Chicago Botanic Garden Glorious Autumn 11.8.13

Above: Nature vs. man-made Nature.

Below: Landscape as Metaphor.

Mesmerized by the scent of Katsura:
Burnt Sugar!

Couldn't resist playing with different photo effects...

The Landscape of Gender Bias: Sweden and Guatemala

This morning's Guardian contained an interesting article on a new Swedish rating for films that addresses gender bias. Called the Bechdel, it reminded me of the opposite feelings stirred up about the position of women when my travel includes Sweden and Guatemala. I imagine life as a girl and then woman, will be very different for a Swedish friend's daughter (above) as opposed to these girls I saw with their mother during my most recent SSG site-visit to Guatemala (below). Working with gender issues is always a part of any program we support in Guatemala, but frankly, the US has a long way to go in terms of women's rights. All you need to do to get a fix on the current backwards pulse here is to look at Hollywood and Texas. This makes me miss my years as a high school teacher, an educational period when it is so vital to introduce teenagers to both external and internal reality, good tools and empowerment. 

Seasonal Change...

Grayer skies.

More time indoors at drawing table than on-site.

Annual trip to IKEA for candles.

William Kentridge & State of Mind

A few weeks ago, I read my U of C Alumni Magazine and found two excellent reasons for visiting Hyde Park. The first was a "lecture," more a performance piece, called "Listening to the Image" by William Kentridge. It explored "the relationship between sound and image." Even though his physical style is more literal than I usually prefer, I believe he does very creative work in his methods and questions. And he deals with deep stuff. I couldn't get photos of the performance, but I do have some images here from April when I saw Kentridge's work up at the Milwaukee Art Museum. The program was terrific and especially so because it wasn't the typical U of C intellectual process. The website says the audio will be available here 10.25.13, so try back.

You have until January 12, 2014 to visit the Smart Gallery's fun exhibit: "State of Mind: New California Art Circa 1970." It brought up a lot of nostalgia in me for times when artists weren't starting out selling for millions at the large NYC galleries. I particularly gravitated to a landscape piece by John Baldessari. 

Killing Time, Artistically

The Patina of Age can be witnessed

in its many artful guises

at my favorite, soulful, urban oasis

in Chicago: Graceland Cemetery.

What to listen to while strolling there? Bach Partita for solo violin No.2 in D Minor. I have the version played by Arthur Grumiaux.

The Landscape of Hospice

My stepdad died in his home early Saturday with this view from the hospital bed. Actually, he faced a birch swaying in the hot breeze out the front window. I like to imagine he could hear the tree, although it's unlikely.  You never know if you might need this information, but Horizon Hospice was exceptional. My have things improved since my dad died at home in 1978 a year before Horizon was around...

Chicago Botanic Garden: Sept. Views

Rare for me to see a public garden during growing season, so I was thrilled when the opportunity for an hour visit arose last week. Where else does one head in Sept., but to the Fruit and Veggie Island? Passed the Prairie Garden en route. The big plant in front, a Silphium, will out-compete everything around it if not vigilantly maintained...

The apple branches were heavily laden. This is not it, but there was one fragrant tree. I thought it was "MacCort," but can't find that type on-line.

I liked these sculptural sentinels near the bee hives. See how they read better against the "open" space than against the evergreen hedge.

Here I tried to show the lovely light through the Smokebush. That didn't translate so well, but I like the photo for other reasons...And, below, I felt amused by the shadows on these benches.