Selfie with Dad- 1/19/15 - Image-a-day

I've missed a few days of posting images on here because I was in Mississippi visiting my Dad and Step Mom for the weekend. I took photos everyday, but had no internet access as my Dad doesn't have internet service and my cell phone had no coverage, so I was off-the-grid. It's always a bit strange for me to visit my Dad in Mississippi as it's not a homecoming for me as I never lived down there, but my Dad's side of the family has deep roots there, so I have a lot of connections there, just few memories. Culturally, I don't fit in, but I always enjoy how friendly most people can be there and the simple, country life. I love my Dad and Step Mom Betty and was grateful to spend some time with them. They start each day with prayers and gratitude for their lives and the people in it, and I think that's a beautiful way to start a day. I'm still learning from my Dad.

OK HW

Red Clay Walk - 1/18/15 - Image-a-day

I went for a walk while I was in Mississippi. My Dad lives out in the country, so it was easy to step down a side road and get a couple of miles. The ditch along the road exposed the red clay which my wife always loves to see, so I grabbed this self-portrait for her.

OK HW

Spring Water - 1/17/15 - Image-a-day

On Saturday I went with my Dad and his neighbor Frank to a natural spring well to gather water. My Dad swears by this water to keep him healthy. We brought a couple of dozen two liter jugs to fill. The water flows freely from a white PVC pipe coming from the ground. The water tastes sweet and pure.

OK HW

Dawn Flight - 1/16/15 - Image-a-day

I saw the sunrise from an airplane window this morning. Clear weather is a traveler's friend. Heading Mississippi-way to visit my Dad for the weekend. 

OK HW

Pineapple Jack - 1/15/15 - Image-a-day

Today's image is a blast from the past, "Pineapple Jack"! He's one of my old sculptures from the 1990s that was a direct build-up method using UltraCal-30 plaster with nails and a board and painted with acrylics. I'm glad he's still hanging on my wall.

OK HW

That's Ice for You - 1/14/15 - Image-a-day

Last night our area had a near miss with a wintery storm. Thirty-three degrees and raining was as close as it got in Tidewater, but northwest on the Peninsula the iceman cameth. All the trees twinkled with a thin coating of ice, just enough to be beautiful, but not so much that branches were coming down on the power lines. When I got to work, I grabbed a few photos before it all melted away...

OK HW

Rose Quartz Buddha - 1/13/15 - Image-a-day

Today's image is of a Rose Quartz Buddha, a recent gift from a good friend.

OK HW

A Foggy Journey Home - 1/12/15 - Image-a-day

It was a rainy and chilly Monday. The perfect kind of day to stay home in bed and read a good book, but alas, I had to go to work. By the end of the day, heavy fog rolled in making the drive home atmospheric, soft and mysterious.

OK HW

Downtown Sound - 1/11/15 - Image-a-day

Today's image is of a street band I happened across while in the Ghent area of Norfolk today called "The Downtown Sound", a three-piece group; tuba, sax and drum kit. I enjoyed their jazzy, funky cover of Cee Lo Green's "Crazy". It was so funky, for a few minutes I felt like I was on Frenchman's Street in New Orleans...

OK HW

Cosmic Shards - 1-10-15 - Image-a-day

We visited The Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, Va today. It's been a long time since we walked the halls there. Spent some time checking out the contemporary glass and I was mesmerized by this piece by German artist, Josepha Gasch-Muche called 7.3.2011. Inspired by my friend Ralf's recently posted short videos, I shot this short bit of moving picture trying to capture the elusive abstract quality of this work.

OK HW

Pencil Cactus - 1/9/15 - Image-a-day

Is this five feet tall or one hundred?

OK HW

Unfinished Business - 1/8/15 - Image-a-day

I have a few things laying on the work bench that need to be finished; a tiki head, a couple of angel wings and two new Lo-Fi-Ga miniatures. Time moves too quickly and there's always duties and distractions that keep me away from the studio, but last year I found more time for my creative life and this is a good thing. My essential nature is to make art and I am always better for the time spent in the studio, so this year I hope to spend even more time.

OK HW

Je Suis Charlie - 1/7/15 - Image-a-day

I was sadden and horrified by the terrible news from Paris today of the brutal attack on the French satirical magazine "Charlie Hebdon". A few years ago I had heard about some French newspaper that had published some cartoons depicting Mohammad in an unflattering way and there had been death threats, but forgot about it until today's terrible news. I never heard of nor knew the magazine or the names of the artist, but know them now. Four cartoonist were murdered today for making fun of a religion. They drew funny pictures and made rude comments and that was enough to drive a few broken, deranged idiots to destroy them. Those four brave cartoonist were:

Stéphane Charbonnier "Charb"

Cabu

Georges Wolinski

Tignous

There were others killed in the attack, eight other people and more injured, and they too risked and gave their lives fro free expression. Tonight there were protests all across Paris and Europe, silent vigils of thousands carrying signs of solidarity that read, "Je Suis Charlie". I've been to Paris a couple of times and love the people and culture there. It makes my heart sick to think of the hate and violence of todays' events, but seeing those Parisans from all walks of life standing together reassures me that they will not be oppressed. 

"Je Suis Charlie" indeed. I thought about throwing out some snarky Mohammad cartoon, but my beef isn't with Islam or Muslims, the vast majority of whom are just as outraged at this tragedy as anyone else, so why throw more fuel on the fire? So instead, I drew my old underground comix character, 3-D Speed Freak saying "Je Suis Charlie", solidarity in the comix world and the real world too. Now is the time to stand with the Parisians and the French and all other lovers of art and free expression. 

Je Suis Charlie...

OK HW