Saturday, September 25, 2021

Fully Self-actualized

At age 16 I attended a school in Boulder, Colorado for high-school dropouts. One of my fellow students was the son of Vivian Mercier, a scholar of Samuel Beckett's work, esp the play Waiting For Godot.


My first read was that year and while on LSD. I was struck by Estragon's reply to Vladimir when asked how was the carrot. Estragon's reply was, "It's a carrot." While many critics cite this exchange as Beckett's allusion to homosexuality, I interpreted it as a Zen-like observation that a carrot is NOT a pseudo penis, but simply a carrot. (I recall a similar analogy when someone commented about a cigar. The smoker replied by saying it wasn't a standin for a "dick," at all, but, in fact, a fine cigar.)

I adopted the phrase and later, when I became an art dealer, it morphed into the carrot on a stick - when dangled in front of their face -  used to motivate mules. Discarding the stick, I saw the carrot as an ineffable ideal that inspired me to leap from my bed each morning, eager to extol and expound on the beauties of the art I had for sale. The concept sustains me to this day.



The mule no longer plays a role and I've returned to the carrot itself, in the ether of a starry void. Michelle Cook's depiction completes Phoebe's exterior embellishments.




Tuesday, September 21, 2021

Salida Museum

Having lived in the southwest for nearly fifty years, we've seen innumerable examples of Native American crafts. But something in the reviews of the Salida Museum hinted at unique items. And such was/is the case.

It's hard to describe the exquisite sheen of the deep purple blouse in the display of womens' clothes. The detailed pattern of embellishment was beyond my ability to decipher nor could I count the myriad buttons that would've presented an insurmountable obstacle to access.

Lumber being too valuable as mining timber, these "bone baskets" were used instead of board topcoats (caskets). Note the pillow.



 

Though we've seen fine work elsewhere, I recently read of the quality of the work by the Utes. These do, in fact, surpass anything I've seen elsewhere.




Larry Kovacic, Museum Director, was as or more interesting. After retiring from Sandia Labs in Albuquerque, he and his wife moved to Salida where he runs the museum and repairs bicycles that the Lions (mens fraternity) gift to children.


  


As a Capricorn, I HAD to have these.








Sunday, September 19, 2021

Alpine Park Lions

Blogposts like this epitomize the fact that it's (the blog) purpose is a memory jog. The enjoyment of sculpture such as this can't be conveyed....youse gotta be there. And even then, for some folks, I'd readily acknowledge, it might not play.


The Story



 

Abran Marchi, the Sculptor







One can only imagine the source of the indignity.





Saturday, September 18, 2021

Backward Man Strikes Again!

 




Great Western Colorado Lodge - Salida, Colorado

The two rooms are identical in decor. Even after being in the room for a while, the location of the pocket door gives the unnerving sense it's a mirror.

 




Immaculately clean, all systems go. Highly recommend. This is room 22.


Moon Over Great Western

after Ansel Adams



Friday, September 17, 2021

Alamosa, Colorado

40 years ago Michelle didn't have the money to purchase the pair of schnauzer lamps. They've haunted her every since and we visit antique stores hoping to find them.

The restrooms were at the end of the hall.


Ms. Cook calls it my Jed Clampett hat,

but it's a Stetson


On our way out we met a belly dancer and her 6-foot snake, Zool. Zool was sleeping and we didn't want to disturb by requesting a photo.

Thursday, September 16, 2021

Indiana Jones B & B - Antonito, Colorado

The house was used in one of the movies so is called The Indiana Jones Bed & Breakfast. Antonito is also famous as the Northern Terminus of the Cumbres-Toltec Railroad. It took us four and a half hours to go the 174 miles from Albuquerque. There were/are FIVE cats!

Furb



Slinky





Baxter



Lando






Sabra, the owner, was once an Executive Chef. The breakfast she made included some KILLER blue corn pancakes.

Strandbeest

She of the Capri discovered him.




It's people like Theo Jansen who help me maintain some hope for humanity.


Art Basil, Miami, Florida, USA, 2014

As a youngster in Junior High, a teacher asked if I was happy. In response to my reply she said, "You just think you're happy." I've always regretted not asking her what she thought made the difference. At 3:50 he says, "If you have the illusion that you are happy, then what more do you need? You are happy."


https://strandbeest.com/


His TED Talk.


He credits Richard Dawkins' The Blind Watchmaker as a major influence.

Wednesday, September 15, 2021

Ojito - Irish Folk Music

We have an unlimited data plan. There's signal so I get out the headphones and indulge.


Devane's Pub, Clonmel, Co, Tipperary : Tony MacMahon (accordion) and Steve Cooney (guitar) perform O'Neill's March & Tralee Gaol. 2003



Noel Hill, Tony MacMahon perform The Concertina Reel / Come West Along the Road / The New Mown Meadow in December 1988.













The Playlist


We leave tomorrow for Salida and Denver.

Yellow Flower - Ojito

There're places where it's been so beaten down by cattle grazing nothing grows. But after parking I walked around to begin unloading and found this. It made my day; it's why I live this way.


A Close One

se One



Tuesday, September 14, 2021

Weather Balloon





I looked up and saw, to the right of the evening star, a light brighter than anything I'd seen in the sky b4.



 


I tried to get a closeup.




And as the sun set, it turned red and got smaller and smaller until it was a mere pinprick, then disappeared.





Saturday, September 11, 2021

Fossilized Seashells

....far and wide.






The Lion's Mouth

It was once a daring act for the lion-tamer to put her head in the lion's mouth.

Never one to be outdone, I put my WHOLE BODY in.


HAH!



Thursday, September 2, 2021