LAST FOUR IN THE SERIES

From the 12 featured artists

These last four are a little out of sequence of the 12, as I am myself these days, and that’s OK, as they are here and so am I. Stay connected for some more on that topic later next week. I was eager to get these four, this being the last, off my list, you know, the ever present check list. The previous 8 artists are featured in the past two posts.

https://www.safdiearchitects.com/

Moshe Safdie - “We design buildings that are sensitive to climate, geography and culture of their settings.” I first learned of Safdie when I visited the newly opened Crystal Bridges museum in Bentonville, Arkansas, in 2012. If you get near Bentonville, AR be sure to go see it. Not only are the design and the building spectacular, the site where Alice Walton grew up is special too, regardless what you might think of Sam and his kids. The museum holds one of the best collections of American Art in one place.

Amish women quilters (Anonymous)

Amish women quilters and others from the early 1900’s creating colorful, geometric designs and various quilting patterns. This pattern, as a sample, is called Log Cabin. We met many of these women when we lived in Lancaster, PA (1972-79). Friends from years ago, Jon Holstein, and his wife Gail Van der Hoof, hung a show of the pieced quilt as art forms at The Whitney. Museum in 1971 and then at the Renwick Gallery at the Smithsonian in 1972 and the interest in quilts as art exploded.

Here’s the back story with some of the books by Jon Holstein. He raises some fascinating questions, especially about how artists see their art.

https://quiltershalloffame.net/jonathan-holstein-quilts-from-the-bed-to-the-wall/?print=print

“Artist of the Week”

Headlined a concert on October 19 in Los Angeles aat age 81

Roberta Joan "Joni" Mitchell (born November 7, 1943) is a Canadian-American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and painter. As one of the most influential singer-songwriters to emerge from the 1960s, Mitchell became known for her personal lyrics and unconventional compositions. She has received eleven Grammys and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on 1997. Rolling Stone called her "one of the greatest songwriters ever", Her song, “From Both Sides Now” was the inspiration for my Substack title and I wrote about that here: garygruber.substack.com

There are some who have seen these posts previously who said I saved the best for the last. Each of us may have a favorite among these 12 for our own personal reasons. I am not taking a vote, just glad to share with everyone on my list this time around. These were all originally posted only on Notes and this collection and summary are this post and the two previous ones.

John O’Donohue, poet

Born: January 1, 1956 Clare, Ireland Died: January 4, 2008 Avignon, France

“John was born into a native Gaelic speaking family, on the farm inhabited by previous generations in the Burren Region of County Clare, Ireland. As the oldest of four children, he learned to work alongside his parents and uncle, developing a close kinship with the wild landscape, framed by an ethereal view of a limestone valley and the beckoning waters of Galway Bay. This valley was the shell of John's soul, forging a deep and powerful connection with the elements shaping him. He was educated at the local primary school, alternating his studies with the farm chores of tending livestock, raising crops and carving peat for fuel, in his youth. John later described the profound influence of his childhood home as, "A huge wild invitation to extend your imagination…an ancient conversation between the land and sea." For more details of his later life:

johnodonohue.com/about

“For Equilibrium, a Blessing:

Like the joy of the sea coming home to shore, May the relief of laughter rinse through your soul.

As the wind loves to call things to dance, May your gravity by lightened by grace.

Like the dignity of moonlight restoring the earth, May your thoughts incline with reverence and respect.

As water takes whatever shape it is in, So free may you be about who you become.

As silence smiles on the other side of what's said, May your sense of irony bring perspective.

As time remains free of all that it frames, May your mind stay clear of all it names.

May your prayer of listening deepen enough to hear in the depths the laughter of god.”

― John O'Donohue, ― “To Bless the Space Between Us: A Book of Blessings.”