a white stone
two sides of a much-loved stone that resides on a windowsill
was it found by one of our children years ago?
by Marja-Leena
by Marja-Leena sunbeam and shadow
a long low late afternoon sunbeam
shines a spotlight on some dried flowers
and casts an intricate shadow on the wall
a surprise in an ordinary day
by Marja-Leena ‘this place’ #3
‘this place’ #3
archival inkjet
33 x 48 cm. (13″ x 19″)
Related works: ‘this place’ #1 and ‘this place’ #2
by Marja-Leena ‘this place’ #2
‘this place’ #2
archival inkjet
33 x 48 cm. (13″ x 19″)
Related works: ‘this place’ #1 and ‘this place’ #3
by Marja-Leena birthdays and valentines
A blog-friend who knows and shares my love of rock art and images of hands captured this wonderful pictograph** and created this lovely birthday card for me. Thank you for this, Siona. Siona’s blog is a treasure of beautiful, sensitive, poetic writing which is also a gift to her readers, do visit!
We’re having a pleasant weekend at home, quietly celebrating my birthday (it was on Friday) and Valentine’s Day tomorrow, all in one as we usually tend to do. As I’ve been too lazy to make a Valentine to put here, I ask instead, dear readers, that you imagine these artists’ hands waving to us across the ages, making a long ephemeral thread of connection to our ancient past. Doesn’t that give you a shiver, better than heart shaped cards and chocolates (ok, maybe not better than the latter)?
Happy Valentine’s Day tomorrow! Happy Friendship Day to my Finnish readers!
**Siona could not remember the source of the image, whether Australian or South American or? If you should recognize this, do let us know.
UPDATE Feb.15th: We have the answer!! As you can read in the comments from ‘il’, who is Ismo Luukkonen of Finland, the hands are from Carnarvon National Park, Queensland, Australia. I’m so excited, not only to have the answer, but to hear from Ismo himself for I’ve written before about his stunning photographs and website on Finnish rock art. Kiitos!
by Marja-Leena ‘this place’ #1
‘this place’ #1
archival inkjet print
48 x 33 cm. (19′ x 13′)
This also comes in a smaller version: about 25 x 20 cm. (10″ x 8″) and is called ‘this small place’. It was one of three prints of mine that were accepted into the BIMPE VI exhibition last year. I recently received the catalogue – a most impressive publication!
Please also see these related works: ‘this place’ #2 and ‘this place’ #3.
by Marja-Leena reflected
After hours and days of working at the computer and a bit in my home studio, today I just had to take a break and enjoy the sunshine outdoors. My garden has been much neglected since the fall and my green thumb was itching to clean up the dead vegetation and see what was growing beneath. Sure enough, lots of green tips popping up, including many nearly buried snowdrops struggling for light. Three hours flew by with hard but pleasurable work (I’m a little sore now). Lots and lots more to do over the coming weeks but it felt wonderful to make a start. Soon, I must start some seeds….
I forgot to take the camera outdoors today but here’s a photo taken a few days ago indoors.
Update Feb.10th: you may remember the macro shots of last year’s amaryllis, possibly the same bulb
by Marja-Leena frost and thaw
Clear and cold.
Days of rare sunshine.
Skylights with night shades of solid white frost.
Rising sun’s rays glance frozen glass. Thawing, changing, spreading patterns.
Sun’s art as brilliant as Jack Frost’s.
(Captured between 8:40 and 8:43 a.m. on February 1st, 2011)
Related posts:
Winter sun and frost
Crackle
Frosty
by Marja-Leena Marshall McLuhan Centennial
Marshall McLuhan (1911-1980) was already a famous Canadian name for my husband and me in our student days at the University of Manitoba where he too received his first degrees. You may have heard the phrases “the medium is the message”, “global village” and many others that he was noted for as a scholar and critic of modern mass communications.
Now you can hear him speak at this new website. We really enjoyed the excellent introduction by Tom Wolfe. (via)
Lots of resources on the net including the official McLuhan site listing all the world-wide events planned for this commemoration year as well as that of the official publisher. Makes me think I need to add some of his books to my reading list. How about you – are you familiar with McLuhan?
by Marja-Leena happy lunar new year
No, I don’t suppose this flower is special to this particular event, celebrated widely by many Asian countries and their immigrant communities such as here in Vancouver. This single blossom was part of a larger stem of orchid blossoms on a plant that is blooming in my solarium, and fell off when I was straightening the stem. I had the urge to digitally immortalize it. I’m grateful for some colour and lovely scent on this dull rainy day – enjoy!