I looked out the window this morning and loved how the snowsicles dripping off the roof lined up with our staircase and neighbor’s porch railings.
Snow Shapes
Tag: art
Highlighted Blog #30 – Art and Soul Space
As I wrap up November’s highlighted blogs, it’s been interesting to see what holds appeal for me. I learned a bit about myself and encourage you to read over of lists of sites you follow. It was a treat reading the list, seeing how many people I connect with. People who take the time to write and share and make life a better place for others.
It seems like Art and Soul Space – connecting with the heart of creativity is a great closure for the month. The blog is a nice balance of great imagery, poetry, art and introspect. Hope you like it as much as I do.
The Opposite of Anxiety I’m breaking my own rules. Best kind to break. Instead of waiting an entire whole year to share another ‘Late Middle-Aged to Early-Old Crazy Art Lady’ adventure, here’s a tale for you a mere two weeks since the last episode. It’s because I can’t resist shouting from the rooftops about Uluru and […]
via Between a Rock and a Soft Place — Art and Soul Space
- For the month of November (the month of Thanksgiving in the United States), I’m sharing some of the blogs I’m thankful for. If you want thankful posts from my own personal day-to-day stuff, check out my Inspired By and Thankful For blog.
A Festival of Trees – Thankful for Community
Generally we have a house rule that the Christmas season doesn’t kick off until after Santa waves at the end of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, but this year, Chris and broke the rules. We’re going wild now that the kids are grown and out of the house 😉 Friday night (yes, almost an entire week before Thanksgiving) found us heading to the Berkshire Museum for a fundraiser highlighting a Festival of Trees.
Persuading me to go was not difficult. 🙂
As a newbie to the area, it was really cool seeing all the different business represented. And seeing community members themselves coming to support the museum.
The video above this paragraph gives a bit of the feel of the museum. Love how the art is surrounded by so many different trees. If you listen closely, you can hear the high school choir singing “Silent Night” in the background.
The video below is of a tree depicting “Stairway to Heaven.” It was created by our friend Mark and his team. I think they did a fabulous job.
Highlighted Blog #12 – Christopher Pollock Art
Okay, so this one is super slanted since the author hasn’t updated in absolutely forever. But I can’t help but love it since it’s my husband’s site, and I have an inside scoop into posts that might be showing up eventually 😉
This one has some color. So far there has been only one of this kind. It sold very fast. I probably should make more! It is painted sheet metal and wire.via Colored Circles on Wavy Base Mobile —
* For the month of November (the month of Thanksgiving in the United States), I’m sharing writing from some of the blogs I’m thankful for. If you want thankful posts from my own personal day-to-day stuff, check out my Inspired By and Thankful For blog.
Murals
I love cities, and I’m particularly fascinated by the murals that brighten the buildings. Here are some from my travels.
Montreal
Buffalo, NY
North Adams, Massachusetts
Lisbon
Perception
When visiting museums, I appreciate the art. This is true. But even more so I appreciate the creativity spawned by the living art around me.
On a visit to The Clark I looked at the works of some of the old masters, and I totally appreciated the talent while I was there. Then I moved on.
When the day was over Chris and I realized we missed a really cool part of an exhibit (Jennifer Steinkamp: Blind Eye) and decided to go back to the museum the next day ( a great perk of this museum deal we signed up for) . Since we were in art-mode we watched a movie entitled Renoir, and suddenly, I was seeing things in a different light.
When we went back the next day, we visited the Renoir paintings we had seen the day prior, and suddenly I found myself analyzing the brush strokes, color choices, and I related to the passion of an artist who wouldn’t let go of his gift even if his hands were in excruciating pain. The paintings took me to a completely different realm of appreciating than the day prior, thanks to some time and the film — another beautiful form of art. I think his son would have approved 🙂
The exhibit we missed was a computer rendering exhibit in which the artist used programs like Maya to create magnificent art. I was intrigued by the actual images, while Chris was absorbed by the display itself.
How did the cameras work and show the full canvas? I never would have thought of that if he were not in the room. But it certainly added to my experience. Thanks, Chris 🙂
A few days later we were talking with some of our kiddos, and I was rhapsodizing on the museum experience, expounding on how it was so much more than the art itself. It was about how people reacted to the art, and the history behind it, and all that jazz. Even the walk through the woods between buildings was beautiful.
We saw a tree that had fallen, and I thought it was pretty cool. My imagination kicked in, and I wondered how and when it fell, and I imagined the new animal homes the fall created. A children’s book was niggling in my brain as Chris commented on the amazing support system that naturally occurred under the tree in the fall. At least until rot kicks in. It made a natural bridge with support. Without his eyes and comments, I don’t think I would have seen it, but it made the experience all that much more magical.
CJ pointed out that it’s like that for him on the slopes when he is with friends and students he teaches. He observed that is was really interesting to see the lines they chose to navigate down the mountain. Apparently one friend has a really unique eye, and the lines he chooses bring all sorts of unexpected adventures ranging from new trails on new hills one didn’t previously notice to complete drop-offs (ack!).
My eyes have been opened to the importance of perception and seeing what others’ see. It’s so interesting!As you might have noticed in past posts, I’m kind of into quotes. So I’m going to leave off with this one that I love:
No two people see the external world in exactly the same way. To every separate person a thing is what he thinks it is — in other words, not a thing, but a think. – Penelope Fitzgerald
Artists at Work
As we traipsed through MASS MoCA, we found ourselves in the children’s area. It was delightful. There was an art bar where kids could go to get lunchboxes filled with art supplies. They took them to a table and began creating. As I watched a man and girl twisting pipe cleaners together, I was reminded of the artists in my life, and how I’m super fortunate to have so many creative souls around me.
The little girl’s pipe-cleaner art reminded me of Mollie’s Christmas creation.
These artists have the ability to take basic elements and turn them into something beautiful!
One of my favorite parts of my existence is living with an artist, and viewing the creation process as it evolves.
Creating Christmas Presents 
Processing the Persents
To see the final results of that 2017 Christmas present in motion, check out Chris’ posts on his site.
I think that artistic dna passed on to our sons as well. Zeb’s mountain board element designs are pretty awesome. I wrote about that a bit last summer. The elements are constructed from recycled materials.
And then there is the musical art. Our son CJ performs as DJ Nevermore for events. You can see him in action on Facebook.
I think he must have gotten some of his musical ability from Mom Pollock. I love listening to her play the keyboard at home as she practices for playing in church each Sunday. Here she is, playing for the Easter service in 2018.
I could probably go on forever about the artistry I see in Lauren’s coffee-making, Hudi’s savory delights, etc. But it’s difficult to describe the perfection of taste. That will have to be a writing challenge for another day. But the art is still appreciated.
Let your creative and imaginative mind run freely; it will take you places you never dreamed of and provide breakthroughs that others once thought were impossible.
― Idowu Koyenikan, Wealth for All: Living a Life of Success at the Edge of Your Ability
Museums
I think I might become a museum junkie. I’ve been researching the treasures of Massachusetts and have found some incredible deals. Back in my other post, I talked about the importance of being back in the art corridor for my artist husband, but the actual reality of it is pretty fantastic.
After spending a few decades in the boondocks, where large art museums were a long drive from me, the proximity is a treat. We had different, natural art in those years, and believe me I met many artists (musicians, performers, masters in kitchen arts, etc) who are amazing, but I did not have easy access large places one can stroll through on a rainy day.
For a few weeks, we researched — read tons of pamphlets, hit web sites and talked with locals and tourists. Then we took the plunge and purchased season passes for the Berkshire Museum and for Mass MoCA. This gives us all sorts of opportunities to see lots of exhibits and artistic styles as well as to attend performances and go to openings and other activities. My favorite part of our plan is that the Berkshire Museum membership came with reciprocal passes to over 1,000 institutions (art and science) across the US. Even Utah 😉 (that’s where the majority of my kids live).
One of my favorite parts of the passes is that we can go back any time we want this year, so we don’t have to feel rushed. If we only want to pop in for an hour, that’s okay.
I love the inspiration one derives from a museum visit. And I also love the human connection — the vibe of appreciation from other gallery viewers. The paintings and educational tidbits on the plaques link me to the past and spark my imagination in a way I haven’t felt in a while. I mean, really, did you even know that some snakes change their sleep cycles from diurnal to nocturnal? I never knew this before. I’m certain there is a children’s story in there somewhere.
Imagination officially ignited. This is good stuff.