insomnia
“That ideal reader suffering from an ideal insomnia.” – James Joyce, Finnegan’s Wake
She, looking for a clever quote, but not sure what this means…
by Marja-Leena
by Marja-Leena Sept.11, 1906
It’s hard to avoid all the nauseous revisiting of the events of five years ago, even in our Canadian media and present government. Unwilling as I am to be drawn into this again, especially since I avoid the subject of politics on my blog, I feel this interview about Satyagraha 100 Years Later is about history. And aren’t we supposed to learn lessons from history? (Thanks to Gordon Coale)
Addendum: The Tyee has a very interesting article discussing Canadian citizenship and a response to a challenge that was put forth since the recent Lebanon war: The Gates of Fear? 9/11 and the rules of Canadian citizenship.
Addendum #2: I really recommend you read Dave Bonta’s excellent guest essay on Satyagraha over at modal minority, a blog focused on the culture of the Global South, usually written by Teju Cole.
Addendum #3: Okay, this is the last one, I promise, but I must point to Feministe’s passionate remembrance and rejection of the pomp and politics of 9/11. Found belatedly at Via Negativa’s Smorgasblog.
by Marja-Leena Portrait of a Couple
Veils Suite: Portrait of a Couple
monotype (oil-based inks)
76 x 57 cm.
This was one of the first pieces in the series of monotypes within the Veils Suite series.
More here
by Marja-Leena Re-identification
(Image on invitation: Mandarin – drypoint by Noriko Saito)
This collaborative exhibition features contemporary works on paper from three printmaking studios: Malaspina Printmakers in Vancouver, Canada; Shin-Yokohama Printmakers Association in Yokohama, Japan; and Grafisch Atelier Utrecht in Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Last year, Japan hosted the first of these exhibitions traveling across the country. This year Vancouver, Canada will be the starting point of the Canadian leg of the exhibition before proceeding to the Netherlands in 2007.
The Pendulum Gallery is the first of several venues to show some of the numerous works, with an opening reception this evening, Thursday Sept.7th 6 – 8 pm. The exhibition continues to Sept.23, 2006 at 885 West Georgia St., Vancouver. Check the media release for some more images.
Malaspina Printmakers will feature more of these printworks in their gallery on Granville Island Sept.12 – Oct.1, 2006. Then the Capilano College Studio Art Gallery in North Vancouver will be host Oct.16th – Nov.4, 2006, along with Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, BC from Oct.12 – Nov.9, 2006.
by Marja-Leena long weekend (3)
We are enjoying fantastic summer weather on this last long weekend of summer with Labour Day today. I’m enjoying a short spell of peace and quiet while our visitors have gone canoeing on the sea.
by Marja-Leena September 1st
Hey, it’s September 1st already! For much of my life it has represented a beginning of a new year, as a child going to school, then as a university student. Later I went to school as a teacher for a few years. Later still, as a parent I helped my children set off each new September with the same hopes and a little fear. I still think of this feeling every September and, of course, it feels like a fresh new beginning for me as I start planning to head back to the printmaking studio next week after the summer hiatus.
A while ago I wrote about the changing light of the season, and of course we are rapidly progressing towards the fall (or spring, depending where you are) equinox to come later this month. So it was timely for me to capture some images of morning light and evening shadows to share in this week’s Finnish Photo Thursday, the theme being Light or Valo.
Another bloggers’ sharing event, Festival of the Trees #3 is now up at Burning Silo. Bev, this month’s hostess, is a fabulous nature photographer and naturalist living in eastern Ontario, Canada, so do visit the rest of her fascinating blog while you are there.
Here at home, I’m busy getting ready for some visitors (family) from Idaho who are actually on their way home from a summer in Alaska. Posting may be light over the coming week. It’s also the start of the Labour Day long weekend, so have a good one!
by Marja-Leena Modern Finnish Ruins
Photo: Air raid shelter of Rettig, Turku, Finland – Tuomas Romu
Abandoned buildings, derelict factories filled with incredible old machines sitting alone in the dark halls with their power turned off for good, or nearly collapsed sawmills rotting silently away in the forest, being reclaimed by nature are the best, most authentic and interactive museums of industrial archaeology and local history.
For several years I have searched, explored and photographed these ruins of the modern world, the slow deterioration and decay of forgotten space. This site is a collection of information and photographs of such places.
These are not the scenes of the beautiful Finland I know. Each black and white photo of a ruin in Tuomas Romu’s gallery opens to a series of more exploratory photographs in colour. These gorgeous photos find beauty even in dying buildings and abandoned mines, even in their eeriness.
(Thanks to Finland for Thought for the link.)
by Marja-Leena industrial art
There’s beauty even on an industrial site if you open your eyes wide.
by Marja-Leena a malady
I think I’m suffering from what one excellent writer and blogger calls Seasonal Blog Entropy.
I like the many suggestions in the comments, like posting photos!
by Marja-Leena best gift
A gift suggestion list in this morning’s spam mail:
accident insurance black-throated
jig-jig
long-wedded fog signal
dor bug
qualm-sick equalizing bar