want to create--not even in full sometimes, just its wonderful golden aura that bathes your mind--the lifting of your heart as you catch sight of it, and then as you try to grab it by its elusive tail and flesh it out on paper, how the vision suddenly takes flight, disappearing as a vapor, and you are left twirling a feather in your fingers if you're lucky. then you become so scared of disappointment, of failing to catch that beauty of a vision, afraid of desecrating the very vision by your inability to capture it...until finally, you just stop trying.
the pattern happens in life as well: afraid to make mistakes, afraid to choose unwisely, afraid of disappointment, rejection, failure and everything in between....cornered into surrender.
anyway. back to the chapter.
i love this section that lamott writes to start off the chapter:
"I think perfectionism is based on the obsessive belief that if you run carefully enough, hitting each stepping-stone just right, you won't have to die. The truth is that you will die anyway and that a lot of people who aren't even looking at their feet are going to do a whole lot better than you, and have a lot more fun while they're doing it."
cups of coffee: 2
mood: week..almost...over....
Thursday, May 20, 2010
sneak peek
sneak peek at the exhibition that's opening at our gallery on saturday (this week has been MADNESS getting ready). a dozen chinese men shuffled in and out of our gallery this afternoon with paintings, crates and even rocks.
i took this photo with hipstamatic on my iphone (lens: John S, film: Blanko).
of water and stone, of ink and clay, of the fluidity of time and the transience of our existence...
one breath we are here, and the next--entire empires rise and fall.
cups of coffee: 2 + 2 cups of green tea + 1 cup of rose tea
mood: elated and exhausted
i took this photo with hipstamatic on my iphone (lens: John S, film: Blanko).
of water and stone, of ink and clay, of the fluidity of time and the transience of our existence...one breath we are here, and the next--entire empires rise and fall.
cups of coffee: 2 + 2 cups of green tea + 1 cup of rose tea
mood: elated and exhausted
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
i love the dutch
after a joint exhibition between chinese and dutch artists that we held at our gallery about two years ago, i somehow ended up a permanent fixture on the dutch consulate's mailing list. to my pleasant surprise, that honor included being on their invite list for a special dance performance in honor of the world expo.
last night, i had a wonderful time watching the netherlands dance theater perform at shanghai grand theater. the festivities were part of the netherlands national day at the world expo, and the prince of orange and princess maxima of the netherlands were in attendance at the performance. my first brush with european royalty! (well, there was the time i spotted from afar queen elizabeth walking out of westminster abbey.) the royal party entered the auditorium to a brass rendition of "rondeau" (yes, the theme song from 'masterpiece theater'), and we all had to stand. ah, the stateliness of it all.
the dancing was amazing - three numbers with an intermission between each number. the last was the flashiest--and subsequently the favorite among the chinese members of the audience. it was called "chapeau" and originally choreographed for the 25th anniversary of the queen's jubilee of her majesty queen beatrix. gold ruffled skirts, colorful hats, an elaborate pinwheels headpiece, and prince's musicology....hard to beat.
i love the dutch.
with friends in the lobby pre-performance
the woman in pink in the middle - princess maxima preparing to sit down after one of the intermissions
cups of coffee: 3
mood: insane in the membrane.....
last night, i had a wonderful time watching the netherlands dance theater perform at shanghai grand theater. the festivities were part of the netherlands national day at the world expo, and the prince of orange and princess maxima of the netherlands were in attendance at the performance. my first brush with european royalty! (well, there was the time i spotted from afar queen elizabeth walking out of westminster abbey.) the royal party entered the auditorium to a brass rendition of "rondeau" (yes, the theme song from 'masterpiece theater'), and we all had to stand. ah, the stateliness of it all.
the dancing was amazing - three numbers with an intermission between each number. the last was the flashiest--and subsequently the favorite among the chinese members of the audience. it was called "chapeau" and originally choreographed for the 25th anniversary of the queen's jubilee of her majesty queen beatrix. gold ruffled skirts, colorful hats, an elaborate pinwheels headpiece, and prince's musicology....hard to beat.
i love the dutch.
with friends in the lobby pre-performance
the woman in pink in the middle - princess maxima preparing to sit down after one of the intermissionscups of coffee: 3
mood: insane in the membrane.....
Monday, May 17, 2010
dance!
i've been invited to attend a performance by the netherlands dance theater tomorrow evening, in the presence of the prince and princess of the netherlands. :)
so excited! will try and snap some photos tomorrow night...
cups of coffee: 2
mood: crazy busy!
Sunday, May 16, 2010
of food and friendship
it goes without saying that good food and friendship are part of the beauty to be enjoyed and savored. that for me is often the most tangible reminder of the beautiful that God has implanted in my soul.
tonight was a great celebration of both. the evening started off with a farewell dinner for gina, who is moving back to the states with her husband and children after several years in shanghai. gina (also a fellow blogger) is someone i don't get to see often but i always enjoy my times with her. she is always quick to flash a radiant smile, and i find her to be encouraging, caring, funny and so, so genuine.
twelve of us gathered in a cozy back table at whisk and feasted on pasta, pizza and chocolate...lots of chocolate. i had a late lunch so wasn't terribly hungry, and i opted to spend my calories on a deliciously smooth and rich chocolate mousse. my friend phyllis ordered churros, which are basically spanish doughnuts, and they came with this delightful setup:
i love the tiny whisk to stir up the chocolate sauce as it melts!
the women at this dinner are all very lovely, but i confess, i sort of feel disconnected when i'm with them sometimes. they're all married (i was the only single), most of them have kids, so their worlds revolve around diapers and feedings, playtimes in the park, naps, homework and school...and whatever else women are focused on when they have kids. i spend my time working, attending parties and openings, hanging out with artists and musicians and other creatively inclined folks (who are for the most part single)....and i take care of a cat. i have a few close friends in the group that i get to see quite a bit of, and we always have a lot to talk about. but when we're all together like this...i honestly feel like i'm grasping for conversation topics sometimes.
the beauty, though, lies in the fact that my friendship with these women extends beyond similar circumstances. though we may be in different seasons of life with different priorities and stresses, there is still a connection, a commonality of heart and love for this city and the people who dwell here. there is a common desire to do good and see goodness grow here. there is concerted effort to love others well.
after the dinner, i met up with gallerists from around shanghai for drinks. this is a monthly (realistically, more like every other month) gathering, and someone from the group of gallerists usually rallies everyone to meet up. he/she makes the arrangement for some restaurant/bar to give us a discount on drinks. there's probably about 40-50 people on the email list, and turnout varies at each gathering. tonight was a nice turnout - about 30 of us sipping wine and chit chatting on the patio at cotton's, enjoying the rare coolness of a spring shanghai evening.
i admit, i was reluctant to join these gatherings at first. i assumed it would be a cloud of pretension: interest in conversation as a thin veneer covering self-promotion. i couldn't have been more wrong. i found these gatherings to be very casual and stimulating, with very fascinating people genuinely interested in getting to know one another. it's a wonderfully diverse group: a french woman who is a leading world expert on street art; a german woman single-handedly running a city-wide art map that covers all local exhibition openings; a british man who started his own gallery in china after working for years in auction houses in london, to name a few.
and we don't just talk about art. tonight, conversations i had ranged from the effects of globalization and modernization on shanghai to chinese humor vs. british humor, the two big T taboos in china (tibet and taiwan) to the possibility of learning true objective history.
two very different groups of friends, very different conversation topics. but at the end of the day, both serve as beautiful reminders of our need to be connected, to celebrate and simply converse about the things that matter.
cups of coffee: 3
mood: pensive
tonight was a great celebration of both. the evening started off with a farewell dinner for gina, who is moving back to the states with her husband and children after several years in shanghai. gina (also a fellow blogger) is someone i don't get to see often but i always enjoy my times with her. she is always quick to flash a radiant smile, and i find her to be encouraging, caring, funny and so, so genuine.
twelve of us gathered in a cozy back table at whisk and feasted on pasta, pizza and chocolate...lots of chocolate. i had a late lunch so wasn't terribly hungry, and i opted to spend my calories on a deliciously smooth and rich chocolate mousse. my friend phyllis ordered churros, which are basically spanish doughnuts, and they came with this delightful setup:
i love the tiny whisk to stir up the chocolate sauce as it melts!
the women at this dinner are all very lovely, but i confess, i sort of feel disconnected when i'm with them sometimes. they're all married (i was the only single), most of them have kids, so their worlds revolve around diapers and feedings, playtimes in the park, naps, homework and school...and whatever else women are focused on when they have kids. i spend my time working, attending parties and openings, hanging out with artists and musicians and other creatively inclined folks (who are for the most part single)....and i take care of a cat. i have a few close friends in the group that i get to see quite a bit of, and we always have a lot to talk about. but when we're all together like this...i honestly feel like i'm grasping for conversation topics sometimes.
the beauty, though, lies in the fact that my friendship with these women extends beyond similar circumstances. though we may be in different seasons of life with different priorities and stresses, there is still a connection, a commonality of heart and love for this city and the people who dwell here. there is a common desire to do good and see goodness grow here. there is concerted effort to love others well.
after the dinner, i met up with gallerists from around shanghai for drinks. this is a monthly (realistically, more like every other month) gathering, and someone from the group of gallerists usually rallies everyone to meet up. he/she makes the arrangement for some restaurant/bar to give us a discount on drinks. there's probably about 40-50 people on the email list, and turnout varies at each gathering. tonight was a nice turnout - about 30 of us sipping wine and chit chatting on the patio at cotton's, enjoying the rare coolness of a spring shanghai evening.
i admit, i was reluctant to join these gatherings at first. i assumed it would be a cloud of pretension: interest in conversation as a thin veneer covering self-promotion. i couldn't have been more wrong. i found these gatherings to be very casual and stimulating, with very fascinating people genuinely interested in getting to know one another. it's a wonderfully diverse group: a french woman who is a leading world expert on street art; a german woman single-handedly running a city-wide art map that covers all local exhibition openings; a british man who started his own gallery in china after working for years in auction houses in london, to name a few.
and we don't just talk about art. tonight, conversations i had ranged from the effects of globalization and modernization on shanghai to chinese humor vs. british humor, the two big T taboos in china (tibet and taiwan) to the possibility of learning true objective history.
two very different groups of friends, very different conversation topics. but at the end of the day, both serve as beautiful reminders of our need to be connected, to celebrate and simply converse about the things that matter.
cups of coffee: 3
mood: pensive
Saturday, May 15, 2010
gentle soul
images by derek aui remember being surprised the first time i saw derek's work because it was not what i imagined would come out of an american guy in his early 30's with a johnny depp vibe. when i told him that, he smiled and said, "i'm a gentle soul."
his ceramics certainly seem to possess a gentle soul.
for more info on derek's work: http://derekau.net/
cups of coffee 2
mood: sleepy
Friday, May 14, 2010
little golden fishies
today's post is about beauty in unexpected places.
i went with some friends to a huge fish market tonight--stall after stall of fishmongers lining a long street. it was a fantastic experience: we selected our own seafood, bargained a bit, and then walked to the end of the street where we paid a restaurant to cook our finds. all for less than $10 per person.
the fish market is a chaotic place - the floors are wet with water, fish guts and mysterious grime; the vendors' constant shouting back and forth punctuated by the ripping of packing tape and the clatter of crates; bicycle carts lugging cages of crabs and towers of styrofoam containers weaving through crowds. this place is open 24 hours--imagine this constant hustle and bustle all day and night.
i love how fish look lying on their beds of ice: the flounders displayed like silver discs, pink salmon fillets nestled like fleshy bricks in a field of white, long ribbon fish dangling from tables like iridescent belts...almost as adornments rather than seafood.
my favorite find tonight was this little tub of golden fishies, their heads pointed resolutely up, some with their mouths open in mid-speech (or mid-song?):
i couldn't stop staring at this tub, and i had to take a picture. there was something about this image that was so arresting - like a scene from dante's inferno. they're like souls crying out from some pit, stuck in abysmal despair.
or perhaps they are not lamenting at all but singing - a heavenly chorus of little golden fishes with voices that ring like crystal, tiny notes wafting to the skies.
cups of coffee: 2
mood: STUFFED from a great seafood dinner
i went with some friends to a huge fish market tonight--stall after stall of fishmongers lining a long street. it was a fantastic experience: we selected our own seafood, bargained a bit, and then walked to the end of the street where we paid a restaurant to cook our finds. all for less than $10 per person.
the fish market is a chaotic place - the floors are wet with water, fish guts and mysterious grime; the vendors' constant shouting back and forth punctuated by the ripping of packing tape and the clatter of crates; bicycle carts lugging cages of crabs and towers of styrofoam containers weaving through crowds. this place is open 24 hours--imagine this constant hustle and bustle all day and night.
i love how fish look lying on their beds of ice: the flounders displayed like silver discs, pink salmon fillets nestled like fleshy bricks in a field of white, long ribbon fish dangling from tables like iridescent belts...almost as adornments rather than seafood.
my favorite find tonight was this little tub of golden fishies, their heads pointed resolutely up, some with their mouths open in mid-speech (or mid-song?):
i couldn't stop staring at this tub, and i had to take a picture. there was something about this image that was so arresting - like a scene from dante's inferno. they're like souls crying out from some pit, stuck in abysmal despair.or perhaps they are not lamenting at all but singing - a heavenly chorus of little golden fishes with voices that ring like crystal, tiny notes wafting to the skies.
cups of coffee: 2
mood: STUFFED from a great seafood dinner
Thursday, May 13, 2010
in beauty and brokenness
this is the blog post in which i brag about my friend mindy. :)
mindy is a dear friend - the little sister i never had, actually - and she is finishing a year (well, 9 months to be exact) at the trinity forum academy. the academy is a post-graduate program consisting of both rigorous studies and intentional community, aimed at providing an environment that prods participants to investigate how their faith affects their vocational calling.
in their recent newsletter, mindy is highlighted as one of the graduating fellows. an excerpt from her statement of calling, crafted during her fellowship, was included. mindy entered the academy with the intent of honestly and diligently laying down a spiritual foundation for a future career in the arts. her statement of calling rings with such beauty and depth, i think it's best to just repeat it here in her own words:
'Our challenge then, is to wrestle with this shared "secret" of humanity and allow our wrestling to produce fruits of peace. I have written a personal aesthetic to help frame my exploration of what it means to participate in this process of reconciliation as a poet, a peacemaker. Ephesians 2:10a declares that because we are saved by grace alone, "we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works." In its original form, the first clause reads, "autou gar esmen poiema," meaning, "for we are poems."
'As a result of Christ's death and resurrection, our lives have the capacity to embody poetry. We are to address the world in all its beauty and brokenness, as we hold it in tension with its completed peace. Therefore because Christ lives in us, we are likewise able to imagine and respond to all of life in the manner of poets—moving from an evocation of questions to a meditation upon life. What we can see passes away, but what is imagined and lived out in faith leads us to an inexpressible joy and the salvation of our souls. This piece is an effort that both defines and stretches my understanding of what it means to employ our imaginations for His glory.'
there are two parts from her statement that really hit me: "the world in all its beauty and brokenness" and "what is imagined and lived out in faith." to deny either the beauty or brokenness is to paint a one-sided image of reality. the result is either trite and insufficient or dismal cynicism. to fully hold the beauty and brokenness, to see the world beyond current realities and in its full intended potential means that we must imagine, we must dare to dream and hope. and what a beautiful thing that itself is--to imagine with a reckless joy and childlike wonder. i suppose that's why we're drawn to fairy tales and fantasies, fascinated by tales of magic and heroes that battle evil and save kingdoms.
to dream is not enough, though. to live out in faith - to grasp the straws of possibility and begin to etch them into the world we know, that is where the reconciliation and reconstruction occurs. it doesn't have to be grandiose - it's often in the simple and the familiar that we plant and cultivate truths. to forgive, to share, to encourage, to hope...gestures that convey greater virtues.
one more item of pride: included in the newsletter was a link to one of the poems mindy penned as part of her research portfolio: "what is wild and strange." enjoy.
cups of coffee: 3
mood: o insanity, how i love and loathe thee....
mindy is a dear friend - the little sister i never had, actually - and she is finishing a year (well, 9 months to be exact) at the trinity forum academy. the academy is a post-graduate program consisting of both rigorous studies and intentional community, aimed at providing an environment that prods participants to investigate how their faith affects their vocational calling.
in their recent newsletter, mindy is highlighted as one of the graduating fellows. an excerpt from her statement of calling, crafted during her fellowship, was included. mindy entered the academy with the intent of honestly and diligently laying down a spiritual foundation for a future career in the arts. her statement of calling rings with such beauty and depth, i think it's best to just repeat it here in her own words:
'Our challenge then, is to wrestle with this shared "secret" of humanity and allow our wrestling to produce fruits of peace. I have written a personal aesthetic to help frame my exploration of what it means to participate in this process of reconciliation as a poet, a peacemaker. Ephesians 2:10a declares that because we are saved by grace alone, "we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works." In its original form, the first clause reads, "autou gar esmen poiema," meaning, "for we are poems."
'As a result of Christ's death and resurrection, our lives have the capacity to embody poetry. We are to address the world in all its beauty and brokenness, as we hold it in tension with its completed peace. Therefore because Christ lives in us, we are likewise able to imagine and respond to all of life in the manner of poets—moving from an evocation of questions to a meditation upon life. What we can see passes away, but what is imagined and lived out in faith leads us to an inexpressible joy and the salvation of our souls. This piece is an effort that both defines and stretches my understanding of what it means to employ our imaginations for His glory.'
there are two parts from her statement that really hit me: "the world in all its beauty and brokenness" and "what is imagined and lived out in faith." to deny either the beauty or brokenness is to paint a one-sided image of reality. the result is either trite and insufficient or dismal cynicism. to fully hold the beauty and brokenness, to see the world beyond current realities and in its full intended potential means that we must imagine, we must dare to dream and hope. and what a beautiful thing that itself is--to imagine with a reckless joy and childlike wonder. i suppose that's why we're drawn to fairy tales and fantasies, fascinated by tales of magic and heroes that battle evil and save kingdoms.
to dream is not enough, though. to live out in faith - to grasp the straws of possibility and begin to etch them into the world we know, that is where the reconciliation and reconstruction occurs. it doesn't have to be grandiose - it's often in the simple and the familiar that we plant and cultivate truths. to forgive, to share, to encourage, to hope...gestures that convey greater virtues.
one more item of pride: included in the newsletter was a link to one of the poems mindy penned as part of her research portfolio: "what is wild and strange." enjoy.
cups of coffee: 3
mood: o insanity, how i love and loathe thee....
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
steadfast
poetry reading for the day: john keats.
Bright Star
Bright star, would I were steadfast as thou art--
Not in lone splendour hung aloft the night
And watching, with eternal lids apart,
Like nature's patient, sleepless Eremite,
The moving waters at their priestlike task
Of pure ablution round earth's human shores,
Or gazing on the new soft-fallen mask
Of snow upon the mountains and the moors--
No--yet still steadfast, still unchangeable,
Pillow'd upon my fair love's ripening breast,
To feel for ever its soft fall and swell,
Awake for ever in a sweet unrest,
Still, still to hear her tender-taken breath,
And so live ever--or else swoon to death.
i watched the movie "bright star" a few months ago (it was on my list of must-see movies) and absolutely loved it. the film depicts the relationship between john keats and fanny brawne - a devoted, passionate love sadly cut short by keats' death. the film moves slowly but eloquently, their love for each other declared through poems and well-chosen prose.
after keats died, fanny cut her hair short, dressed in black, and adorned her fingers with the rings keats had given her. she came out of mourning six years later, and eventually married, more than 12 years after keats' death.
wow. imagine a love like that?
whatever happened to faithfulness? whatever happened to comparing the one you love to a star that hangs resolutely in the night sky--patient, watchful. commitment seems so dispensable today.
cups of coffee: 2 + a whole lotta green tea
mood: mopey
Bright Star
Bright star, would I were steadfast as thou art--
Not in lone splendour hung aloft the night
And watching, with eternal lids apart,
Like nature's patient, sleepless Eremite,
The moving waters at their priestlike task
Of pure ablution round earth's human shores,
Or gazing on the new soft-fallen mask
Of snow upon the mountains and the moors--
No--yet still steadfast, still unchangeable,
Pillow'd upon my fair love's ripening breast,
To feel for ever its soft fall and swell,
Awake for ever in a sweet unrest,
Still, still to hear her tender-taken breath,
And so live ever--or else swoon to death.
i watched the movie "bright star" a few months ago (it was on my list of must-see movies) and absolutely loved it. the film depicts the relationship between john keats and fanny brawne - a devoted, passionate love sadly cut short by keats' death. the film moves slowly but eloquently, their love for each other declared through poems and well-chosen prose.
after keats died, fanny cut her hair short, dressed in black, and adorned her fingers with the rings keats had given her. she came out of mourning six years later, and eventually married, more than 12 years after keats' death.
wow. imagine a love like that?
whatever happened to faithfulness? whatever happened to comparing the one you love to a star that hangs resolutely in the night sky--patient, watchful. commitment seems so dispensable today.
cups of coffee: 2 + a whole lotta green tea
mood: mopey
Monday, May 10, 2010
ophelia
friend grace sent me the video of natalie merchant singing at TED awhile back: phenomenal. here's the link.
natalie breathes new life into obscure 19th century poetry by pairing them with haunting and soulful melodies. she also talks about each poem and poet as if they are old friends and not mere subjects of research.
watching the video prompted me to dig out my old natalie merchant albums, and i've been listening to ophelia recently. i forget how absolutely beautiful that album is. it's a heavy album, better for a rainy day than a walk in the park. but there's this wonderful, silvery beauty that underlies the melancholy.
it's not just the music; her lyrics are stunning. listening to "king of may" nearly brings tears to my eyes every time. my favorite track is "when they ring the golden bells," a rendition of an 1880's hymn. listening to it, i feel as if i'm floating down the river jordan, strumming a guitar, straining to see the distant shore. lovely.
cups of coffee: 1
mood: streeeeeetch
natalie breathes new life into obscure 19th century poetry by pairing them with haunting and soulful melodies. she also talks about each poem and poet as if they are old friends and not mere subjects of research.
watching the video prompted me to dig out my old natalie merchant albums, and i've been listening to ophelia recently. i forget how absolutely beautiful that album is. it's a heavy album, better for a rainy day than a walk in the park. but there's this wonderful, silvery beauty that underlies the melancholy.
it's not just the music; her lyrics are stunning. listening to "king of may" nearly brings tears to my eyes every time. my favorite track is "when they ring the golden bells," a rendition of an 1880's hymn. listening to it, i feel as if i'm floating down the river jordan, strumming a guitar, straining to see the distant shore. lovely.
cups of coffee: 1
mood: streeeeeetch
the goethe project
an acquaintance of mine posted on her facebook this lovely quote from johann wolfgang von goethe:
"One should...listen to a little song, read a good poem, or look at a fine painting every single day, and if possible say something sensible about it."
she changed her blog's title to "the goethe project", vowing to commit 40 days to writing thoughtful, reflective, intentional posts as a way to build a creative ritual. the hope is, of course, that the practice doesn't end with the 40 days but continues as a lifelong habit.
inspiring. a couple of other friends have attempted the 30 days of creativity, forcing their hand literally to create something each day for 30 days.
i am the worst at discipline. the best at visualizing discipline, the worst at actual realization. i start with the truest intentions but somewhere along the way i always get terribly distracted, busy, bored, and honestly, just plain lazy.
there are just too many things i long to learn--not just learn, but be really good at. i want to knit. i want to flamenco dance. i want to speak italian. and that's just the tip of a ridiculously long list of things i've already studied and abandoned: french, violin, belly dancing, boxing...
add on top of that other essentials such as work, personal relationships, keeping up on current events, reading for pleasure, exercise, sleeping, eating....forget it. all i want to do is curl up on the couch, turn my brain on auto-pilot, and pop in a "seinfeld" dvd.
perhaps i should attempt "the goethe project" as well. life has been insane with a capital IN, but maybe it's in the midst of insanity that the need for discipline is even more imperative. besides the lovely quote stated above, goethe also spouted the following quote - similar concept with more of an "oomph":
"A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day of his life, in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul."
(goethe penned many gems - more here)
to not obliterate the sense of the beautiful...perhaps that's a key to true rest. it's not about withdrawing from the world and retreating into my cocoon--i've done that before and still felt tired. maybe it's about satisfying my soul with beauty, feasting and savoring in such a way that my heart feels fed and my body restored. to be reminded of the beauty that does flourish in this world, of the goodness and light that triumph in a world shadowed by despair. to know that everything will turn out all right: there is beauty and joy to be experienced now, and even more to come that we will one day celebrate. it is to see the beauty implanted in our soul and how that reflects the Beauty of the One who placed it there. to gaze into that Ultimate Beauty and be content.
ok. so, 30 days of deliberate beauty and sensibility. here goes.
cups of coffee: 1
mood: spring! spring! spring!
"One should...listen to a little song, read a good poem, or look at a fine painting every single day, and if possible say something sensible about it."
she changed her blog's title to "the goethe project", vowing to commit 40 days to writing thoughtful, reflective, intentional posts as a way to build a creative ritual. the hope is, of course, that the practice doesn't end with the 40 days but continues as a lifelong habit.
inspiring. a couple of other friends have attempted the 30 days of creativity, forcing their hand literally to create something each day for 30 days.
i am the worst at discipline. the best at visualizing discipline, the worst at actual realization. i start with the truest intentions but somewhere along the way i always get terribly distracted, busy, bored, and honestly, just plain lazy.
there are just too many things i long to learn--not just learn, but be really good at. i want to knit. i want to flamenco dance. i want to speak italian. and that's just the tip of a ridiculously long list of things i've already studied and abandoned: french, violin, belly dancing, boxing...
add on top of that other essentials such as work, personal relationships, keeping up on current events, reading for pleasure, exercise, sleeping, eating....forget it. all i want to do is curl up on the couch, turn my brain on auto-pilot, and pop in a "seinfeld" dvd.
perhaps i should attempt "the goethe project" as well. life has been insane with a capital IN, but maybe it's in the midst of insanity that the need for discipline is even more imperative. besides the lovely quote stated above, goethe also spouted the following quote - similar concept with more of an "oomph":
"A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day of his life, in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul."
(goethe penned many gems - more here)
to not obliterate the sense of the beautiful...perhaps that's a key to true rest. it's not about withdrawing from the world and retreating into my cocoon--i've done that before and still felt tired. maybe it's about satisfying my soul with beauty, feasting and savoring in such a way that my heart feels fed and my body restored. to be reminded of the beauty that does flourish in this world, of the goodness and light that triumph in a world shadowed by despair. to know that everything will turn out all right: there is beauty and joy to be experienced now, and even more to come that we will one day celebrate. it is to see the beauty implanted in our soul and how that reflects the Beauty of the One who placed it there. to gaze into that Ultimate Beauty and be content.
ok. so, 30 days of deliberate beauty and sensibility. here goes.
cups of coffee: 1
mood: spring! spring! spring!
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