It was a warm summer day and I went for a walk. I looked down at the ground, and there it was: ‘peace’ on the sidewalk in chalk.
Three versions of that image are connected above,
and in solitude at VisuaLiving–my photo blog:
When I feel off-balance or a sense of dis-ease, I recall that day I saw peace at my feet. I conjure the feeling of the smile on my face, and imagine the joy of the person who took time to etch peace on concrete for passersby to see.
My memory of Hévíz—a Hungarian spa town—is a memory of sensation. My time there is sacred. It’s not a particularly “exciting” time; it’s a rejuvenating contemplative retreat more than anything. For close to a month, my routine consists of eating, walking, resting, sleeping, soaking in mineral hot springs, and receiving wellness treatments (massages, mud packs, etc.). For me, it is bliss. It’s the closest to I get to God.
On more than one occasion I’ve gone there to disconnect from life-as-I-know-it where I live; to disconnect from computers; phones; responsibilities. Solitude is available in large quantities. I slow down. I stop thinking. And when I stop thinking, I begin to sense life in and around me in ways I tend to overlook during the rest of the year. What I find through disconnection is a reconnection with the language of my senses—and nature.
For example … Read the rest of this entry »
Some folks are penny wishers, others are star wishers.
If you prefer stars, here’s a chalk star to wish upon …
~
This is a re-post from a couple of years ago. Thought I’d revisit it now–
at a time of year devoted to intentions, resolutions, success plans.
Sometimes, perhaps, it’s better to drop the effort and hope for something grand …
cheers to the season / to love and light / to inspiration
Happy anniversary to Dorothee Lang’s BluePrint blog carnival >Language >Place!
>Language >Place is a regular gathering of Read the rest of this entry »
a sunny august moment unfolded like this, if I recall it correctly …
~
head, spinning fast spinning right up down left i’m
meandering home from the station, ideas and fantasies
dreams and ambitions of elsewhere of there of
away far away, other lands other times other spaces
back then wonder when
but not now and not here and not present
old breath vision time and sensation
away, until
2 blinks they open, my eyes so wide open i see that it’s me
in my fresh in my nation my city
so fragrant this moment
right here and today
~
written for: > Language > Place Blog Carnival: Edition #11
featured in: BluePrintReview Newspaper
It came together in a flash of inspiration when I had a list of other things to do…
I felt the urge, desire, to capture a memory, yet my attempts to contain it recalled the circularity of a familiar moment that changes hue.
The sunrise each day—in Hévíz, Hungary—would greet me with
variations on a particular sky view.
Below, two renditions—complete with visuals, words, and links to avian tunes:
The challenge, I think, is to witness beauty at home. These days, I see it all around me.
Click links below for full images:
~
This post is featured in the BluePrintReview blogzine just a moment.
Season’s Greetings!
may your days be filled
gratitude / warmth / abundance
clarity / peace
in solitude or with loved ones
~
Karyn
Ever feel the need to detach from the web?
I do, every now and again.
The other day, my Toad Lilies blossomed.
Today, in the sun, my clematis re-bloomed.
Any fall faces in October for you?
Morning greets me with crisp air and fresh Toad Lily blooms.
In your yard, are there any bursting blossoms for you?
swimming sideways at harrison hot springs
a balmy august evening at 10 pm
reverence / luminescence
waves of light
~
Prepared for Language/Place Blog Carnival #8: The Poetry of Place.
A few words from host Walter Bjorkman > here.
I have a new image up in Referential Magazine–a place where literary and visual artists connect their creations to work already published in the journal.
My photograph–Red/White/Blue–refers to Annmarie Lockhart’s poem with a similarly colored, yet differently punctuated, title: ‘Red, White and Blue’. The title of Lockhart’s work, and the poem itself, brought to mind my image, sitting in neutral, hiding in my archive, all but forgotten. Now, I’m happy to say that our works live together on a page of their own. Here’s the link:
Red/White/Blue [Eisler] + Red, White and Blue [Lockhart]
The image has roots in the ever-changing painting below–a work in perpetual progress like a chalkboard with spontaneous additions and deletions whenever I feel inclined to play with it. It hangs behind me on the wall in ‘The Lab’ where I work.
The birthing details of Red/White/Blue?
One day, a while back, I took three detail photos of the painting, digitally morphed them beyond recognition, then put them together like a puzzle.
I look in awe at my surroundings,
move my head to the left, and see a man with a shovel:
“What’s with that?” I wonder.
My Variegated Algerian Ivy on a trellis. Slowly, it climbs; grows tall.
In which direction does your Ivy crawl?
I was thinking about childhood today, and wondered:
What made me happy as a kid?
I instructed myself to dispense with analysis and forget about critical thinking:
Why certain things put a smile on my face was less interesting than revisiting the sources of my bliss.
First thing that popped into my head:
The Brady Bunch
’70′s TV show / fictional family / a dog / a maid / 6 kids
I loved The Brady Bunch.
They made me happy, and their rendition of ‘Sunshine Day’ still makes me grin …
And a question:
What made you happy as a kid?
I ask myself:
What might a garden look like after midnight through tired eyes and dim light?
Kind of like this, I reply.
The discovery took place in my sandbox — VisuaLiving — while half asleep the other night.
Sweet fragrant daffodils, in full bloom, poke through astilbe leaves to say hello and ask:
Where are you?
The April Garden Party is in full swing.
There’s room for more, and it doesn’t matter where you live.
The point of the party is to share what is (or isn’t) growing in April near you.
For directions, and to see who’s arrived, follow this link.
Hope to see you soon!
Karyn
April is over and submissions are closed.
To all who stopped by to view and/or share, thank-you!
The April Garden Party photos are preserved. Have a look.
Birthing blooms vines leaves, my window spring morning fresh, I see.
© Karyn Eisler, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
***
Your view?
Send video or 515 pixel-wide jpeg [or wider] to:
k_eisler AT telus DOT net
Words, name, link, location — please include.
Look forward to seeing what’s growing (or isn’t) near you!
April is over and submissions are closed.
To all who stopped by to view and/or share, thank-you!
Scroll down to see the April photos. They’re preserved.
↓
Karyn Eisler:
What is VisuaLiving?
Karyn Eisler:
my photo gallery
a kaleidoscope of color
a place to massage my visual memories
a sandbox where i play and have fun; a site to explore different image renderings
.
KE:
What is your starting photo?
KE:
my brother’s eyeball
***
KE:
I’d like to see your brother’s eyeball. Where is it?
KE:
on the flip side of this link
↓
A question for chalk artists:
Have you any idea of the joy you bring to passersby who
stop and look,
then smile at your creations,
before rain makes the beauty disappear?
Some people wish on stars, others on pennies.
Here’s a penny for penny wishers.
What do you wish for?
