I was just sitting down to write about skulls in renaissance art and what should turn up but this fine modern interpretation...
I was just sitting down to write about skulls in renaissance art and what should turn up but this fine modern interpretation on the subject by Peter Grieg. Anyway, skulls have been bumping about in my head for a while and the recent journal entry on Cathedrals prompted me to put my thoughts in order. The subject sits, dressed in finery surrounded by the symbols of his success and there on the table is a scull, hollowly looking out. It is an image that recurs in late renaissance art, reminding the viewer that however great the earthly success it will soon be over. / (David Bailly, Self Portrait – Vanitas with a Young Painter) It disconcerts us now. We have sanitised life and, at least at some level, dream that it is possible to forever push out the inevitable. If I spend enough time on the bike, if I wait long enough the cure will be found. The suffering and inevitability of my mortality can be faced if I ignore it. If a I am busy enough, successful enough or drunk enough the reaper will surely pass me by. The misery is that as we chase longevity, success and celebratory champagne we rob life itself of richness. I have had the privilege of spending a number of weeks with very ill cancer patients. They almost universally remark that until they became ill they never really smelt a rose, felt the flow of water on the skin or felt the sun upon their face. Confronting their mortality, life became precious. The tension between now and the hereafter produces a transcending vitality. And in this they also find reservoirs of love and compassion for others they did not know existed. We take the sculls from our personal paintings and we are left just with the brushes, beauties and Blackberrys. They seem so terribly important but so ultimately empty without appreciation of the grand and awesome context of our lives. If we live with this context we fill our lives with the essence of every moment. And we also find art in this.
I think we all take ‘something’ for granted, whether it’s heat in the winter, or that the television will turn on when we hit the pow…
I think we all take ‘something’ for granted, whether it’s heat in the winter, or that the television will turn on when we hit the power button, we’ll have food in the fridge when we open the door, and yes sometimes we even take friendships for granted. We just know that those people will always be there. Sometimes we get busy with what we want to do and get involved with the ‘me’ outlook. “I need to get this done”, “I want to work on this”, “I have to go there” that when there is a friend in need and calling out for help or comfort, we just know they’ll forgive us and everything will be fine….so we don’t take those 15 minutes to drop everything to lend an ear or a shoulder because they are old friends and will understand. / I got a letter from a dear friend of mine recently, her mom was diagnosed with luekemia, given 3-6 months to live. She took her mom to spend a few days on the beach and when they returned she passed away. That got me thinking about all of this, how much and how often we take each other for granted, assuming “they’ll be there tomorrow, I want to do this right now!” / In June 2001 I was diagnosed with Cancer and given the option of surgery or death. Very simple terms and not really much of a choice, I was very blessed to have a skilled doctor who removed every bit of it, but I live with the knowledge that any day at any moment it could come back and start growing inside of me again, trying to take my life from me. Any one of us could go at any moment…......will those 15 minutes we couldn’t spare for a friend…...be the last 15 minutes we could have had with them??? I know that I don’t ever want to have to wonder that about anyone that is near and dear to me, just some thoughts that have been going through my mind while all this crazy drama has been going on in my life. / I’ll fill you all in later about the drama, but right now I can’t get into it in public, because if the wrong person sees it before it’s time, my children are the ones who will suffer. Sorry for the downer journal entry, but I feel better now that it is out of my system. / Thanks for for the 15 minutes, you could have used doing something else.
/ Hi, some of …
/ Hi, some of you may know I have many shots in my folio shot in some of the poorest parts of Africa. I am pleased to say that one of my travelling companions Rebecca Zachariah has joined RB and has started uploading her shots. In Africa Bec & I discussed at length our desire for people to see the harsh reality of life there. We saw hundreds of people traumatised by war, AIDS and otherwise preventable disease. Some of these shots and stories are not for the faint hearted but they are for the warm hearted. I encourage you to check out Bec’s work. As I say, it’s brutally honest. But we believe incredibly necessary.
Main Entry: ma·ca·bre / Pronunciation: (m-käbr, m-käb, -käbr) / Function: adjective / Etymology: French, from (danse) macabre dance of dea…
Main Entry: ma·ca·bre / Pronunciation: (m-käbr, m-käb, -käbr) / Function: adjective / Etymology: French, from (danse) macabre dance of death, from Middle French (danse de) Macabré / 1 : having death as a subject : comprising or including a personalized representation of death / 2 : dwelling on the gruesome / 3 : tending to produce horror in a beholder / synonym see GHASTLY Any horror fans here? Yea…me neither? But, I do have a fondness for darkside images. Why? I don’t know. I have an entire list of dark image ideas I’ve jotted down over the last year. They just pop into my head. Why do I bring it up? Because it’s still photography. Unlike nature, structures, wildlife etc, the horror and macabre field takes some planning. I think that’s why I find them so rewarding. You have to envision a final image and make it happen, from start to finish. There are almost always going to be some type of props involved to portray the visual aspect of horror. But not always I guess? Why all this babble? Because like I said, I’m a fan of the photography side. So I’ve a few images to post that touch on the subject. I’ll mark each one as being sensitive (or whatever the check box is for adult content). But that may not stop you from seeing them. So…if you don’t to care to see some possibly disturbing images, you may not want to watch me anymore. The images will be tagged with the words this journal are tagged with. I’m not trying to chase anyone away, I just want everyone to know that it’s not all about HDR, humor and happy faces with me. Thanks for looking, reading and responding to all I’ve had to offer so far. If I get a big “we don’t want to see it” response, maybe I’ll hold off? We’ll see….
Thank you sooooo much to whoever just bought one of my ‘Cool Skull’ T-shirts! You have made my day!!! Monday has suddenly become so much …
Thank you sooooo much to whoever just bought one of my ‘Cool Skull’ T-shirts! You have made my day!!! Monday has suddenly become so much better! Thank you so much!!!! This is my 1st t-shirt sale and I can’t quite believe it! :-)))
Life never ceases to amaze me, w ith its potential for drama and excitement constantly “lurking”….well with my life it does anyway! I’…
Life never ceases to amaze me, w ith its potential for drama and excitement constantly “lurking”….well with my life it does anyway! I’ve reached the weekend and made it through the week. And what a week it has been! / It has been one of many unsettling experiences, where I find myself questioning…..how the heart does not harden completely so that another living thing or experience can ever touch it, how you can want so badly to never “feel” anything again, yet all the while be just plain grateful that it doesn’t happen like that, because then you would miss out on the joy that creeps in like a surprise when you are not expecting it, and touches the places beneath the armour and make your heart sing. I marvel at the pit you can dig for yourself, yet however full of exhaustion or despair it might become, it can also contain proportionately the same amount, if not more, joy and gratitude. I wonder at nature and life and miracles and why they sometimes don’t happen how you want, yet occur when you least expect them. And most of all, I am just deeply grateful for the ability to laugh at myself and have a sense of humour at life’s turbulent moments of chaos and fleeting glimpses of euphoria. Last Thursday night, a new baby arrived in the family…..a little foal. Having bred horses for over twenty years, I never get over the huge energy buzz I get to witness a birth, discover a new baby, or see a foal untangle the little body from the long legs and master the art of equine life so quickly. It is always an emotional and, for me, a spiritual moment. These days, such moments are rare, as I no longer have a herd or run an official breeding establishment, I only have my old stallion Mystic (well past retirement age, but you try telling him that!) and his long time girlfriend Wildfire, a little mare I bred 16 years ago. We have also been agisting Mariah, a little mare for my friend’s 9yo daughter, trying to get her in foal, but after two years, had given up on it ever happening. Until of course……. I had been heading off to bed, and had actually done something out of character for me, and in an effort to achieve a pain free night following such a desperately busy week, I took some ibuprofen (my condition worsens at times of tiredness and stress, so the pain levels become quite hard to handle, though normally, I refuse to use anything from drug companies….) Anyhow, off to bed I went, and pulled up the covers – it is unseasonably cold here – the nights are generally warm, but of course, Murphy’s Law says that was about to happen would NOT happen on a nice balmy night. So….I awaken to squeals….. / “Go away” I thought. “It is nothing” / But on a farm, you get to know all the little noises of the bush, the birds, the critturs in general, and you just KNOW when they are not right. So the squeals I recognized were of horses meeting new horses, not old horses getting very familiar!! I thought my niece’s show horses must have gotten loose and come visiting my little horses. I grabbed the torch, and headed out in my sleepwear, barefooted and all (glad it was dark and the nearest neighbours were miles away) There was my little mare Wildfire with a new baby foal and she was squealing and kicking, trying to keep it away from Mariah and the stallion. I got excited and started calling to her, as I managed to squeeze through the barb wire fence without losing anything more than my dignity. Then I spotted Mariah dragging the afterbirth behind her, and got such a shock. She was not even supposed to be in foal, and this new baby was HERS!. She was not barren after all, and had actually been in foal all year, even though sharing a very intimate time with the stallion and fooling us all! It was a huge shock, as all I could think of was how overjoyed the little girl who owned her would be, as it had been her birthday that day. I could imagine her shock and delight when I broke the news! My first problem was parting the expectant Mother from a foal that she was determined was hers ( probably wondering at how pain free and instant the birth had been!!!) and avoiding the flying heels and threat of teeth on my bare legs…. You know how cranky new Mothers can be, or even the ones who THINK they are! Eventually, I caught Wildfire in the dark and got her across to a gate into the next paddock, and I tried to get her through the broken gate, with one hand and naturally she did not make it simple. But at last she went through, and the obliging old boy Mystic followed her. (The maternity wing was “women’s business” and he wanted no place in there, even if it was his progeny there wobbling it way around and looking for a mother!) / (It reminds me of him with his foals two years ago…if ever I have seen a stallion look mortified and embarrassed, it was this old boy, when the little foals would rush up to him and stick their inquisitive noses into his nether regions looking for a feed! Lol) I breathed a sigh of relief, thinking “now Mariah can get to her baby and bond and have some rest”. But no. I suddenly realized the paddock I had pushed the other two horses into had its other gate wide open, and away went those two, off down towards the highway. So in the freezing wind, still in my pjs, and with only a little torch, off I went after them. And did the old cat and mouse game. They would let me get within a few metres of them, then with a “yippee! We’re free!” they would trot off with their noses and tails in the air. Bugger! There was no way they were about to give up their new found freedom! And anyone who has been around horses will know you do not chase them – you will never win! So through one paddock and another, I followed them, calling out oh so nice things, promising them all kinds of treats…all the while gritting my teeth…..and hoping the torch didn’t pack it in. Eventually they went towards the dairy, which is where it got really frightening for me, as the swampy damp ground, long grass and drains were full of snakes at this time of year, one of them being the Tiger snake, Australia’s second most venomous snake. I took a deep breath, swallowed my fear and plowed across the grass, a place I would not even walk over in broad daylight. I just prayed the snakes would be asleep somewhere else or at least feeling kind. Eventually Mystic, the old darling, came back to me, allowed me to catch him by the mane, and I lead them back to their paddock. On the way back across the dark long grass, I felt sharp sting on my barefoot and thought “It is nothing but a sharp stick I have trodden on”. By the time I got them safely home and the mare with her foal (it was a filly!!) settled under the trees out of the wind, I was frozen and it was almost 1am. I got indoors and had a wash, then sat down to look at my foot. There was one puncture wound on my toe and it was quite sore. So….I asked myself “Is it a snake bite (ha! A one toothed snake or just one with a bad aim!) or a bullant or bee sting? ” At this point, the adrenalin had my heart pumping from rushing out after the horses and the excitement of finding a new foal, and the ibuprofen had kicked in and I was feeling quite dizzy and drowsy – so I thought, “Is this the effect of snakebite?” I felt really stupid….should I go into the hospital and look like a real dill if it is only a bee sting, or will I look worse than an idiot if I die in my sleep and the kids find me in the morning! I did not wish to call anyone at that hour of the morning, yet my thoughts turned to my two young children asleep in their beds. What to do? I called the hospital and they told me to come in and spend the night in hospital, but I thought it would not be easy with my children….so I decided to wait it out. So I got on Redbubble, (the perfect place to go when you could be dying from snakebite, of course!) even though really tired, and played on there for an hour, and quietly monitored my physical signs….. / and as you can tell, it was NOT snake bite and I am still as large as life and shiny side up!! The next day, we called up the owners of the new baby and told them the good news. The little filly was a dear sweet thing, very friendly and strangely bonded to me and the other humans. She was a bit slow drinking from her mother, so I had to milk the mare and syringe it into her mouth to ensure she got the colostrum. This is to give baby as much of the goodness and protection from her mother as she could get. The young girl who owned her, arrived with her family and the look on her face was priceless. The baby was christened “Rosy”, It was an absolutely delightful time, and one that would become even more precious with what was about to unfold. By the following morning, I knew something was very wrong with the mare. She was not eating and alarm bells went off. / Two years prior to this, I had lost my favourite mare I’d had for 18 years, to hyperlipemia, right after foaling, and had to raise an orphan baby. Now Mariah was showing signs of the same. And so it was. We got the vet, we consulted professional breeders who had saved mares with this condition before (I had never known anyone to bring a mare back from this bloody horrible disease yet!!), and I began the process of trying to save her. We took the precious baby off Mother’s milk and started hand feeding her. This was to give the Mother a chance to stop metabolizing her body fat to produce milk and perhaps slow down her disease. I injected her with insulin and syringed sucrose mix down her throat every few hours, and tried so vainly to get her to eat something. What a precious little soul was the filly – she stuck her head in the dish of formula and drank. She followed us around; when my front door opened, she neighed to me in her little raspy voice. She KNEW. She knew her life was going to revolve around humans and not her mother, and she almost accepted it from the very onset. As I recall the day after her birth, she was just as happy to be with humans as with her own Mother. And poor Mariah….. we fought so hard for her, but she simply gave up. After five days of struggling to save her, of hopes raised, and heartbreaking scenes, I told her owners that I believed she was ready to go, and that to keep her alive was not kind. So I had her put down. / These things are never easy. I hate every part of this side of owning animals – no matter how kind the actions are, I cannot hear a gun without freezing to the pit of my soul, and I still shed tears for the grand souls of these noble creatures as they pass over. The hardest part is to not hold onto regret and blame myself for things not done correctly, or time not spent more wisely…. Or whatever….the lessons abound…. Still, around my home, there are so many ghosts of loved ones….that have moved beyond the road I walk…. / I love my horses so much, death always seems so unfair. So, I saw Mariah returned to the Earth and the baby went to the vet hospital to spend some time getting stronger before taking on its new life as one of a human family in a suburban backyard. I know that little life wouldn’t be an easy one, but it will be filled with love, and I will always welcome back young Rosey to stay here on the farm and learn to socialize with real horses. Then, I checked my other two horses, and Wildfire was making milk, it was dripping from her teats. Another birth was imminent. / I brought her into my garden (a large tree filled yard) where I could watch her more easily, and after last check went to my very welcome bed. Half an hour later, I am awoken to a knocking under the house. I had the dog tied up under there (the only place I could put her to keep her away from sick horse and foal and any other not so pleasant items that she might roll in or eat – well you know dogs will be dogs!) I grabbed the torch yet again and outside I went. These night time jaunts in my sleepwear were starting to become monotonous! There was Wildfire running up and down the side of my house looking very upset. I got down on my knees and looked under the house with the torch and sure enough, there was one terrified dog (it wasn’t ME!!!! She was saying) and one very active baby foal. I hate under my house…it is dark and creepy and full of spiders and often even the place where snakes live. But under I crawled in my pjs, and captured the foal and dragged her out. Yes her! A filly, and what a stunner!! So this one, I am sure, had hit the ground running, and once out under the stars, away she went, at a tiny gallop, racing around the yard, with her distressed mother hot on her heels. This went on for four hours! I don’t know what that baby was on, but she was definitely hyperactive. She ran through fences, jumped through cracks in gates, through gardens and shrubs, went back under the house three more times, and eventually, taking pity on the poor mare who needed to calm down, I barricaded the front section of my garden using everything I could find outside in the dark, and took them in there. Straight away the baby leapt into the dog house and went to the back, while the poor mare freaked out completely. / I honestly have never seen such an active baby. I was unable to go back to bed and leave them as I was so worried she would hang herself from somewhere. Or get stuck, or worse, get out and run away from her mother. Eventually she collapsed on the ground and they both got some rest, and THEN, I too, went back to bed. By this time, the sun was just starting to lighten the horizon. But the next morning, I was greeted with the sight of my best Christmas present. She truly is a stunning little filly and both she and the mare were doing fine. After the traumas of the week however, I was definitely overly watchful and worried about the health of them both, not to mention, extremely sad for my friends and their daughter at the twist of fate that saw me with a healthy baby and mother, and them with a dead horse and an orphan foal. Somehow it seemed unfair. So you see, between the lack of sleep and my concerns for all my creatures, not to mention the many emotions this has all evoked for me, I have barely had time to think about Christmas. I just ponder the sadness of our connections with animals, how there is always sorrow when they are ill or suffering, and death is never easy to deal with (even after all the years of heartbreaks and experiences I have had with my horses). I shudder at the necessity for guns on farms, they chill me to the core, yet know deep down, they can be a kind option for an animal’s peaceful and rapid release. How the fear creeps in when you love something…..at times I know, I have felt I will never own another horse, or get attached to another creature, or have another relationship, because the loss is so hard to bear – yet deep down the simple truth is, nothing lasts forever, but the effects and memories of love do, they are cumulative within our souls and become a part of who we are – love is always its own reward. Therefore any moments shared with another, whether human or animal, are a gift to honour, and never to be shied away from. / I come away from this week, heartened too by the awareness of joy in having them share our lives. These special characters are all a blessing to me, and teach me many things. I only have to witness the miracle of such new births to know that the cycle of life continues, that all is as it should be. Witnessing such moments brings tears in my eyes… an expression of love for life, and an overflowing of the heart. The final word – two days later, a horse float arrives at my front door, and the woman driver unloads a little mare, who has come to visit my stallion. The process begins again…
“ I think my Daddy’s going to die” she said. I had found her standing by herself staring out the glass door at the back of my house, m…
“ I think my Daddy’s going to die” she said. I had found her standing by herself staring out the glass door at the back of my house, maybe watching the trees, maybe not really seeing anything. “I know, sweety” I said. “Your Daddy is very sick, and he might die, but they are trying to fix him at the hospital” / I did not know what else to say. Her big brown eyes fixed on mine, unblinking. / “It’s because of the alcohol, he drinks too much alcohol”. Stunned, I did not know what to say. For a child so young, she had seen too many things, and had worked out a lot for herself. “Two drinks is okay” she said, wisely nodding to herself “but more than that makes you sick. It’s not good to have more than that.” My heart broke for her. Yet she did not seem sad. Somehow, that was what made it worse. She was totally accepting of the situation, it was like it was an everyday experience to be taken on, worked though and discarded. For me, the whole situation had shocked me and filled me with grief. / I had followed the ambulance from town, on my way home from work. The sight of an ambulance, lights flashing, on its way along the highway towards my farm home, was an unusual one, and it filled me with dread. / “Please turn off. Please don’t be someone in my family” I silently prayed as I drove behind it. There were not many homes along that stretch of road, as it was mainly farmland. I felt ashamed for hoping it was someone other than my family. Then the ambulance turned into my neighbour’s driveway. / My heart thumped. A young couple with young kids – not a good sign; worse still, a man who had succumbed to depression after losing his mother, his grandmother and a friend in the past year, and more recently having lost his job and dealing with relationship troubles. I had felt his pain before and it was vast. These were people I cared about, I so desired to help, yet it seemed impossible to know where to begin. Sometimes friendship seems such a small and helpless thing against the demons that haunt people’s lives Neighbours were running across the paddock at the sight of the ambulance. The son stood at the door, white face, showing the ambos in and leading them to…… A man, OD’d on the bedroom floor. Purple… foaming at the mouth ………… dying. The fourteen year old boy, traumatized, quivering in shock, tells me had been at home with his little sister and the phone had rung. He had taken it up to his stepdad’s room to give him the call, and found him like that. His eyes were haunted, the tears quivered right there, he all but broke down and I prepared myself to hug him, but then something hauled him back and he blocked it. His Mum was home now, it would be all right. “Help me get your little sister’s clothes and school things” I said to him, “and she can come home with me for the night. I will take care of her and get her to school tomorrow. That will make it easier for your Mum”. The little girl was wandering around the house totally oblivious to the drama unfolding, telling everyone who would listen / “My daddy hurt himself. He had an accident.” The boy handed me a school bag and one pair of pants. He could not focus, could not think. He did not know what to do. I told him I would take care of it, give his sister my own daughter’s clothes….it would be okay. I asked if he would like to come with us, but he said no. He wanted to stay with his Mum. I wanted to hug him, but he had a barrier up that seemed to preclude anyone coming close to comfort him. I plucked up the courage and walked back up to the bedroom. I did not look down. I tried to block the sight of the ambulance officers, working on the body on the floor. I caught the eye of the woman, my friend and neighbour, and just said “I am taking your daughter home with me, to help you out…..” But she did not hear, her face white and distressed staring blankly across the room at me. So the little girl happily got in my car as if it was the greatest adventure ever. She was the same age as my daughter and they were school friends. All she could think about was staying with Maya. It was going to be fun. I was amazed at the resilience of small children, how they could seemingly shed the horror of things they had witnessed and just play. What a blessing it was that they could “just play”. I was holding back tears and shock at what had just taken place in that home, yet this little girl could only think about what fun she was going to have. But now, a few hours later, she had played for a while, the novelty was over, and reality had set in. She had wandered to a place by herself as her little mind tried to come to terms with what was happening. “I think my Daddy’s going to die”.
“*if only tonight we could sleep / in a bed made of…
if only tonight we could sleep / in a bed made of flowers / if only tonight we could fall / in a deathless spell / if only tonight we could slide / into deep black water / and breathe / and breathe… then an angel would come / with burning eyes like stars / and bury us deep / in his velvet arms and the rain would cry / as our faces slipped away / and the rain would cry don’t let it end… (click the lyrics to listen to the song) Today I received some sad news. My little Jordy man has Cancer again. :( I am at a point right now where I am very lost. Anyone that knows me well enough, will understand the bond I have with my Three Boys … but especially so with Jordy … my little Alien. When Jordy was about 4 years old, he got skin cancer in his ears. Something a lot of animals with white fur get. Luckily Kim and I got him to the Vet before it had a chance to spread and they cut it out. Since then, Jordy has been my no ears little Alien. The Ironic thing is that when Kim brought him home as a Present … I said he was the ugliest cat I had ever seen …. he is now the most beautiful thing I have had in my life. The vet has told me without Chemo, he probably has about 3 months to live … but that is with pain. :( I can’t afford the Chemo for him sadly. :( And even with the Chemo, the cancer is too far spread … it won’t cure him this time … just prolong his life. With a heavy heart I now need to make a decision on timing :( At some time soon I need to figure out that Jordy is suffering and allow him to be free of that, so he can forever watch over me. This will be one of the hardest things I will have done. I am going to share the next few months here …. some of this may not be nice, but it will help me too. I am going to miss …. this gorgeous Monkey on My Back so much!!!
*UPDATE In Defense of Animals Applauds Cancellation of Animal Snuff Film Exhibit / But Animal Protection Group Denounces Cancellation o…
UPDATE In Defense of Animals Applauds Cancellation of Animal Snuff Film Exhibit / But Animal Protection Group Denounces Cancellation of Today’s Public Forum San Francisco, Calif.—In Defense of Animals (IDA), the international animal protection organization based in San Rafael, California, today applauded the cancellation by the San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI) of a video exhibit of animals being killed by a sledge hammer. IDA also denounced the cancellation of today’s public forum at SFAI to discuss the creation of animal suffering for “art.” IDA President Elliot M. Katz, DVM stated: “Members of the humane and artistic community were looking forward to the public hearing to express our condemnation of the Art Institute’s giving credibility and acceptability to the work titled, “Don’t Trust Me.” They should never have approved this exhibit in the first place.” Dr. Katz characterized the exhibit, depicting the bludgeoning deaths of tethered animals, as a snuff video. Dr. Katz also stated that “We will not give up until the Art Institute either condemns the exhibit in question, or creates a policy that condemns the creation of animal suffering for videos and/or photographs that pose as works of art.” IDA rejects the notion that the “artist’s” right to free expression includes the commission or requisition of cruelty to animals. “There is undercover video footage that shows animals being slaughtered in abattoirs, the Outdoor Channel shows animals being shot; there is no lack of existing video footage that might have been used to make whatever point it was that this ‘artist’ wanted to make,” argues Katz, adding that musings on the nature of art and the place of animals in society could have been provoked in ways other than a series of sensational, violent stunts. IDA hopes that SFIA will adopt a formal policy against killing of animals specifically for a piece of art. IDA is calling for SFIA to follow the lead of the Chrysler Museum of Art, which will not exhibit or promote the exhibition of art where animals are killed or abused specifically for that piece of art. The San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI) has agreed to temporarily suspend a controversial exhibit consisting of video images of six animals being bludgeoned to death with a large sledgehammer. The Institute will hold a public forum on Monday, March 31st at SFAI’s campus to hear criticism of the work. Controversial “artist” Adel Abdessemed will not be present, but the school’s Dean of Academic Affairs, two art professors, and the exhibit’s curator will be. IDA founder and president Dr. Elliot Katz commended SFAI for discontinuing the exhibit, and for holding the public forum. “The Institute’s initial defense that the animals were going to be killed anyway sends a terrible message, not only to the public, but to the next generation of artists,” he noted. “Their official response was at first rather inflexible and defensive. I am pleased that now they are at least willing to hear the public’s concerns relating to the ethical and moral ramifications of this exploitive and cruel exhibit.” What: Public forum to discuss art and ethics, and whether killing animals can ever be considered “art.” / When: Monday, March 31st at noon / Where: San Francisco Art Institute Main Campus (in the lecture hall), 800 Chestnut Street, San Francisco Urge San Francisco Art Institute to permanently shut down animal snuff exhibit What do YOU think? “Don’t Trust Me” Showcased at the San Francisco Art Institute SFAI – Looped cuts of only a few seconds, the videos offer up gestures and facts, but resist the imposition of narrative constructions or automatic interpretations (whether of the empirically unambiguous or the theoretically savvy kind). The tacit claims for “autonomy” made by such visual language—staccato forms, lights, movements, and immediate experiences—imbue the work with an instantaneous efficiency that circumvents categorization, making typical moral and cultural constraints seem beside the point. Don’t Trust Me portrays six animals—a sheep, a horse, an ox, a pig, a goat, and a doe—being struck and killed by a hammer. Each killing occurs so quickly that it’s difficult to determine definitively what has happened. Do these incidents represent slaughter or sacrifice? What are their social, cultural, moral, and political implications? Or are such questions now verging on irrelevance, as if something else altogether were taking place (or about to), something wholly other, unforeseen, unexpected? / To read the full description, go here *If you’re interested in seeing stills from the videos, you can view them at Walter and McBean Galleries.
NSFW
A link to what I feel.. As I approach my life daily listening to how I feel in the moment NOW.. my brother sends me this wonderful link…..
A link to what I feel.. As I approach my life daily listening to how I feel in the moment NOW.. my brother sends me this wonderful link..THANKS LAW OF ATTRACTION.. YOU KNOW .. how much I have desired to enhance my knowledge that there is NO DEATH
Hi to all my friends on Redbubble, I thought I’d just let you all know that my dad died yesterday morning 23rd Dec 2008. We were e…
Hi to all my friends on Redbubble, I thought I’d just let you all know that my dad died yesterday morning 23rd Dec 2008. We were expecting him to go soon, but I thought he’d be strong enough to see Christmas through. However, it was not to be. We’re sad and grieving at his death, but pleased that he’s also been spared any more suffering. He’d been coping with Lung Cancer for over 4 years. Praise the Lord, my dad was a Christian! We know where he is going to spend eternity. Thanks to all of you for the encouragement I’ve received since joining. I I really do hope that you all have a wonderful Christmas with your friends and family. Take delight in your loved ones, because you don’t know just how long you’ll have them around to appreciate. Peace and goodwill to all mankind, this Lord’s Day 25 Dec 2008. / Have a great New Year in 2009. Blessings and thanks to you all. Don.
my fingers that relay the messages from my head to my keyboard are dancing this morning!!! I think Judi Taylor....
my fingers that relay the messages from my head to my keyboard are dancing this morning!!! I think Judi Taylor said it this week when she had her written work featured.. / There is something so special when this happens.. Thank you to / for allowing me in .. Ushna Sardar / and my sweet fury of all flurrys.. / theyellowfury FEATURING / MIND READING / AND MY ART PIECE / VIBRATION SERIES… The Vibration of US also to the WONDEROUS … / MASTERPIECES:LITERARY WORKSHOP / HOSTS GRACIOUS AS EVER… / THE BEAUTIFUL AMBER ELIZABETH FROMM AND MY DEAREST … / KUMAR BELLANI / FOR FEATURING WRITTEN WORK Menage a Trois YEP FINGERS ARE STILL DANCING!
Yes friends, you read that right. It was not a typo or a cruel joke! The first EVER ‘Lighter Side of Dark’ book is now published and avai…
Yes friends, you read that right. It was not a typo or a cruel joke! The first EVER ‘Lighter Side of Dark’ book is now published and available for purchase! It has been a long year in the making and I thank you all for being so patient with us! Paul and I are so happy to share this awesome occasion with all of our RedBubble friends around the globe. Today marks a major accomplishment for the two of us and we are thrilled to have you all here with us to celebrate! Since we can’t pass out virtual party favors, (since it is not only our official book launch day but also my dear partner-in-crime’s birthday!) we are going to put the book on sale for a week, starting today! Thanks so much, to all of you, for all of the love, the support, the comments and the inspiration. We love you all!!!! Okay, enough mush! I know you want the link, so here it is! ~Shannon Rene’ and Paul
Two tales…. One story four years ago….. an …
Two tales…. One story four years ago….. an amazing tale with an even more special ending….perhaps if you read the story I wrote back in 2005 – the Day of the Whales it will help balance out the following more disturbing story. You see, that story was nearly four years ago. / This story – was this week, and again our south west shores have seen the heartbreaking and incomprehensible mass strandings of many cetaceans. Eighty seven whales and five dolphins were found stranded on the beach at Hamelin Bay early Monday morning. / Over seventy of the long finned pilot whales died there on the shores, along with the dolphins, with only eleven whales surviving until yesterday morning. Over 200 volunteers from the community and various groups, together with wildlife officers and veterinarians fought to provide relief and save these amazing creatures over the past two days and nights. / / Humans Caring The level of dedication and care by those who give everything to help the distressed whales is a very tangible and powerful energy. The connection between humans and cetaceans is a deep and almost primeval urge, our need to be near them, to know them, and to create interactions, is often beyond our understanding. But the emotions evident amongst all the human carers in these situations are real and a testimony to that mysterious link between our ocean dwelling friends and ourselves. Yesterday, the surviving eleven whales were transported over land to the calmer but deeper waters of Flinders Bay on the opposite side of Cape Leeuwin to Hamelin Bay. It was hoped this would give them a greater chance of returning to the open sea and thus surviving. Once lifted from the Hamelin Bay beach with cranes, Large trucks were used to transport the whales in this desperate and unique attempt to save them, and after the 15 minute journey, another huge crane was used to lift them in slings and move them down to the ocean where volunteers guided them into the water and kept them calm and still until they were all together. It was feared if some were allowed to head out to deeper water too soon, the distress calls of those left behind would only cause them to rebeach themselves. / Volunteers hold the whales in Flinders Bay, while waiting for the rest of the survivors to be transported to the safer harbour / A crane lowers the whale down into the waters of Flinders Bay, Augusta One whale reacts as it finds itself back in the ocean, dowsing those all around with the spray….either with frustration at being held captive by humans or simply joy at being back in the water Volunteers get up close to administer care to the surviving whales Once the eleven were all in Flinders Bay, they were guided out to deeper water by volunteers and professionals using boats and various other means. One female became extremely distressed and had trouble breathing, finally heading back into shallow waters where the decision was made to euthanize her to end her suffering. And then there were ten… / After suffering so much, what would this whale be thinking as he was lowered on a crane towards the water? After witnessing the live whales being returned to the sea, I felt filled with hope for them…. but wanted to pay homage to those who had not made it. I wandered along the shore of Hamelin bay and silently viewed what could only be described as a scene of carnage. Front end loaders and trucks lined up to move the huge whales, some measuring up to six and half metres and weighing three and a half tonnes, to a disposal site. It was a gruesome sight on that once beautiful beach, to see the whales going to their final resting place in the arms of heavy machinery rather than the gentle caress of ocean waves. It almost seemed blasphemous, but these beautiful creatures had long gone home to better places and the need to remove so many carcases was a nightmare that had to be attended to as soon as possible. Sharks had moved in and bites were taken from any whales that remained near the water. The bay itself had become a potentially dangerous place with the sharks being lured in by the potential of easy food. It is not even sure if sharks had attacked these large whales before they were stranded as many on the shore were scarred and marked with wounds. On this sad beach, and surrounded by the sadness and death, humans worked with respect and silence as the whales were still “taken care of” with dignity and sensitivity. I still wonder what makes these majestic and intelligent creatures commit such an act of destruction upon themselves. And why our corner of the world has such a regular occurrence of these mass strandings. According to the DEC, there have been at least 21 instances of mass strandings of whales and dolphins along this coastline since 1984. Some say it is the gentle slope of our beaches that confuses their radars….. some believe that more human intervention has created confusion or damage to their sonars or health, in the form of military sonic testing under the ocean…..in some cases strandings have been linked back to US naval exercise in the regions where whales have washed up onto beaches. Could it also be the series of recent earthquakes felt across the fault lines of Australia? Is there some chance that beneath the sea, the effects of these disturbances are felt by the sensitive cetaceans? Or is it that when a lead whale of a pod becomes old or unwell, that they make a choice to take themselves to a quiet beach to die, rather than risk being torn to shreds by sharks in the open ocean, but unfortunately, due to the loyalty and incredible social nature of whale pods, the others follow their leader into dangerous situatons? / The sad beach / the silent wave goodbye / The sign says it all We might never quite know what causes these horrific occurences, but one thing is very evident to me as I witness or take part in the ensuing scenes – That for all the large numbers of people who rush to the scene to help and strive to save the whales, these beautiful creatures are doing just as much to help and heal the humans who get in the water with them, or seek to touch and comfort them. It is almost as if the healing and care extends both ways, as anyone who has taken part in “saving the whales” will tell you….their lives have been enriched and changed forever by the experience, by that touch, that look in the eye, by the sounds of whale song or language, or just the invisible communication that passes between human and cetacean at a time when it is often impossible to know which one needs the other’s presence more. In the case of this story, the sadness continues, as of the ten released to the sea, six have since died and only four remain alive, but at this point in time, travelling safely out to sea in a group. The one redeeming factor in all this tragedy is that for all the deaths, there are still some alive who would not have survived without the care of countless individuals with big hearts and helping hands. And that the most important memory to take away from this is not the tears or sorrow and regret for those who did not make it this time but the symbolism of four whales swimming bravely back out to sea, to reclaim their existence and continue their journey. Two tales, one of hope, one of despair….two stories, different endings…. / One rides to the ocean and perhaps new freedom / One rides to eternity More of this story can be read “here”:http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,25234417-2761,00.html / “here”:http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,25228579-2761,00.html?referrer=email / And “here”:http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=77&ContentID=132200 (sorry, I could not get the above three links to print and work, so if you are interested, just copy and paste them…)
/ / What started off as a wet start to the day, and not…
/ / What started off as a wet start to the day, and not looking too good, the rain held off for the Zombie Shuffle. The Undead gathered at Carlton Gardens waiting for their flesh rotten friends to arrive. / / The crowd grew restless as the time approached for the shuffle to begin, the cry of Braaaains! rang out more frequent. / / / / / Lucky there was a brain juice counter, doing a brisk (free) trade and quenching the thirst. / / / / / ... some had a snack before the long shuffle ahead / / / / / while others were more content to make sure the rain didn’t spoil their day / / / / / Who said you can’t get kids to eat food such as brains etc? / / / Reinforcements Arrive! / / / / / And The Shuffle Begins! / / / / / / Mmmm, photographers brains…. / / / / They even eat each other / / / / Little Red Riding Hood didn’t stand a chance / / / / In the Zombie Zone / / / / Think I’m in trouble / / / / Zombies Making Religious Statements, what next? / / / / Descending into hell? / / / / Looks like there’s no milk today / / / / Even the billboards joined in / / / / and here we end / / / / / Something to think about for next year…. / / /
The chant began….“brains, brains, brains” The cry grew louder as the Zombies swarmed together at Carlton Gardens waiting for the…
The chant began….“brains, brains, brains” The cry grew louder as the Zombies swarmed together at Carlton Gardens waiting for their shuffle of doom through Melbourne’s CBD. Here’s a few shots from the day, click on the Slideshow link to see the full set. Thanks for looking :-) . .
A lovely shot by Judi Taylor of a honeybee accompanied by a…
A lovely shot by Judi Taylor of a honeybee accompanied by an article on the decline of the bee population in this world prompted me to write the words below. I hope & pray all take note of the way energy functions in this world and how important the human population are to such movements of the controlling energies that create this world to be as it becomes, abundant or lacking, the decision really is after all up to all people not just a chosen few who deem themselves the rulers of this world or the chosen ones. Everyone is a chosen one or you wouldn’t be in this world. THE PROCESS OF LIFE’S ENERGY I truly believe that most of the problems of this world have a lot to do with the attitudes & emotions of the human factor of nature, the people. When people are stressed out their vibrations emit stress into the ether which small creatures, such as bees, pick up on and are then also affected by stress. Everything is from within to without, including how the world develops, or deteriorates, by the movement of energy emitted from within to without by the governing population of nature, in this instance, the human population … who are under considerable stress in this world at present … too many stressing about poverty, which brings on more poverty, stressing about wars, which brings on more wars, stressing about lack of, which brings on more lacking … the emotions of the thoughts of such ways are just begetting more of those ways through stressful worry. When will the scientists in this world realize that ALL moves in this world as one … so when one element suffers, all suffer, eventually. If people don’t want the illusion of this world to come to an end then they need to bring their emotions under control and that can only be done individually with one’s own self-control, no one else can control another’s emotions. When a person gets upset over something it is them that have allowed themselves to get upset … no one else … even if someone has given you a dreadfully difficult time … it is still an individual reaction whether you choose to react in an equally bad way, or choose to use your self-control to have dominance over your emotions. As all energy works in conjunction with each other in this world it is vital that people learn to control themselves first and foremost before they attempt to dominate another which only stirs the air-waves, so to say, and creates animosity which is then vibrated via emotions into the ether and therefore affects the world’s function of creation. In short, the human population of this world creates this world as it becomes – good or bad – via their thoughts, emotions and attitudes which all result in emitted energy into the ether which moves Mother Nature to repay back in kind. As you give, you receive. CJ /
UtahDave announced on his profile page and a few of mooners images… “It is so sad to anno…
UtahDave announced on his profile page and a few of mooners images… “It is so sad to announce that my big brother Rick (the one & only mooner1) passed away peacefully last night Sept. 25th 2009 at his home in Connecticut. Rick was 59 years old. It was so nice to see his passion for redbubble and to know that he had so many friends here. He often bugged me to join his beloved redbubble but to tell you the truth I have been a flickr junkie for 5 years (a long time in internet years). Thank you all for your friendship and kindness to him. / Dave” / Mooner1 Rick and his peaceful images will be missed!!! In his own words and heART… /
It was a cold December night in Missouri; I felt like I was the only one still breathing. My only company was the whispers of ghosts in m…
It was a cold December night in Missouri; I felt like I was the only one still breathing. My only company was the whispers of ghosts in my head. I had forgotten how to feel anything other than remorse. Grief had implanted itself into my feet and slowly wound itself around every other part of my being, choking out any possibility for other feelings. You see, I was losing myself. I am a needed person – mother of 3, with a group of family and friends that look to me for many things. By day I had to be the mother, friend, and sister that I always was. I had no choice but to get out of bed and do what I had to do; much like the lonely lamp post at the end of my street, it comes on every night at dusk, whether it wants to or not. Nobody asks if it wants to shine – they expect it and so shine it does. Inside of myself I was bleeding pain. You see, in November of 2008 I lost one of the most important people in my life. Her name is Hillarie, she was only 19, and she was my beautiful niece. We were closer than a typical aunt/niece relationship, as she spent much of her life with me. Hillarie was diagnosed with a heart problem when she was 1 ½ years old. We were told she wouldn’t have a long life, as her condition was extremely rare. When she was 6 she had a pacemaker installed. When she was 9 we received the greatest gift of all – a new heart. I say ‘we’ because while the heart was to keep her going, she kept us going. Experiences like this make you see life in a different way. It makes you much more sensitive to the little things that make life so wonderful. But with time, you take it for granted that person will be there. It is hard for your mind to accept there isn’t a ‘tomorrow’. We had so many tomorrows. Hillarie grew into a beautiful, creative young woman wise beyond her years. But last fall we received terrible news; Hillarie was in rejection. Long story short, after a few months of declining health and way of life, we lost her. Somehow, with all this history, the loss was still unexpected. She had been in rejection before and came out of it. In fact, this was her history, to beat the odds. I wanted to believe this would be the case again. But she was tired this time. She told her friend in secret that she was ready to go. Knowing this, afterwards, killed me – especially knowing that she knew… and that she didn’t tell me. On that cold December night, I was plundering the internet looking for anything to quiet my mind. It was more of a perfunctory experience than anything else. I came across some digital art that blew me away and I had to see more of this artists work. He had a link to his RedBubble portfolio. This moment was the lifejacket that kept me from drowning. I have been experiencing RedBubble for almost a year now. I can honestly say that RedBubble has had a profound impact on my life and changed me in many ways. There is a significant piece of me that was resurrected because of my experience here; I found the parts of me that had disappeared. Along the way I also found bits and pieces that I had lost years before from neglecting myself. You see, I wrote my first poem when I was 6 years old. While it wasn’t an Emily Dickinson, writing has been an essential part of who I am since I can remember. Despite this, being a working mom took its toll – I hadn’t written in 5 years at all, and the 5 years prior to that were somewhat bulimic…. Periods of a few days trying to write months worth of thoughts down on paper to make up for the many months of not writing at all. While I will always have a hole in my heart with Hillarie’s name on it, finding the Bubble reminded me of the beauty in life and that it’s my responsibility to do and see as much as possible for both her and my own children. I decided to journal this as a preface for the next scribblings I’ll be sharing. I plan on writing regularly to share with you things and people on the Bubble that inspire me. I want my fellow Bubblers to understand how profoundly their art and their friendship have affected me. This isn’t just a place to come and spend some time looking at pretty things. My soul has grown and I have sprouted wings from the community that resides here. I have a thankful heart, and I feel much appreciation for the gifts I have been given, the resources that have allowed my ache to be soothed, and the outlet provided to spill my ink and share my thoughts. I love the Bubble and hope to see all of you for years to come. Patty Jo In loving memory of Hillarie Dawn Horine
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This is one of my oldest and dearest friends Diane. Her daughters story is below. This is one of many times Diane has gone to bat to prot…
This is one of my oldest and dearest friends Diane. Her daughters story is below. This is one of many times Diane has gone to bat to protect the innocent. She is even going to school to become an attorney to help fight the system that has so many failures in polices and leaves children who desperately need a little extra effort out in the cold. Please read her story below and if you agree please sign the petition. Thanks so much RB! Vonne The Story of One Little Girl vs. Edmond Oklahoma School Policies. / Thank You for visiting our web page. My name is Dianna and this story is about my little 12 year old daughter named Rachel. The school’s say they care about our children? My daughter attends Edmond Central Middle School, 6th grade. She has Asperger’s (autism), generalized convulsive seizure disorder, and asthma. The school had a recent outbreak of H1N1. 77 students were sent home and 38 were suspected of having the virus. I made her stay home as to not take a risk of her contracting the virus. I was picking up her school work, having her complete it and returning it back to school every week. They informed me that I needed a Dr.s note saying that she had this diagnosis and she was at high risk of developing flu-related complications if she contracted the virus. I did have a Dr. agree and he signed it. I went to the IEP ( individualized education plan) so we could change it to allow her to stay home and continue doing her work until the crisis passed. They refused to hear anything I had to say about H1N1. They refused to accept the Dr’s letter of recommendation of Rachel’s diagnosis and her high risk of dying if she contracted the virus. I presented evidence from the CDC that says” People at high risk for developing complications to the H1N1 flu are, Neurological disorders such as epilepsy and asthma. They recommended the educators to permit high risk students to stay home while the transmission is high in their community.”I showed them the CDC stated, “Healthy high risk students who are sent home out of precaution could take home curricular packets so that they don’t fall behind.”They gave ideas such as deliver content via conference calls, audio recordings, or teachers could call students and parents to provide lessons, checkins and tips to create a learning environment at home. I showed evidence of the CDC statement saying, “Two thirds of children who died from H1N1 virus had neurodevelopmental disabilities. Two thirds of the children who died had high risk medical conditions. Nearly all of them had an illnesses related to the nervous system, including epilepsy and other seizure disorders.”CDC highlights H1N1 risks saying, “Nearly 70% of these children who died had high risk medical conditions including asthma. I showed them what Sandy Garrett, the State Superintendent of Public Education recommended, “There are people who are more at risk for H1N1 complications and may want to consider staying home until it subsides. If a student opts to stay home because they are at high risk for contracting the virus, the IEP team can determine which services can be provided such as tutoring by phone, or the internet. I don’t even care about speech, or OT services; I just want her to be safe and have an education. The school said I either send her to school or I pull her out and home school her. They said for her to be allowed home I had to have a Dr. recommend that she needs to stay home. I pleaded with the Dr’s at Children’s Hospital to write me a letter saying they recommend it but they informed me they could not, because they would have to recommend it for everybody. They can only recommend staying home if you have the virus. I pleaded with the school saying if Rachel contracted this disease, she could die! 70% chance of dying! This isn’t the regular flu that we are dealing with; this flu is KILLING our children, especially our special needs children. I requested, Please let me continue picking up her work, I will even grade it too and return it so she doesn’t get behind, just until the number of cases subsides. They said they cannot tolerate the absences that were occurring because of this situation. They refused to work with us about Rachel. They said they cared about her and wanted what was best and being in school was best for her. Yet, they would rather her to stay home as suggested and not have an education than to work with a loving mom who just wants her daughter to survive this epidemic and not be another statistic like some children who we have already had to witness the unbearable pain that their loss has caused their families. I am a struggling mom who is in college to be an attorney so that I may give these children voices that will be heard, and now I have to find some sort of an education for my daughter. I don’t understand why even our President called this a national emergency and has made a big deal of the H1N1 virus, The CDC makes a big deal of the H1N1 virus, The State Superintendent makes a big deal of the H1N1 virus, and school officials act as if I am a hypochondriac because I make a big deal of the H1N1 virus. Why is it so wrong to want to keep my child well? Why doesn’t the school want to provide my child an education when I am willing to do all the work? Why is Sandy Garrett in charge but she doesn’t have a voice? Is it wrong to want Rachel to have an education but not at the expense of her life? My desire is to change the policy that states we need a Dr. to recommend that a child needs to stay home. We as parents have to provide many documents that prove our children’s disabilities so that they can be placed in Special Education or have IEP’s, Therefore, not everybody can afford to bounce from Dr. to Dr. to get a recommendation of a fact that has already been proven. This is time consuming and costly for parents to have to search for one Dr. that agrees with them. I will be putting up a petition on this sight to try and change this policy. Please help us in our quest for change, Please sign it so that the parent’s voices shall be heard. We should not have to choose between our children’s lives or our children’s education. That is what I have been forced to do. / Thank You for your support. / Sign Here
I’m getting a new cellphone with an 8 megapixel camera and video soon, I can’t wait, I want to start taking ‘spontaneous pictures’ of the…
I’m getting a new cellphone with an 8 megapixel camera and video soon, I can’t wait, I want to start taking ‘spontaneous pictures’ of the things I see around me. Oh I know it’s not like having a really high-tech camera or anything, but it’s something I can carry around me when I go on my daily walks, there have been so many snippets of Life and emotion I’ve seen on my short, daily travels, that I’d have loved to capture on film. / / I started disciplining and committing myself to daily walks about three months ago, it was a way of motivating me, re-energising me, getting my ass out of a bed and back into the big, wide world again, being around people, life and nature but at a safe, ‘controllable’ distance. I think about lots of things on my walk. / / Plus it helps to shift some weight off my fat, Jack Russell dog. / / So rain or shine, I make my way out of the house at 5:30 pm NZ time every day for my two hour walk, whether I feel like it or not, it has become a part of my daily ritual and routine, probably the only thing I stick to with consistency at all. / / The walks initially started out about 2km around the block, then I walked an extra block further, and another yet again, feeling like Forest Gump getting further and further away from home. / / And sometimes I see things I’d love to capture on camera that I can no longer express in words, small things that to some might seem inconsequential, but that for me, momentarily, move me to think and feel again. / / Yesterday while out walking, a bright, tiny, yellow bird flew out of a tree into the road, it hit the windscreen of an oblivious driver who was talking on his cell phone and who just carried on driving to go about his day. / / I watched the bird fall to the road thinking how weird it was that it remained unscathed and in tact. / / It tumbled and rolled over and over a few times and then lay still, a small, bright, lifeless speck on a black, tarseil landscape. / / I questioned why something so harmless, young and beautiful was taken away from us so suddenly and quickly, it makes the meaning of life itself seem so pointless and futile… / / But then I wake up to see another sunny day, baby ducklings waddling across lawns, more beautiful coloured birds flying freely in the sky, and I figure that it’s just the universal cycle of things, that one, single day, flying free to that little bird, may have felt like a lifetime to another animal or person who forever feels imprisioned and sad… / / So I guess it’s all relative in the end? / / I swear I once said I’d shoot myself and blow my brains out if I ever started to write soppy, sentimental shit about birds, flowers or sunsets. / / That shit is sooooooooooooooooooo not like me. Now I feel like I have to create or write something hard, gritty and realistic to counteract the weak, soppy shit. / / I can’t wait to get my new cellphone camera… / / Green… / / I just live / way over here, / in a land where poets / get paid money / for writing about Tuis / that shit and sing / in Kowhai trees, / a country where writers / whore their souls, / writing glossy, / sugar-coated, / travel-brochure / fucking poetry, / designed to promote, / the remote… / / Ciao 4 Now / Jennifer B / / xox
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