Thursday, October 27, 2011


A day at the beach, the beach of my dreams, Coney Island.  The old world and the natural world hold hands, an old, long lost bathhouse from the turn of the past century and condos (or are they housing projects?) stand side by side, sprinkled with green trees and blue skies.  Coney Island was a sheer pleasure this year and always.  A trip to this beach in particular is one that is always well worth the taking. 

Coney Island, el Mundo Entero, 2011

The Beach at Coney Island, Sprinkled with Clouds, Alternate View

Black Bathing Beauties, Coney Island, USA, 2011, Joyce Dade (c)

Saturday, September 17, 2011

A Joy Forever

As autumn approachs, John Kets,

A thing of beauty is a joy for ever:
Its loveliness increases; it will never
Pass into nothingness; but still will keep
A bower quiet for us, and a sleep
Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.
Therefore, on every morrow, are we wreathing
A flowery band to bind us to the earth,
Spite of despondence, of the inhuman dearth
Of noble natures, of the gloomy days,
Of all the unhealthy and o'er-darkened ways
Made for our searching: yes, in spite of all,
Some shape of beauty moves away the pall
From our dark spirits. Such the sun, the moon,
Trees old, and young, sprouting a shady boon
For simple sheep; and such are daffodils
With the green world they live in; and clear rills
That for themselves a cooling covert make
'Gainst the hot season; the mid-forest brake,
Rich with a sprinkling of fair musk-rose blooms:
And such too is the grandeur of the dooms
We have imagined for the mighty dead;
All lovely tales that we have heard or read:
An endless fountain of immortal drink,
Pouring unto us from the heaven's brink.

Nor do we merely feel these essences
For one short hour; no, even as the trees
That whisper round a temple become soon
Dear as the temple's self, so does the moon,
The passion poesy, glories infinite,
Haunt us till they become a cheering light
Unto our souls, and bound to us so fast
That, whether there be shine or gloom o'ercast,
They always must be with us, or we die.

Therefore, 'tis with full happiness that I
Will trace the story of Endymion.
The very music of the name has gone
Into my being, and each pleasant scene
Is growing fresh before me as the green
Of our own valleys: so I will begin
Now while I cannot hear the city's din;
Now while the early budders are just new,
And run in mazes of the youngest hue
About old forests; while the willow trails
Its delicate amber; and the dairy pails
Bring home increase of milk. And, as the year
Grows lush in juicy stalks, I'll smoothly steer
My little boat, for many quiet hours,
With streams that deepen freshly into bowers.
Many and many a verse I hope to write,
Before the daisies, vermeil rimmed and white,
Hide in deep herbage; and ere yet the bees
Hum about globes of clover and sweet peas,
I must be near the middle of my story.
O may no wintry season, bare and hoary,
See it half finished: but let Autumn bold,
With universal tinge of sober gold,
Be all about me when I make an end!
And now at once, adventuresome, I send
My herald thought into a wilderness:
There let its trumpet blow, and quickly dress
My uncertain path with green, that I may speed
Easily onward, thorough flowers and weed.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

"New" Gustav Kimpt Painting Authenticated in Europe

I just found this exciting information along the way.  A "new" Gustav Klimpt painting was authenticated in Europe.  The painting was created in 1901 and sold one year later in 1902 to the current owner's ancestors. 

It is a beautiful painting and reminds me of the value and importance of appreciating and collecting the work of visionary art from visionary artists.  Of course, the appreciation for this work is huge. 

The ancestors and the current owners, I can hear them now, singing. 

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Khan Academy

Visitors may be interested in a wonderful, free online Academy, the Kahn Academy where you can brush up on and or learn about all those topics that intimidated you and may or may not have been flunked by any number of people who would love to finally get a grip on how it all makes sense. 

The mastermind behind this concept was recently interviewed on Charlie Rose and, I just know you will love seeing the line up of "courses" there for the taking and so that you can become better acquainted with the young, genius who has put this together for others and at not cost!