Woman Reading

Photography Appreciation

Woman Reading, circa 1890

National Media Museum, Kodak Gallery Collection

Gin Blossoms - Hey Jealousy

Music Appreciation (A Retrospect)

From Temple, Arizona, the rock band Gin Blossoms hit mainstream rock with Hey Jealousy.  Written by Doug Hopkins about his old girlfriend, the upbeat tempo was contrary of his life.  Hopkins struggled with alcoholism and depression which eventually caused him to commit suicide.

The hit single from their first studio album New Miserable Experience, caught the attention and admiration of alternative-rock-loving-teens like myself. I recall listening to this song driving around McAllen, Texas in my blue Pontiac Sunbird with my close high school hoodlums: Drew, Wendy, and Cathy.




Sources: Wikipedia; songfacts.com

Frieseke's "Reflections (Marcelle)"

Art Appreciation

Born in Michigan, Frederick Carl Frieseke, was an impressionist painter who lived in the same town as French painter Claude Monet north of Paris, France. 

The painting below, titled "Reflections (Marcelle)," was done in 1909 in France.

You can read more about his background here and here.

Source: http://www.huntfor.com/absoluteig/frieseke.htm; http://www.hollistaggart.com/artists/biography/frederick_carl_frieseke/; wikipedia

Bond Girl: Ursula Andress

Ursula Andress emerged from the ocean to become the iconic Bond girl, Honey Rider, in Dr. No. 

Although it was half a century ago, I have to admit I do stop and watch the movie when she walks onto the beach with her snorkel mask in one hand a seashells on the other. 




Source: wikipedia

Visit my blog at http://photographywritingandmore.blogspot.com/.

Spring

Art Appreciation

Yes, it's that time of year again, when everything in the world looks so alive.

Below is a painting by American artist Thomas Wilmer Dewing which is displayed at the National Portrait Museum in Washington, DC titled "Spring."

Source: Wikipedia

U2 - With Or Without You

Music Appreciation (A Retrospect)

I remember listening to U2's With or Without You 24 years ago. I was about 11 years old.

I had asked my parents to invite my friend Adam for a sleepover. He lived a few houses down and my parents thought it would be fun.

MTV was always on the tube, especially, during sleepovers. However, it was something about "With or Without You" that was mesmerizing.

His looks made me so uncomfortable that I really couldn't watch through the video.

Secretly, I found myself watching Bono with his guitar (which he doesn't play a note during the music video but rather just swings around angrily) and feeling my soul leave my body every time listening to the Edge's bridge. I slowly transformed into a note floating in air with each strum of his guitar string.

The Pogues - If I Should Fall from Grace with God

Music Appreciation

I have a tradition in our home to play The Pogues on St. Patrick's Day. And it's common the day's meal is paired with Guinness beer.

So, download The Pogues onto your iTunes and enjoy.

Fresh Catch

Photography Appreciation

I came across this picture from The Commons collection on Flickr. 

What's interesting about this photo is that it's of a naked girl in a fish crate full of rabbit fur being watched by two men in suits.  A metaphor?



"Nude girl lounging in a box full of rabbit fur" by Vern C Gorst




Visit my blog at http://photographywritingandmore.blogspot.com/.

The B52's - Love Shack

Music Appreciation (A Retrospect)

"Tin roof, rusted!"  Yes, it's one phrase I had no idea what it meant but sounded cool--although, according to urban dictionary, the phrase has become to mean to become pregnant unexpectedly.  Of course, when I was 13 years old, I didn't know what "pregnant" really meant.  Let alone "unexpectedly." 

Love Shack reached popularity in all pop charts in the very late 1980s, and the phrase "tin roof" was more attributed to a cabin in Georgia where "Rock Lobster" was conceived. 

So where was I when I first heard the B-52's? I was in eighth grade and I was a geek.  Yes, a geek.  Perhaps one similar to what is portrayed in Glee.  I was not into sports.  I wasn't really into band either; although, I played a cornet (a smaller version of a trumpet).   I was into journalism; although I wasn't good at writing.  But at least I was a bit creative. 



Source: wikipedia

Visit my blog at http://photographywritingandmore.blogspot.com/.

Thayer's Angel

Art Appreciation

I found myself in a room with several paintings of angelical and biblical themes at the National Portrait Museum in Washington, DC. 

The one that caught my attention was that by Abbott Handerson Thayer titled "Angel." 

Thayer was known for portraying women as angels; although, his method of painting was considered unorthodox.

"Angel" by Abbott Handerson Thayer

Source: wikipedia