Trash or Treasure

I went with my Realtor spouse to view a piece of land the other day and in an isolated area near the back of the property we came across this interesting piece of art placed strategically near a pond.  One can only assume the proprietor to be some eccentric character wishing to brighten the otherwise normal landscape with this beautiful object which must represent something particularly special.  It certainly caught our eye.

It reminds me of a George Strait song, "The Chair."  Also, the interesting assemblages of Stanley Marsh III in the Amarillo, Texas, area come to mind where he has artwork erected on his various properties such as the "Feet of Colossus" wearing athletic socks.  I suppose both Strait and Marsh are connected through another song, "Amarillo by Morning," which was the first George Strait song I ever heard.

I was, quite frankly, surprised that there wasn't a mound of beer cans beside the chair.  If that had been the case I would merely have attributed its presence to some typical backwoods East Texas hunter who eschewed the typical camouflaged blind for a more open position from which to pursue his sport.

Perhaps the chair was placed there by some mother deer who wanted a place to sit and watch her children playing in the meadow.  The location being somewhat remote, it is likely she would have had a book in hand rather than the pervasive cell phone, while watching her offspring gamboling through the tall grasses as she sipped a tall glass of iced tea.  Cell service was definitely spotty, but the camera on mine worked perfectly.

I never cease to be amazed at the things one finds when people are oblivious to the visual impact of their surroundings on others.  We are all guilty on some level of normalizing objects which to others are annoying on some level.  I find this greatest among pet owners who become insensitive to accumulated pet hair on their furniture and rugs.  It becomes acceptable through its pervasiveness.  As the spouse of a Realtor I am frequently reminded that such behavior seems to be the norm rather than the exception.  It is astonishing the number of people who wish to sell their property and won't even take the time or, effort to conduct a thorough cleaning.  That failure can be expensive.

Caring for that which one has the privilege of having within one's care is the very definition of ownership.  It can be as simple as properly disposing of the trash rather than parking it in the middle of a pasture.

Oscars? Not Me.

I refused to watch the Oscars;
There's no appeal for me.
It's just a bunch of actors
Up there for you to see.
A parade of mental illness.

They spend their lives pretending;
Not revealing who they are
And all you see is lie on lie
As they seek to be a star
In a culture of look-at-me.

They titillate their audience
With outrageous speech and clothes
But who they are beneath all that
No one really knows.
Why would anyone want to emulate?

It's no wonder they are drawn
To certain politicians
Since its all about pretending
And righteous admonitions.
With lie upon lie upon lie upon lie....

History, Science and Art

I am back to the book of "300 Writing Prompts" for inspiration this morning.  The question is: "Would you rather spend the day at an art museum, science museum, or history museum?"

My answer is a resounding, "Yes."  I like all three.

We don't go to museums frequently, however we have been to all three types through the years.  When it comes to an art museum, my favorite is probably the Amon Carter in Fort Worth.  It holds works by both Remington and Russell who are my favorite western artists.  The action and authenticity of their work amazes me.  They aren't "like a photograph" but, they convey even more, I think, than a photograph could do.  The figures seem to leap off the canvas for me.

As for science museum, my most memorable experience was the museum at Los Alamos National Laboratory when the museum was still located on the laboratory property outside of Los Alamos.  I went as a youngster and was amazed even then at the nuclear technology.  We have since been to it after it was moved to the Bradbury building in downtown Los Alamos and it was very good, but it was too "programmed" to suit me.  Modern museum displays are all the same with buttons and interactive gadgets.  The original museum had a much more "raw" feel to it.  To me, it was as though you were truly "touching" history, whereas the modern exhibits feel more "educational" in nature.

My favorite history museum is the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum in Canyon, Texas.  There are many reasons for this choice.  1)  It is primarily focused on the area of the country where I grew up.  2)  It is very "western" in nature.  3)  It includes many amazing pieces of art as well as historical artifacts.  4)  It is one of the largest historical museums in the country.  I have visited many times through the years and they change their displays on a reasonably regular basis.  It also has evolved through time to have that more "educational" feel about it, but many of the artifacts remain the same such as Charles Goodnight's original chuckwagon.  It is definitely worth the trip if you are ever in the Amarillo area.  It is also only a short distance from Palo Duro Canyon.  If you visit one, I would encourage you to visit both.  If during the summer season, make plans to take in the outdoor dramatic presentation of "Texas."  It is worth your time.

Historical museums (which include science museums) are important for giving us perspective.  Understanding where we have been helps us to understand why things are as they are today.  Most change is gradual and technology evolves through stages -- this includes weapons which evolved from rocks and clubs to modern rockets and space-based weaponry.  It includes tools such as those used in the cattle industry which range from the lariat to modern DNA analytic technologies.  Every industry develops through an evolutionary process.  Even political issues go through an evolution over time.

To me, art museums, although overlapping in some areas with history, are a different creature altogether.  They allow us to touch a "higher" self.  Quality art is uplifting, it is enlightening and it is inspiring.  Some of what is passed off as art today is not enduring except as a curiosity.  The better museums, however, will have works that have endured for centuries alongside more modern works that are likely to endure or, which represent current "fads."  Often, the displays portray history.  Viewing a Revolutionary War battlefield from the perspective of an artist of that time -- who witnessed the battle -- provides insight into our historical perceptions.

Perhaps, upon reflection, I would prefer to spend my day in an art museum.  All three appeal to me, but as I have written this, my thoughts have clarified.  Man's attempt to "touch" perfection is most clearly displayed through art.  I think down deep, that is something we all desire.

Expecting the Extraordinary

Most of us travel through life missing the majority of what is going on around us.  It's the rut syndrome.  We get in our little groove and go, go, go, day after day, doing the same old things and not really thinking about or, observing what is going on around us.  That's sad, because there are extraordinary things nearly everywhere.

OK, most folks will think that "extraordinary" may be going a bit far, but, I don't think so.  I am constantly amazed by what people do and have done, but, more importantly, I expect God to reveal something amazing to me every day and He frequently does.

But, for today, I'm going to stick with people-made extraordinary things.

It was another day of sales calls in rural America.  Small towns are full of creative people with big visions for their small towns.  I was "blown away" by what I saw today in Concordia, Kansas, on the side of the building that was apparently the "Cloud County Museum Annex and Travel Center."  The series of photos below will explain better than I ever could.....

I don't know how it was done, whether cast stone, or carved into the stone, but, it was a beautiful piece of art in a small town in Kansas.

Chris

Artistic Bent?

Those of you who know me well, know that there is a little streak of the "artistic" in me.  No, I can't paint (except in broad strokes from a can) or draw (well, do stick figures count?), but, I like the arts.

I suppose the fact that I write probably gives away the "artistic" streak in me.  Writing (non-technical) is certainly considered part of the arts.  Especially poetry -- although one might consider most of my "poetry" as more of a rhyming prose than the elegant stuff of "real" poetry.  And I admit, most of it is average at best, but, occasionally, like the monkey at the typewriter, I'm bound to produce something of merit just out of sheer volume.

But, back to the "artistic" nature.  I've always seen art in the world around me.  To me, trees can be a tremendous representation of God's art.  Especially those that are twisted and bent by the elements.  Of course, flowers, mountain scenery, seashores and the like also come to mind when one thinks about art in nature.  But, I also see art in some oddball things.  Take for instance the photo below.

OK, you say, what is artistic about that?  (Disregard examples of modern art that you've seen hanging in galleries throughout the world.)  I don't know if I can answer that question.  But, when I look, I see art.  Others just see a piece of wood to which various layers of paint are still sticking after it has been scraped in preparation for a new coat.  Oh, well.  I guess it's kind of like the old saying that "one man's junk is another man's treasure."  It's all in the eye of the beholder.

Chris

A Visit to the Mountain Oyster Club

This past Wednesday, I was one of the presenters at a Cattlemen's gathering at the famed Mountain Oyster Club in Tucson, Arizona.  It is a private club with limited membership.  The gathering was tremendously successful.  It's too bad that I couldn't take photos inside the club.  Of course, all I had with me was my Blackberry.  I've GOT to start taking my camera with me when I travel!

There is beautiful Southwestern Art throughout the club as well as historic photos.  Of course, the theme of Mountain Oysters is evident about anywhere that you look.

In Search of Excellence

I commented on Renaissance Blogger early this morning and decided I liked the comment so well that I should make it a post. I guess a little ego never hurt anyone!

Excellence must come from the heart. The audience recognizes the difference between acting from the head as opposed to coming from the heart — whether it be a musical performance, a written work, or an act of kindness. The development of the art, however, is an act of discipline. It requires hard work, practice, perseverance. You will write many pieces from the head before your heart finds its voice. When it does, your skills will be honed and prepared to let that voice be heard.