Beautiful conversations, people, places, design+photography
“The most beautiful thing we can
experience is the mysterious.
It is the source of all true art
and all science. He to whom
this emotion is a stranger,
who can no longer pause
to wonder and stand rapt
in awe, is as good as dead:
his eyes are closed”.
Albert Einstein
I’ve become mesmerized lately by following the
magical work of Richard Koci Hernandez.
His photos tell a magical, mysterious story and
I can’t get enough. Every day I look forward to his
latest post on Instagram. Take time to enjoy it.
“The more often we see the things around us – even the beautiful and wonderful things – the more they become invisible to us. That is why we often take for granted the beauty of this world: the flowers, the trees, the birds, the clouds – even those we love. Because we see things so often, we see them less and less.”
Joseph B. Wirthlin
“Beauty is unbearable, drives us to despair, offering us for a minute the glimpse of an eternity that we should like to stretch out over the whole of time.” Albert Camus
“If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” Martin Luther King, Jr.
Most people attribute Germany’s Bauhaus
school, founded by Walter Gropius,with being
all about minimalist design, paring down
architecture to its most non-essential elements
whilst being beautiful at the same time.
What is overlooked is the fantastical costume
parties of the 1920s. Not only were they good
at designing furniture and everything else in
between, their costumes were just as sculptural
and flamboyant. The Bauhaus shindigs were
outright competitive. Imagine dancing around
in one of these with Wassily Kandinsky,
Paul Klee, Piet Mondrian, Laszlo Moholy-Nagy,
Mies van der Rohe and Marcel Breuer.
The parties began as improvisational events,
but later grew into large-scale productions
with costumes and sets made by the school’s
stage workshop. There was often a theme to
the evenings. One party was called Beard, Nose,
and Heart, and attendees were instructed t
show up in clothing that was two-thirds white,
and one-third spotted, checked or striped.
However, it’s generally agreed that the
apotheosis of the Bauhaus’ costumed revelry
was the Metal Party of 1929, where guests
donned costumes made from tin foil, frying
pans, and spoons. Attendees entered that
party by sliding down a chute into one of
several rooms filled with silver balls.
Thanks to the wonderful word of Instagram,
artful photography has never been so user
friendly. Everybody can do it – even the
mini Lego peeps. U.K.-based photographer
Andrew Whyte reveals the world through
the lens of a Lego man who is obviously
having adventures of his own whether it be
climbing a fence or slipping on a banana peel.
My favorite? The diminutive little man
facing a lonely bench looming in the
background. Enjoy more Legography here.
Steven Siegel has been photographing the streets and subways
of New York City for 30 years, and his Flickr album is a time
capsule of a grittier, feral city — before Times Square was
scrubbed clean and 9/11 changed the metropolis forever.
His photos are remarkable. Siegel and friends created several
dreamlike scenarios (in a pre-Photoshop era) with clever
angles, poses, and accidental exposures. Take a closer look
and visit Siegel’s Flickr page for a trip back in time to New York
in the 1980s.
All photos by Steven Siegel
Javier Gomez’s bold, abstract photographs are
ephemeral and otherwordly. I’m particularly drawn
to his abstract architectural images. Beautiful.
If ever you have a spare 90 minutes I highly recommend that you view this
film Particle Fever. It is truly mind-blowing and it reflects human beings at
their very best! It is a must see for anyone who has any interest in our amazing
universe. Just watch it, you feel the unabashed excitement for those involved
with this project. I have a new love for scientists and just want to hug them.
If I could choose my dream home it would be
a treehouse and any one of these would suit me
just fine. Love the childlike appeal.
Bower House Construction takes a sophisticated,
nature first approach to his custom treehouses.
Founded by Simon Parfett, a former climate scientist
who wanted to do more work with his hands,
Bower House Construction designs and builds
custom treehouses in Bruton, a rural town
near Somerset, England. Parfett’s bespoke
structures speak to a love of craft and nature.
Nestled in the hills just south of Napa, CA
is the fabulously fun Glashoff sculpture gallery
and garden in Suisun City, CA. Be sure to check
it out if you are ever in Napa. Phillip Glashoff
continues the tradition of the lifestyle he was
born to on his northern California ranch.
His real passion is creating sculpture out of
scrap metal. The results dot the landscape
of the ranch; herds of steel sculpted cattle,
giant banjos, and archways made of street signs
just to name a few of which must be hundreds.
My favorite is the wind-up toy car that sits atop
a pole in the middle of the sculpture garden.
The kangaroo is made entirely of
recycled bolts.
Charming figure do the landscape including
a cowboy and his horse.
Candyland game sculpture made of
recycled metal and steel materials
This charming TP Lady holds all
your toilet needs and towels.
Dancing Girl
Sculpture Garden – Great place to wander.
Some end-of-the summer shots of some sites around Seattle. The views
never get old and some are simply magical.
Chihuly Garden and Glass
Seattle Great Wheel
Ferries everywhere to every island
All my life, I have loved Halloween. I’m calling it now:
Halloween, with all its tacky, kitschy goulishness, is the
best holiday. It’s a legit time for just having some ol’ fashion
fun with pranks and mischief-making. Halloween is the only
time kids AND adults can be silly, juvenile idiots and get
away with it. And for those who are into a little history
here is an abbreviated version:
Today is All Hallows’ Eve, or Halloween. The modern
holiday comes from an age-old tradition honoring the
supernatural blending of the world of the living and the
world of the dead. Halloween is based on a Celtic holiday
called Samhain. The festival marked the start of winter
and the last stage of the harvest, the slaughtering of
animals. It was believed that the dark of winter allowed
the spirits of the dead to transgress the borders of death
and haunt the living.
Eventually, Christian holidays developed at around the
same time. During the Middle Ages, November 1 became
known as All Saints’ Day, or All Hallows’ Day. The holiday
honored all of the Christian saints and martyrs. Medieval
religion taught that dead saints regularly interceded in the
affairs of the living. On All Saints’ Day, churches held masses
for the dead and put bones of the saints on display. The night
before this celebration of the holy dead became known as
All Hallows’ Eve. People baked soul cakes, which they would
set outside their house for the poor. They also lit bonfires and
set out lanterns carved out of turnips to keep the ghosts of
the dead away.
Credit: The Writer’s Almanac
I drove by this display of Halloween silliness yesterday and
made me stop and smile.
Happy Halloween, fall has officially begun.
Beautiful Musings 