Art

Lens-Artists #419 – Landmarks and Monuments

/ Leya / 35 kommentarer

John leads us this week, through Landmarks and Monuments.

I have chosen Olympia, Greece, as my main subject. I could have used this visit in Lens-Artists Memories too, because I was there 50 years ago (in sweltering heat). I so wanted to visit this historic place once more – and this time the weather was perfect. Not so many tourists and everything was quiet, silent. Few places make you feel the wings of history like Olympia. At least if you follow the Olympic Games in media (776 BC to 393 AD)and the athletes. Greek history always fascinated me, and as a teacher I used the Greek gods and their captivating (hi)stories in my lessons – it was always a hit.

The first time visit was in fact a disappointment – nothing much left from the glorious past! Not that I had expected it…But this time I strolled around the big, lush area and really savoured everything. I loved the little things as well as the pillar remnants that were called cucumber slices – a very fitting name! I was also lucky to spot a dog sitting close to the archway leading to the stadium. I waited patiently, and then caught him walking straight over. What luck. I think Zeus might have approved of it.

And as you know – the Olympic flame is still lit and carried all the way from here. We located what they believe is the accurate place too. Move slowly through the gallery and feel something of the atmosphere!

I will finish with monuments that have made an everlasting impression on me…stark, but necessary for us all to remember. Hiroshima and the Jewish cemetary in Warszaw.

We look forward to seeing your responses—worldwide or local, featuring one site or several. Please link to John’s original post and tag your entry with “Lens-Artists” so we can find it. Last week, Tina’s challenge took us down memory lane. A great possibility for us all to look back and remember. Next week, Sofia takes the lead. Follow her here so you don’t miss her challenge, which goes live on Saturday, October 31, at noon Eastern Time.

Until then, take care, be kind to all – and to yourself as well!

Lens-Artists Challenge #400 – The Rule of Three

/ Leya / 35 kommentarer

Tina reminds us this week of the rule of thirds, and points out another ”rule” to try, the rule of 3. Please visit her beautiful site for more inspiration! I decided to give my morning dogwalk the first try. And three beautiful birch trees were my choice – but, they were impossible to catch in only one photo! Here they are, three in two – top to bottom.

The magic number is three

At noon, we went for a visit to one of our nearby castles, Bosjökloster, where we found several exhibitions giving possibilities within the rule: here some beautiful straw vases and straw bags.

Straw craft reminds us that true beauty is grown from the earth and shaped by patient hands.

— Anonymous

Close to the playground, there were some colourful hens walking. I waited a while to see if they would come together for a photo, but this was the closest they got to each other. I could not resist a photo anyway.

We’re not just friends, we’re family

“Three things are needed
For humanity to co-exist:
Truth, peace and basic needs.
Everything else –
Is irrelevant.”

― Suzy Kassem

Another exhibition at the castle featuring Ukrainian artists’ quilting (Ukrainian Quilters Association) – was totally fascinating. Their skills, the motifs honouring damaged cities and villages – and some places that don’t even exist anymore.

They are a strong people, Ukrainians, and they will never be defeated. Even the war pieces breathed of hope and a peaceful future. They are also assembling quilt patches from more than 36 countries over the world, making a1.1 km long quilt to be rolled out on Kyivs main street, Khreshchatyk, when the war is over.

Thank you, Tina, for another interesting challenge! I hope you’ll join in exploring the concept of 3 in photography. If you cannot find examples in your own work, maybe head out like I did, to see how many 3’s you can find once you start looking! Please remember to use the Lens-Artists Tag in your response and to link to Tina’s original post to help us find you. Many thanks to Egidio and to his respondents for last week’s beautiful explorations of being “stuck in place”. I thoroughly enjoyed it and hope you did too. Finally, we hope you’ll join us next week when Patti leads us once again on her P.A. Moed site. Until then, please stay safe and be kind.

Lens-Artists #383, Looking back at #174 – Shapes and Designs

/ Leya / 37 kommentarer

Design is an opportunity to continue telling the story, not just to sum everything up.

― Tate Linden

Tina leads the challenge this week and she looks for shapes and designs. I believe the most common and the most used designs and shapes all originate from the natural world. If we manage well to copy them or be inspired by them, the results might be harmonious shapes and useful, beautiful designs.

Who hasn’t walked along a beach collecting beautiful shells? We admire their shape and structure and marvel at the power of nature.

This colourful tangle is intricate galls made by a gall wasp for its larvae – and Seattle offered a Chihuly version!

The urge for good design is the same as the urge to go on living.

– Harry Bertoia

Lotus and water lilies are important symbols and loved shapes in art ever since ancient times –

– here in the modern, immersive exhibition of Tutanchamon.

Be like a lotus. Let the beauty of your heart speak. Be grateful to the mud, water, air, and the light.

– Amit Ray

The structures beneath belongs to the very much used and loved ones in everyday life – originally designed by a spider. If you have walked into a spider web once, you know how incredibly strong it is.

Never say there is nothing beautiful in the world anymore. There is always something to make you wonder in the shape of a tree, the trembling of a leaf.

– Albert Schweitzer

Wonderful, isn’t it? Mother Nature will always be our master; for beauty, for harmony, and for the durability of construction. Many great artists declare they are deeply influenced by Nature, and one of them is Gaudí – my favourite. In my book, I believe every artist owe his or her skills to the natural world.

Design is not for philosophy it’s for life.

– Issey Miyake

Thank you for a great challenge, Tina, and many thanks to those who joined us last week in response to Egidio’s “Rejected” challenge. Wonderful! Finally, we hope to see you next week when Beth will lead us once again on her Wandering Dawgs site. Until then, please stay safe, be kind and enjoy every new day. We look forward to seeing your responses, and remember to link to Tina’s post and to use the Lens-Artists Tag to help us find you.

Thursday Thoughts – 3D Painted House and a King

/ Leya / 9 kommentarer

Impressive mural by Radosław Barek, featuring a 1920’s scenery. We struggled to find it – and finally, there it was. Hidden behind a hideous Christmas lit house.

And outside the cathedral – the three kings. I caught one of them where the light was magical.