Al - Hamra, Al - Andalus

The Red Fortress, a Moorish fortified palace in Andalucia, in the south of Spain.
I am very excited about this place at present and hoping to be able to visit soon.
The pomegranate is the symbol of Granada. Cut one in half then in quarters and the complexity of the seeds of the interior and the red red juice is quite a sight and related I believe to this very experience.
Imtiaz Dharker has written an extraordinary poem through the symbolism of the cutting of a pomegranate, using it as a metaphor to talk about our contemporary situation in the Middle East. A very powerful work.
See the website www.bloodaxebooks.com and view the trailer for In Person 30 Poets.

Harbinger of spring

Primavera what a beautiful word for spring!
Le printemps, fruhling, var...
From snowdrops to the forsythia buds turning yellow now. We are well under way here despite recent storms and some frosty mornings.
The circle is on hiatus and I am working hard on various projects all at once.
Sending you all wishes for a beautiful spring unfolding and may you be able to enjoy it.

Piet Mondrian

Broadway Boogie Woogie
Happy Birthday to you Mondrian!

Tony Vevers

I just learned from a mailing that the artist Tony Vevers passed away on March 2nd.
Very sad to hear it, however Tony had been ill for a while and this brought him some peace I hope.
I met him and his family when I was a fellow at FAWC and found his spirit so beguiling. Those eyes, those intelligent and kind eyes. He was English who had been evacuated to the US during the war with his sister Pamela.
His whole family, wife and daughters are incredible artists and people, who give Cape Cod and Provincetown much of its colour.
There will be a memorial for him in the early summer at PAAM, with which he was very much involved.
Tony was also a magnificient art teacher and verbalised art making and its process with purpose very well. I hope all his writings will be published.
This is to Tabitha, Stephanie and Elspeth, thank you and take care.

Malick Sidibe'

Last night I saw the amazing documentary on the Malian photographer Malick Sidibe'.
I had seen an exhibition of his work in Cambridge, Mass. several years ago at the Fogg Art Museum.
"Joie de vivre" captures the feeling of this man and his work.

Happy Birthday Terry!

Today is my friend Terry Born's birthday and she is a fella redhead!
I hope she has a lovely lively day and knowing her she will celebrate!
Here's to thinking of you!

Signs of spring

Today in the garden I found not only snowdrops but buds of forsythia and ornamental quince. The daffodils etc are green stalks with promise. The grass is green.
A few pussywillows above the door.
The sun so rare here that when it is out causes such joy and all the cats charge outside to play and hunt. I go for a walk to discover any signs of change. The sheep in the field across do not yet look heavy with pregnancy. There are still a couple of months to go before lambing.
This year I shall be around for some of it. It is important for me to witness the onset of spring and be around for its full bloom. It is my favourite season and I always want to savour it.