Why We Love Art...

Last week I acquired my first original painting! Hardly a Monet… this oil on canvas (in the impasto technique) was found at a local arts and crafts shop. Its colors and the artist’s use of light immediately appealed to me so I took the plunge!

Over the past year or so I have developed a keen interest in paintings… especially by Impressionist’s such as Monet, Renoir and other members of the “Société anonyme des artistes peintres, sculpteurs et graveurs”.

During this time I have also been fortunate enough to do some traveling and have viewed some of their work at the Pushkin Museum in Moscow and the Metropolitan in New York.

And although I have a few photographs by friends and photographers who’s work I admire… I have never owned an original painting. This is a new and exciting experience enhanced by the fact that I am continuing to try and learn as much as I can about the work of Monet and Renoir.

But visits to such places as the Pushkin and the Met can only be occasional. And I will never have the resources to own a Monet! )))  But this simple vase of flowers by an unknown artist also makes me happy. It makes me smile inside and encourages me to contemplate and reflect on things besides the obvious.

And whether a work by Monet, Renoir or Vermeer (who wasn't an impressionist but who's work I also like) hanging in a famous museum or by an unknown artist who's work never makes it beyond the coffee shop walls... isn't this a large part of what all art aspires to achieve?

Summit View - Mt. Moosilauke, NH

The White Mountains of New Hampshire
 as seen from near the summit of Mt. Moosilauke (4802') in Warren, NH

It was a gorgeous day for hiking yesterday (28.09.15) as seen in this panoramic from near the summit of Mt. Moosilauke!

Yesterday I helped lead a fund-raising trip for breast cancer research at Dartmouth Hitchcock Memorial Hospital in Hanover, NH.  The event... called "Climb to Conquer" (moosilauke.reachforthepeaks.org) is a 12km hike up Mt. Moosilauke on the western edge of the White Mountains of New Hampshire. 

This is a panoramic view from near the summit.

Although individual peaks are really tough to distinguish... this view shows most of the major peaks in the White Mountains... from Mt Lafayette and Franconia Ridge in the foreground 11.5 km away to Mt. Washington - about 52 km distant. The width of this scene (as measured on Google Earth) is about 88 km. Talk about an amazing view!  :-)  .  

Photo taken with iPhone5c in panorama mode.

@DailyArtApp

DailyArt Free 

I case you haven't noticed there is a digital marketplace full of millions of apps out there that promise to make your life both better and easier.  But I have found that most of these apps typically "over-promise and under-deliver"... not living up the hype and their reviews online.

Often complicated.. glitchy and with no documentation I simply end up deleting most of them from my devices after a few days out of frustration and/or disappointment with their performance.

But I have recently found one gem of an app that breaks the mold and overcomes the hype... over-delivering by adding value to my day and putting a smile on my face :-)

The app is "DailyArt" and it is wonderfully simple in concept... "Great art delivered to your phone once a day".  

Once installed this app simply sends you a reminder about the same time each day that your daily art piece is ready for viewing.  Open the app and you are usually greeted with a painting or sculpture for your enjoyment and viewing pleasure.  Along with the art piece there is also an informative... and often educational and thought-provoking write-up about the artist or the history and style of the piece.  Perfect for the budding art lover!  For me it is a 5-minute-a-day art education class :-)

I liked this app so much I recently upgraded to the Pro version which allows for archiving your favorites along with some other nice little enhancements.  It is worth every penny for the and the best $5.00 USD I have spent in a long time.

A link to the Apple version of the app is here; https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dailyart-free-daily-dose-fine/id547982045?mt=8  and it is available for Android at the Google Play Store.

Even if you don't think you like art... give it a try!  I guarantee you will enjoy it and start looking forward to that notification tone each day as much as I do!

One Hour on the Bike...

Copyright - Chain Reaction Cycles

Ok, just for the record they left out the part about the rider and machine becoming one... powering each other toward a common goal. Ice Cream!

But seriously... while on the bike I think the body eventually finds its “perfect rhythm”.  Each of the vital internal systems comes into sync… freeing the brain from the distraction of having to mange them individually... like little children competing for attention.

And as this happens you begin to enter a special place… a place where your mind is now freed to wander in different directions and engage in the kind of creative, reflective and philosophical thinking that is necessary to live a healthy, happy and rewarding life.

And on my opinion… this is the true value of exercise.

Thanks to Chain Reaction and visit their web site here to view the original graphic:
http://www.chainreactionhub.com/latest-news/2076-what-happens-during-one-hour-of-riding-your-bicycle

"A Tragedy Told in Stone"

"Tragedy Told in Stone" - West Lebanon NH

“Numbers rule all things.” -- Pythagoras 580 – 500 B.C.E.

While I'm not really superstitious... this family headstone found in a local cemetery certainly tells a tragic story and would seem to contradict the fact that the number seven is generally thought of as being lucky in most cultures throughout the world. 

However in this case it seems to have been very unlucky… although certainly important.

While I will not make any claims as to the accuracy of this information... you can read more about the meaning of different numbers in cultures around the world here: http://mysticalnumbers.com/

"Abandoned Buildings 3" - Autoware, Canaan NH

This is the third in a series of images of various abandoned buildings and structures located in the Upper Valley of Vermont and New Hampshire.

Time and the original owners seem to have forgotten most of these places... but I'm sure they all have a story to tell.

In the case of this building I know a little of the history and there is some information online as well.

Unfortunately I believe this building stands as a sad testament to what happens when people take a "too causal" attitude towards the proper handling and disposal of junk and potentially hazardous waste.  At one time this was an automobile repair shop.  And my general understanding is that no one has been willing or able to buy and develop the property since the shop went out of business many years ago due to what it would cost to have all the junk material and potentially hazardous removal done.  It is now listed as "abandoned" on at least one list of such properties online by the New Hampshire State Treasurer.

Some references are here: https://casetext.com/case/state-v-autoware-inc and here: http://new-hampshire-unclaimed.org/data/++CANAAN,+NH/AUTOWARE+INC/66313985.html


If you are a local follower and recognize any of these places please post a comment as to the former use. Eventually I hope to put together an album of these images along with a brief history of the building or location.  Thanks!

Windmills at Sunset...

"Windmills at Sunset"
Mt. Cardigan, Orange NH

Like many I have mixed emotions about the installation of wind turbines along the mountainous ridgelines of New England. But there is no question that we can’t keep consuming and burning fossil fuels at the rate we have been since the beginning of the industrial revolution. I believe global warming is a fact and we have to act now to try and roll back its negative impact on the environment.

While many will protest and try to block these kinds of projects on the basis of various environmental and visual impacts I think the tough reality is that we need to come to accept that these kinds of projects… if well managed and thoughtfuly placed… are necessary to the future well being of the planet and society.

We have seen that some early alternatives to fossil fuel usage such as nuclear power carry simply unacceptable potential dangers. Three Mile Island (TMI-2) and Chernobyl (Pripyat - Reactor 4) are just two examples of what could have actually been much greater human and environmental disasters. Thirty one people died as a direct result of fighting to contain the fires and radiation at Chernobyl… and the human, environmental and economic impact of that accident are still being felt a generation later.

And the economic impact (both positive and negative) on different countries around the world due to the volatility of fossil fuel prices can make or break economies overnight creating hardship and an unclear future for many.

So in my opinion… as individuals and as a society... we need to make some tough choices as to our energy future. Yes, wind-farms and solar arrays may be considered unwelcome intruders on the landscape of New England and many regions across the world. But I believe until we find a "better" answer... they are better than the alternative.

Summer Sunset...

"Summer Sunset" - Mascoma River, Enfield NH

For the past few weeks I have been challenging myself to try and "see" in black and white again after many years of shooting almost exclusively in color.

And so far I am pretty happy with the results.

 I know the resulting images have made me think more about what I see and how I view the world around me... and I hope they do the same for those who occasionally view and enjoy my work.

Abandoned Buildings #2

Abandoned #2 - Route 120, Lebanon, NH

This is the second in a series of images of various abandoned buildings and structures located in the Upper Valley of Vermont and New Hampshire.

Time and the original owners seem to have forgotten these places... but I'm sure they all have a story to tell.

Unlike the first photo in this series it looks like someone has come to the rescue of these two buildings... but that still doesn't tell us anything about their original purpose or history.

If you are a local follower and recognize any of these places please post a comment as to the former use. Eventually I hope to put together an album of these images along with a brief history the building or location.