Discovering Beauty in Everyday Life

Innocent lion-taming maiden unaware of the evil forces of Rodin rapidly closing in. Metropolitan Museum of Art

Passerby:  What is that tree? Me:  It's a Witch-hazel. Passerby:  It can't be a Witch-hazel, Witch-hazel's supposed to be yellow. Me: This one is orange. Passerby: Well... Witch-Hazel near the Metropolitan Museum of Art .

Warning!  Warning!   Joggers, Walkers, Dogs and Small Living Things:  Beware!     The awful rumor is true:   Monster Pigeon is back!     Although Monster and Mate have not been directly spotted, the long white trail on the lower left rock is clear and convincing evidence that Monster is alive, well, and perching in Marcus Garvey Park!   Marcus Garvey Park from Fifth on the Park, 6B   Remember the terrible summer of 2010, when Monster and Mate constructed their giant nest atop the Metropolitan Musesum of Art (of all places)?   In case you forgot, here is the report, pulled from the blogging archives: Tuesday, July 6, 2010 -- Is Anybody Out There? All counter measures have failed so far to halt the inexorable encroacing nest construction of Monster Pigeon (and Mate).  Proactive measures, smoke, warnings, and mirrors have failed to halt the illegal settlement.  As you can see, the situation is very grave. Nobody knows for certain how many tourists have been

Metropolitan Museum of Art; Latest Exhibit Looking West from Second Floor Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Everyone is talking about the Cloud: the iCloud, the Virtual Cloud, Syncing with the Cloud, so  it seemed  useful to fund a cloud hunting expedition.  And there it was! Cloud City!  Right here in New York City on the Roof of the Metropolitan. What an opportunity to clarify the ineffable! To become technologically explicable! Explorer studies the Cloud Technological Explorer Searching for the Effable (captured by the expedition photographer)

We have seen fall, winter, now summer.  Can we remember spring?

Ellsworth Kelly. (American, born 1923). Apples . Paris, 1949. Charcoal pencil on paper Idea! Go out and try some blind contour drawing. Just take a few minutes and draw something on your table or desk: here's how: take a piece of blank paper and a pencil (ok, a pen will do) put behind your back (or out of sight of your eyes). without taking the pencil off the paper, draw the object you choose. Don't be fussy! Just get the basic outline and add a few details--No picking up your pencil!  No looking! Benefit: You will discover the great quality of line that Ellsworth Kelly uses!!

Yes, it is impossible to quite capture the magic and majestic paintings of Georgia O'Keeffe, but what love in every stroke. And look at the composition, with the antlers just barely in reach of the frame. Awsome! Georgia O'Keeffe, American, 1887-1988 From the Faraway, Nearby, 1937 Oil on Canvas

Well, yes, there is a vacancy Down near my heart, but so what! There’s no sign on the lawn! It’s clearly an error. Give it up, get a grip! No ‘for sale’’, no ‘for rent’,  so forget it!  Metropolitan Museum of Art, Islamic Galleries (iPhone photo)

Suffering the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.... African Kongo Power Figure, Metropolitan Museum of Art The various metals embedded in the figure's expansive torso attest to its central role as witness and enforcer of affairs critical to its community. They document vows sealed, treaties signed, and efforts to eradicate evil. Ultimately, this work inspired reflection on the consequences of transgressing established codes of social conduct. Power Figure:      (Nkisi N'Kondi: Mangaaka) Date:                   mid to late 19th century Geography:     Democratic Republic of the Congo, Chiloango River region Culture:     Kongo peoples; D.R.C or Republic of Congo Medium:    Wood, paint, metal, resin, ceramic Dimensions:     H. 46 7/16 in. (118 cm) Classification:    Wood-Sculpture *http://www.metmuseum.org/Collections/search-the-collections/50013887

The Metripolitan Museum is always steaming with beauty, but it is very rare to glimpse the manifestation of this phenomena--and to get a photo, Well!  Our hardy Fifth Avenue Photographer has captured the very essence. Metropolitan Museum of Art, February 2012

Cleopatra's Needle, probably constructed in the 1200's BC, is almost 3000 years old. I am not even a 100!  It's all a matter of scale. Here's Cleo's Needle keeping company with one of Central Park's signature lamposts. Cleopatra's Needle and a Lampost Reflection::  Trees and a Wavy Cleopatra's Needle

Many celebrated artists have difficulty fitting into the Museum of Modern Art or the Metropolitan Museum.  One of our local rather famous artist requires a very large palette  and a very expansive venue--much too much for either museum.     However, our  Artist has often been convinced to splash beauty on the more liberal outside walls.  This temporal display was witnessed by many lucky New Yorkers as they passed by the South Wall of the Winter Metropolitan of a late afternoon..

Cheerful New York Artists selling their work to last minute shoppers on Fifth Avenue

Tree with unintended shadow consequences

There it is again, the wild heart, pulsing in its quiet nest. I took a walk about the arteries, checking on the valves, firming up the infrastructure, smoothing out the veins. The hardware’s all in order, running the latest version. Nothing here to cause this stretchy wanting feeling Or that longing shiver warming up the ribs.

Dancing scissor tree, caught in a glass sealed time capsule Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas:  Metropolitan Museum of Art

NYC - Metropolitan Museum of Art - Roman statue of Artemis and a deer Roman statue of Artemis and a deer Greek or Roman, Late Hellenistic or Early Imperial, ca. 1st century B.c. - 1st century A.D. Leon Levy and Shelby White Court (the central atrium in the new Greek and Roman Galleries).