by May Day Eve
Happy May Day Eve! Hauskaa Vappua! If you are in Finland many of you may have enjoyed bonfires on beaches, along with some sima and tippaleipää. In Germany, it’s Walpurgisnacht, in England there’s Maypole dancing. Here is one of many posts from my archives about this eve and day. Rather miss it here in Canada.
I have been playing in my little studio with offcuts of old print proofs, some of which had water damage that had resulted in some fascinating new patterns, bleeds, stains and even wrinkles, such as in the above image. It makes me think of those wonderful bonfires so thought to place this one here.
April 30, 2015 in Being an Artist, Culture, Finland, Estonia & Finno-Ugric by Marja-Leena
It’s so wet here no bonfire would have a hope of burning, but it’s a public holiday today, and you hav the right to sell all the lily-of-the-valley you want on the streets without paying any tax!
Enjoy the oncoming spring, ML.
Bonne Fête du Muguet! I love that France’s May Day is dedicated to that lovely lily-of-the-valley. I must go pick a fresh bunch from my garden. No public holiday here either but the clouds are clearing and the rains are forecast to stay away for several days. – spring is my favourite season here.
We seem to be losing our connection with earth and the turn of the seasons – a shame I think. I remember May Day as a joyous occasion in my childhood.
I love the effect of your piece above – I always think that one needs a bit of random disaster to spice up one’s creative solution finding!
I agree, Olga, I miss the old celebrations. I love happy accidents – a marvelous thing for us artists!
That picture of water damage; magical; truly wonderful!
Thanks, Tom, I love it too. When I was cleaning up the mess of wet papers last year, I quite loved the many effects and saved some of them. Nature’s art work again! Hmm, maybe I’ll do this intentionally…
I love the picture you chose to post for May Day. Once again, you’ve proven your artistic merit by seeing the damage as captivating.
I love the idea of May Day celebrations too even though I’ve never lived anyplace where the day was a holiday – or barely noted, for that matter.
Spring is finally here, but the last note written in my winter diary will say there are still patches of snow on the ground. I hope this past winter wasn’t a sign of the new normal.
I’m pleased that you love the image and think it great for May Day – and thank you for the compliment!
I’ve not experienced a May Day holiday etiher, except maybe as a very young child in Finland.
Great that spring has finally arrived out your way, Susan – now that is worth celebrating!
Definitely serendipitous .. so beautiful and unrepeatable!
Thanks! I do love things serendipitious.
I suppose it’s rather like the little landscapes I sometimes see in the fire…
Oh yes indeed, Marly! You see fire, some see water.