Aesthetics of Silence

Here is a link to the essay.
www.ubu.com/aspen/aspen5and6/threeEssays.html#barthes
I'll also post it under Readings.

Of Glee and Isolation

On Saturday, we traveled to Fort Pulaski in two cars and explored the (relatively) natural environment, for the most part, on our own or just in sight or out-of-sight of one another. Deer, raccoon, and a profusion of birds kept us company. Sandra whistled a duet with a bird; Hilary lay outstretched on the ground, face skyward; Joe confronted nature; Kyle ran; Chriss walked the oyster-laden shore; John stayed mostly within the wooded shade. We continued on to Thunderbolt as the subsequent location, and walked new routes there until evening chill grew and drew us into Tubby's for spuds, Bella's, and lifted silence. Back at the 'bun,' chocolate bread (from Back in the Day) preceded a meal gradually made throughout the evening, of tube spaghetti and grilled vegetables. Questions such as, "What brings you joy?" led the conversation, and John typed a poem while Louie solicited supper through the power of his gaze. Dance music continued through the early morning, until sleepers were waken in darkness to prepare for the journey to the sunrise.

Yoko Ono

Everyone is in place -- Emily and Kyle arrived yesterday in the morning and Chriss and Joe got here at night. Discussions continued late into the night, and it was determined that the original format of an eight hour silent walk was still appealing.

This morning, amidst steady rain and a forecast of snow, we fortified ourselves on Hilary's amazing tofu breakfast along with mango, Asian pear, and pineapple in preparation to begin.

Our meanderings took us to our house for additional outerwear, and then we headed generally south and westward toward Daffin Park. Others in the group will probably write observations of the variousness of events (umbrella formations, playground excursions, piggyback, woven candy wrappers, the Al Salaam deli), so I'll move on to the time following our return to Hilary's, where we began a collaborative sumi ink and watercolor drawing. At its midpoint, Emily and Kyle called the rest of the group to the porch --- to see the thick flakes of snow falling! In 17 years in Savannah, I have not seen this! This is the NSS snow.

I stayed on the porch awhile, enjoying watching the flakes fall, and melt. When I went in, Hilary was the only one remaining on the porch. As I came in, a small, bright yellow book caught my eye. I picked it up, and opened to a page:

"TAPE PIECE III

Snow Piece

Take a tape of the sound of the snow
falling.
This should be done in the evening.
Do not listen to the tape.
Cut it and use it as strings to tie
gifts with.
Make a gift wrapper, if you wish, using
the same process with a phonosheet.

1963 autumn"

NSS weather report

Weather report made by Banana Peppers for NSS from weather.msn.com:

Thursday Feb 11Mostly Sunny	Friday Feb 12Rain	Saturday Feb 13Partly Cloudy	Sunday Feb 14Partly Cloudy	Monday Feb 15Mostly Cloudy
Hi: 51° Lo: 32°	Hi: 51° Lo: 32°	Hi: 49° Lo: 35°	Hi: 53° Lo: 38°	Hi: 52° Lo: 37°

En Route

Hello, Everyone -- I put packages for you in the mail today. Joe, John, and Raul, wonderful to receive yours! Sandra

Red Bird

A detail of "Red Bird" by Agnes Martin (on exhibit at MOMA in July 2009)

From MoMA: "Colored ink and pencil on paper, 12 1/4 x 11 7/8" (31.1 x 30.4 cm). Gift of Mrs. Bliss Parkinson. © 2009 Estate of Agnes Martin / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York"

"For Martin, the grid evoked not a human measure but an ethereal one --- the boundless order or transcendent reality associated with Eastern philosophies." - from MoMA wall text

Enn Ess Ess

When you speak the acronym Enn Ess Ess, it sounds a little like "Inness." So here's a portrait of him.

Notes on the image: "Inness, painter, seated in his studio with a brush in his hand and his hat in his lap. Inscription lower right: "Yours Respectfully, Geo. Inness." Annotation on verso (handwritten): If you have Fifty-Eight Paintings by George Inness*, you may be able to identify painting in easel. *by Eliott Dangerfield, published by F.F. Sherman."

SJR

"The true end of art is not to imitate a fixed material condition, but to represent a living motion. "

-George Inness

Savannah's international airport, I think.

See unseen.

"Unless I call my attention to what passes before my eyes, I simply won't see it. It is, as Ruskin says, 'not merely unnoticed, but in the full, clear sense of the word, unseen.' " - from The Tinker at Pilgrim Creek by Annie Dillard