Well that’s a good point. I do wish I could be the one flying back and forth to El Prado. I think I have a book about its treasures I bought when I lived there—- but not the same as seeing the real thing. Let me know what artwork in Tucson you think stands up best to repeated/sustained viewing…
I had a large Kandinsky abstract above my office desk for almost 20 years, and I never tired of looking up at it. That’s the best personal example that comes to mind for repeated gazing. Good question. Not everything holds up to repetition.
The prompt to look at an artwork reminds me of Terry Tempest Williams’ meditative book, Leap. It’s based entirely on her encounters with H. Bosch’s Garden of Earthly Delights triptych (in Spain). I don’t know what I would look at that long, but here’s a review of TTW meeting the assignment: https://januarymagazine.com/nonfiction/leap.html
It is unique, a little challenging to read without the impetus of fiction or the focal point of nonfiction. But for someone exploring how to write about and see art, it’s thought-provoking.
I looked at the link, (thank you for that) and discovered she'd traveled back and forth to visit the work...which was my point in my comment, above...! TTW's encounter with the painting is an angle I hadn't studied in art, and yet, so timely.
This assignment in Four Thousand Weeks has permanent residency in my brain too. I haven't gotten up to 3 hours but can say it's made me pause (and sit) with pieces longer than I normally would. Kaveh Akbar tears my heart to shreds and I can't wait to read Martyr. Also The Bone People sounds like a beautiful way to learn more about the crossing of cultures in NZ. I'm just finishing up Sand Talk by Tyson Yunkaporta (Aboriginal scholar who writes about his people's philosophy) so I've had my head in that part of the world.
I will sit in front of any of our murals here in Tucson with a chilepín margarita and fish tacos any day of the week :) One I've been wanting to see is "Monsoon in a Bottle" by Ignacio Garcia at 290 W. Fort Lowell.
Bosker’s Get the Picture opened my eyes on parts of the art world. She was also hilarious, such as when describing stacked appliances as having universal meaning even when the only people who could understand it knew the artist’s history. And her participation in performance art equally gut-busting funny.
I could look at Georgia O'Keefe's Above the Clouds for hours, although I am sure she would advocate for a comfy spot in the desert looking up at the clouds just as much as she would her own painting. Both allow for a daydream-y, passive, wistful kind of engagement where the internal world becomes just as important as the external/painting/clouds themselves.
I am intrigued by Get the Picture and How to Be Both. Adding to the list. I have been reading Greta & Valdin and so far I am hooked! Thanks for the rec and for motivating me to read more. I even read another book randomly (I Have Some Questions for You). Keep em' comin'!
I don't know how close you are to Phoenix and I don't know if there are any comfy benches nearby. However, the Phoenix Art Museum has two of my favorite pieces that I could stare at for hours.
- Flower Garden by Louis Ritman is an oil on canvas piece
- You Who are Getting Obliterated in the Dancing Swarm of Fireflies by Yayoi Kusama is a unique piece created mixed media including LED lights.
I look forward to hearing about award season. It always intrigues me but I rarely have time to go through it all myself so I will be anticipating your pieces on it.
In the vein of 4000 weeks being less than you think, I recently calculated roughly how many books I have left in my life. If I read one book a week (pretty decent for someone with a busy life) and live for the next 50 years (I'm almost 35), I have 2500 books left. That's not that many! At least, compared to all the books there are I want to, or could be interested in, reading. Only 25 "100 best" lists are possible. Not sure what I'm going to do with this info yet, but the calculation was interesting.
I look forward to your final thoughts on How To Be Both Abra! I read it a few years ago and would echo your comments and say I had absolutely no idea what on earth was going on. I had a stronger grasp of the first half, the second half felt like it all went out the window. I felt very frustrated reading it! I’ll be interested to know if you feel the same, or perhaps differently!
Thanks for sharing that, Eli. And great to hear you are reading more! I’m we must be on the same wavelength— I Have Some Questions for You is one of the few books I’ve read this year that I haven’t written about on here. Love these little synergies!
How long can you look at one artwork?
How about,
how many times can you look at one artwork and find new images and potential messages and meaning?
Ok...maybe leave that for another day!
Well that’s a good point. I do wish I could be the one flying back and forth to El Prado. I think I have a book about its treasures I bought when I lived there—- but not the same as seeing the real thing. Let me know what artwork in Tucson you think stands up best to repeated/sustained viewing…
I had a large Kandinsky abstract above my office desk for almost 20 years, and I never tired of looking up at it. That’s the best personal example that comes to mind for repeated gazing. Good question. Not everything holds up to repetition.
The prompt to look at an artwork reminds me of Terry Tempest Williams’ meditative book, Leap. It’s based entirely on her encounters with H. Bosch’s Garden of Earthly Delights triptych (in Spain). I don’t know what I would look at that long, but here’s a review of TTW meeting the assignment: https://januarymagazine.com/nonfiction/leap.html
That sounds really unique and interesting.
It is unique, a little challenging to read without the impetus of fiction or the focal point of nonfiction. But for someone exploring how to write about and see art, it’s thought-provoking.
I looked at the link, (thank you for that) and discovered she'd traveled back and forth to visit the work...which was my point in my comment, above...! TTW's encounter with the painting is an angle I hadn't studied in art, and yet, so timely.
Haha! We are both independent thinkers, to take Abra’s question our own way. 😉
😉🌞🤓
This assignment in Four Thousand Weeks has permanent residency in my brain too. I haven't gotten up to 3 hours but can say it's made me pause (and sit) with pieces longer than I normally would. Kaveh Akbar tears my heart to shreds and I can't wait to read Martyr. Also The Bone People sounds like a beautiful way to learn more about the crossing of cultures in NZ. I'm just finishing up Sand Talk by Tyson Yunkaporta (Aboriginal scholar who writes about his people's philosophy) so I've had my head in that part of the world.
I will sit in front of any of our murals here in Tucson with a chilepín margarita and fish tacos any day of the week :) One I've been wanting to see is "Monsoon in a Bottle" by Ignacio Garcia at 290 W. Fort Lowell.
Now that’s a great idea. I haven’t seen that one yet. Meet you there?
That would be fun! 😄
Bosker’s Get the Picture opened my eyes on parts of the art world. She was also hilarious, such as when describing stacked appliances as having universal meaning even when the only people who could understand it knew the artist’s history. And her participation in performance art equally gut-busting funny.
It is pretty entertaining. Glad you also enjoyed it Geoff.
I could look at Georgia O'Keefe's Above the Clouds for hours, although I am sure she would advocate for a comfy spot in the desert looking up at the clouds just as much as she would her own painting. Both allow for a daydream-y, passive, wistful kind of engagement where the internal world becomes just as important as the external/painting/clouds themselves.
I am intrigued by Get the Picture and How to Be Both. Adding to the list. I have been reading Greta & Valdin and so far I am hooked! Thanks for the rec and for motivating me to read more. I even read another book randomly (I Have Some Questions for You). Keep em' comin'!
ohh im so excited to lose this award guessing game!!!! 😂
I don't know how close you are to Phoenix and I don't know if there are any comfy benches nearby. However, the Phoenix Art Museum has two of my favorite pieces that I could stare at for hours.
- Flower Garden by Louis Ritman is an oil on canvas piece
- You Who are Getting Obliterated in the Dancing Swarm of Fireflies by Yayoi Kusama is a unique piece created mixed media including LED lights.
I look forward to hearing about award season. It always intrigues me but I rarely have time to go through it all myself so I will be anticipating your pieces on it.
Thanks for reading and for the suggestions, Matthew. Phoenix is not far!
In the vein of 4000 weeks being less than you think, I recently calculated roughly how many books I have left in my life. If I read one book a week (pretty decent for someone with a busy life) and live for the next 50 years (I'm almost 35), I have 2500 books left. That's not that many! At least, compared to all the books there are I want to, or could be interested in, reading. Only 25 "100 best" lists are possible. Not sure what I'm going to do with this info yet, but the calculation was interesting.
Yes, I did the exact same calculation and as someone with several more years of life behind me… it was very sobering!!
I look forward to your final thoughts on How To Be Both Abra! I read it a few years ago and would echo your comments and say I had absolutely no idea what on earth was going on. I had a stronger grasp of the first half, the second half felt like it all went out the window. I felt very frustrated reading it! I’ll be interested to know if you feel the same, or perhaps differently!
Yeah, I keep thinking it will become clear… but not yet!
Oh wow Burkeman's book sounds fascinating!
I found it very thought provoking. Thanks for reading Isabel!
I’ll be interested in your thoughts about So Much Blue.
I know so little about it— I wonder what I will think of it, too!
Thanks for sharing that, Eli. And great to hear you are reading more! I’m we must be on the same wavelength— I Have Some Questions for You is one of the few books I’ve read this year that I haven’t written about on here. Love these little synergies!
I loved Exhibit SO MUCH! I can't wait to hear what you think about it.