The Joy of Film

Today it is "Oscar Night," when the Academy Awards are celebrated globally.  It is a night of drama when the work force of the film industry puts on a glamorous and noble persona. 

When Oscar season comes around I always feel this sense of shame at society's fascination and preoccupation with the community of film making and its art.  I'm confident that there are many films that deserve recognition, although I'm equally as confident that many notable works go unrecognized.  While the Academy's voting process seems to be democratic, it's more than an opinion to say that the jury voting doesn't always give just recognition.  Sometimes awards are given based on who you are, who you know, and how much money your film made. 

When Oscar season comes around I am reminded by how much the public is a worshipper of the movie industry.  I have funny and embarrassing testimonials of star "swooning,"  which I'm glad I had because it reminds me of how powerful the imagination is, how the power of imagination can be manipulated by other's, and how the imagination should be exercised and trained to do and bring about good.  Imagining Good is the forst step at creating good.

I don't know why, perhaps science and religion could explain, but the celebrity created by the film and music industries have an easy route in achieving "obsessive preoccupation" in the imagination.  This can lead to blind, ignorant, and dangerous reverence for the habits and beliefs of celebrities.  I try to tread carefully through and around all things related to the film industry. We all should.

Films can be good forms of brief escapism, but it's better to live your own story.


Today I want to share some joyful discoveries I have had with film.

If you haven't seen as digitally remaster version (I'm sure blue ray is even better) of the Wizard of OZ DO IT!  Remastering has really brought new life to the story. 

Tributes to the early days of film:
The Artist
The Magic of Melies - documentary about Geoges Melies (the father of special effects) by Jacques Meny
The Lost Garden - a documentary about the first woman filmmaker Alice Guy-Blache by Marguise Lapage.  Guy-Blache's personal story is filled with lessons.

Holy Blue Blossoming

The color blue has been a source of contemplation for awhile.  I respect blue, but would have a hard time living in a blue house with a strong blue decor.  I don't have a lot of blue clothes, but I am always looking for something the "right color" of blue. 

There is such a color as Holy Blue - it comes in a variety of shades and hues.  Maybe I should say blue can have a kind of holiness about it, suggesting the prescence of Divinity. 

And then . . . these lovely objects were given to me by Gwen and Mike.  They are earthy, sacral, and elegant.  They were made by Theresa Gong.  I have admired Gong's work for sometime (thanks to Gwen).  But even before knowing of Gong's work I have loved the look of beautifully executed sgraffito.  At Adrian College I once made a blue and white sgraffito vase.  It combined my two favorite ceramic techniques: hand building and sgraffito.  But it lacked the skillfulness I admire so I got rid of it. 

The blue decoration, on the tea pot and cups of water dwelling dragonflies seems like intracate lacework or papercutting.  The representation of dragon flies, I think, tells a lot about the maker/artist, the giver,  and the recipient of these lovely objects.  Change.  Completed development. Life is art, lived in full expression, in spite of the environment.  (This reminds me of Academy award nominated documentary "Inocente" which is a coming of age tale about a young artist.)

When I make tea in the pot and drink it from the cup the three of us - maker, giver, reciever are communing together. 

Scarlett Blooming

I have been in the midst of a season when things of a scarlet or tomato red color are seen on my path. 

I found a tomato colored Pendelton blazer, a sweater, and a tea cup at different times at different thrift stores.  Scarlet red items I already own have popped into my line of vision like the tiny cookie cutter man; others have been utilized like the frame converted into a cork board and my granny's old enameled stove top peculator came out because I contaminated my electric one. 

I've had a difficult time finding a word or description for these kinds of subtly linked occurrences.  But I think the terms "blooming" or "mushrooming" do a good job of inferring an unforced organic process. 
I don't really mind the term "springing up" but it is overused.  

I like the metaphor of wild flowers or mushrooms appearing up on "my path."  I especially like mushrooming because it suggests something to be "tasted" or experienced rather than just seen and smelt.  Also, a member of the Honey Mushroom family is the largest living organism in the world (Oregon).  The fungus's base is about 2.5 square miles, allowing connected sprouts of mushrooms to appear over great distances.  There is space in a mushrooming.  ("Spaces" between words, time and location has been as blossoming concept too. And another connection, I ran into baby Grace Blossom the other day).

Even if I am rushed or consumed by stress and anxiety I am able (and willing) to recognize a connecting thread between objects, words, stories and events (I think this is a spiritual gift).  It's VERY easy to dismiss, walk right past, or even infer too much meaning in a "blossoming." Generally, I don't try to decipher any meaning although they are most defiantly messages to store in my mind. 

I approach it like I am talking to the cat (Tigers have been on my mind too).  My cat talks to me.  I don't really understand "cat," but I know what she is feeling.  She uses her voice to get my attention and over time I have grown to understand her habits and needs.  When there seems to be a pattern blooming it gets my attention, but there is no need to force understanding; I will grow to understand the purpose of its habit over time. 

Another blossoming concept "recognize and experience what is good." 

Playfully Tracking the Time

I'm not one for New Year's Resolutions, but I do intend to play more in 2013.  I'm not sure how I will be more playful.  However . . . 

I had a moment of inspiration and decided I would get the cuckoo clock out.  Cuckoo clocks are as much toys as tools.  

I bought this cuckoo clock a few years ago at a yard sale ($5.00).  I came to learn that Randy grew up with a cuckoo clock and knew how to get this one running and entertaining the household. 

I have two broken down cuckoo clocks that my parents bought in Europe in the 50's.  Between Christmas and New Year I took them to a repair lady who said they were beyond repair.  

I'm a little sad, but I am hashing over ideas to transform them into art or lamps . . . 

Our communication center got a new fun look with a vintage slate chalkboard and a "cork board", which I made from an old tomato colored frame, adhesive cork tiles, and vintage dishtowel.  

I decided to use a potholder woven on a loom for an eraser.

Stocking

My mom crocheted the stocking 20 years ago.  She gave it to me, along with two others to cross-stitch a design on.  It has been sitting in a box until I got the bright idea to make a stocking for Jennie.  I didn't have a pattern so I stitched whatever came to mind.  I like the results.

Some Favorite Ornaments

 Snow Lady stuffed with walnut shells, by Valorie.

 Original illustration and embroidery by Grandma Norris.

 Lightbulb Santa by Jeff.

Hand print reindeer by Arianna.

Christmas Gifts

 I sent this wood block print to J.  I love this print, but it belongs with J.  I have been watching it for several months.  The price was more than I could afford, but the dealer came down $15.00 and I was able to fit it into my budget.

I sent Joel these bamboo cooking utensils that I burned a design into.  

Sweet Treasures

 I purchased these colorful peacock pillow cases at a resale shop for four dollars.  They will look nice with my rag ball wall hanging and rag rug on the floor.  I appreciate the effort put into these cases.  The crocheted edging is very sweet.  

 I made two mini "pocket" pillow cases from a single case for my knee pillows.  It's impossible to find cases for these little pillows, so I have to make something.  I'm very pleased with the results.  

While out thrifting with my sister at Thanksgiving she found this really cute teaspoon bag.  I haven't found the teaspoons, but I did find these charming spoons for a dollar each.

Winter inspires us to eat more soup; our latest discovery is Pizza Soup.  Amanda, an eighth grader I sometimes substitute teach for, told me that she does some cooking for her family (both parents are working); one of her favorite things to cook is pizza soup.  Not two days later I came across a recipe in one of my favorite cookbooks.  We will eat this again and again.  The recipe called for elbow macaroni, but we used cavatapi which has ridges and holds the sauce.