SKY WATCH FRIDAY-EAST AND WEST COLORADO

The difference of the terrain between eastern and western Colorado is striking but the skies are equally magnificent in both areas. The picture on the top was taken in Eads, a little town just inside the eastern border with Kansas. The view of the mountains at sunset was taken from my friend Laura's deck in Lakewood, near Denver. This is what she sees from her deck every evening. How lucky is she? And how lucky Molly and I were to spend three glorious nights in her home, a welcome respite from our tent camping.

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THINK GREEN THURSDAY-BIG SPRINGS, MISSOURI

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RUBY TUESDAY-ON THE ROAD WITH MOLLY

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Molly and I left our campground in Red Fleet State Park in Utah and drove north through a bit of Wyoming and into Idaho. Of all the spectacular sights we saw on our cross-country trip, that day was filled with astonishingly varied and breathtakingly beautiful landscapes. We traveled through at least five exceedingly different terrains; verdant forests, red, rugged, craggy mountains, flat dry plains and the white hills shown in today's header, all devoid of human habitation. We were impressed with how much of this country's western states can't support much human activity; a man in Eastern Colorado said a person with less than 10,000 acres is considered a "hobby farmer"! We learned that our Eastern and West Coastal expectation of finding gas whenever and wherever we needed it was a foolish assumption. On this particular day we gratefully pulled into a gas station in a tiny town with only fumes left in the tank.

WEEKEND REFLECTIONS- ON THE OZARK NATIONAL SCENIC WATERWAYS

Reflecting on privilege and reveling in the memories of a cross country-trip with my daughter, Molly, from New York City to Bellingham, Washington. In 2 1/2 weeks we drove 5,500 miles on the back roads and slept under the stars in her all-mesh tent  (rain fly at the ready). 

This is picture of Round Spring, a natural spring south of Salem, Missouri on highway 19. For thousand of years humans have been coming to this spot and we could imagine that they found it as idyllic as we. We could imagine that in addition to a useful source of fresh water it was considered a spiritual place. 

At our picnic lunch in a town park we met a couple celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary by re-visiting the places where they had honeymooned. They told us not to miss Big Springs and Round Springs, just up the road. That was one of many good tips we received as we made our way across this beautiful country, seeing it in a way impossible on the interstates.

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SKYWATCH FRIDAY-STILL TRYING TO FIND THE MOUNTAIN

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THINK GREEN THURSDAY

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These pictures were recently taken from my sister and brother-in-law's home on the Peshtigo River in Northern Wisconsin. In 1969, the Peshtigo had the distinction of being one of only three rivers in the United States that was unpolluted from its source to its terminus. That was the year the Cuyahoga River in Ohio caught fire and as a nation we realized just how badly we had damaged our environment. This appalled awareness, due in part to A RIVER catching fire (listen to Randy Newman's "Burn on Big River, Burn on"), led to the enactment of clean air and water legislation and things have improved with many rivers now unpolluted.

But undaunted and having imperfectly learned our lesson, we find ways of doing even greater damage to our earth and her waters. The Coyahoga fire pales in comparison to what is happening in the gulf. I wonder, will there be public outrage and resolve after this disaster sufficient to result in effective legislation as there was in the 1970's after a river caught fire?

This is a picture of the Cuyahoga burning in 1952, one of THIRTEEN fires on that river since 1868!

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RUBY TUESDAY

Forgive me, all of you veteran bloggers, but I don't know how to do two pictures on the same post. I will learn. This picture, unlike the following, at least has some red in it and I needed to show you this shot of that precious child, carefully instructing this clumsy paper folder.

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RUBY TUESDAY-WELL SORT OF ORANGE TUESDAY

I couldn't help it.... I had to post a picture of Kamue, the seven year old son of Teruyo who had been a drawing student of mine 15 years ago when I lived in Sapporo. She was 16 then but now she is all grown up and has two wonderful children, Kamue is her oldest. I spent a night and morning with them and the whole time he made origami rabbits, cranes and baskets for me. He gave me a lesson and assured me, through translation, that it was o.k. when my results were clumsy failures while his were flawless. Carefully,, gently he steered my hands and whispered "koko" or "here" to indicate where I should make the folds. He was so gentle, so focussed on his work, so helpful, so loving, so eager that he brought tears to my eyes. I told his mother I want to follow his development. He is a most special child.

MONOCHROME WEEKEND-INCOMING TIDE ON THE IZU PENINSULA IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN, JAPAN

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WEEKEND REFLECTIONS-ON THE IZU PENINSULA

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Another grey day of the Mount Fuji tour

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FROM THE SHINKANSEN OR "BULLET" TRAIN

It is common knowledge that the Japanese rail system is amazing, with trains connecting all of the villages, towns and cities. If the schedule says that the train will depart at 1:03 it departs at 1:03. Not 1:03 and 30 seconds. Oh, these precise and orderly people! I took this picture from my seat on the Shinkansen, or "bullet" train to illustrate the blur that is the passing scenery. I think the train is called, in English, the "bullet train" because, indeed, the engine car reminds one of a bullet and the speed is incredible.

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THE ELUSIVE MOUNT FUJI

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During my recent month-long visit with my friends, Michiko and Shingo Yoshida in Japan, we took a four day-three night Mt. Fuji bus tour. The mountain is unique in that it stands alone on a flat plain. The tour circled the mountain and many, many times, the guide would say "If it were a clear day, this would be a spectacular view of the mountain". This comment, translated for me by my gracious and patient friend, was met by good natured groans. Finally, on the last day, from about 8 a.m. to 8:15 a.m., the mountain exposed a bit of itself. As you might imagine, the lawn outside the hotel was full of my fellow tourists and me, furiously snapping away with our cameras to prove that yes, we really were in Mount Fuji territory. As my consolation prize I bought a most magnificent book of photographs of that elusive mountain so I can enjoy on paper what could have been. Alas.

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SKYWATCH FRIDAY

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This was taken from my son's boat as we sailed the waters near Miami, Florida.

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MOTION THURSDAY - Easter Sunday, Rockefeller Center

Easter Sunday, 2010

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SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY-NEON ENHANCED

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WEEKEND REFLECTIONS - AFTER THE STORM

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SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY- hand made paper drying in the Mexican sun

Balcony at the Hacienda, Oaxaca, Mexico

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EXHIBITION AT FIGUREWORKS GALLERY

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"On Bedford Avenue"

Colored Pencil

21" x 17"

Figureworks Gallery

168 N. 6th Street

Brooklyn NY 11211

April 9-May 7 2010

Opening Friday, April 9th

6 P.M.- 9 P.M.

This poem was written from snippets of conversations I heard as I passed the callers on Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn. Each line is a separate bit of overheard conversation:

On Bedford Avenue

Hello, Hello

I woke up this morning and it was, like

at that moment a small child came in.

I was wondering, could you help?

Oh, my God, you poor thing!

Yeah, Louise is engaged, well maybe

she's crazy, like I'm going to care.

Oh, no... how long?

I wish I was fucking going out.

The odd, thing is,

I didn't finish.

What are you talking about?

Don't even go there.

I know, it was kind of strange

Andrew didn't pick up.

So, what was it like?

I know, I couldn't do that either.

I'm trying to get it...

basically, I'm just hanging.

You mean THIS Friday?

It's o.k..... no, no.

Ziggy's the guy that well,

he should pay for it.

By the way, did you send it?

I could hire you.

Be there at eight on the dot.

You don't want to be like scared and shit.

So how's it going?

I think she said "housing".

Well, like I said

then it happened.

Is it still bleeding?