A Pining Wind

Matsukaze, a Pining Wind

I recently photographed two of my most recent dolls and posted them to my website. The description of the piece and Noh play it is based off of can be found through the link under the picture. I became aware of the story through a show I was lucky enough to see installed at the BMA while interning in the Textiles Department. The show was called "Kimono and Obi: Romantic Echoes from Japan's Golden Age" and it was co-curated by Anita Jones, BMA Curator of Textiles, and Ann Marie Moeller, consulting curator. My absolute favorite piece in the show was the Chuburisode Depicting 'Matsukaze' Theme . I fell in love with both the story it depicted and the idea of a young woman choosing to weara kimono depicting a tragic love story. From that point on, I have wanted to make a piece inspired by the Noh play. It finally happened this Spring/Summer, and this featured piece is the result. 

Moon Above Ocean, Ice Over Sea

These are some framed stacked hand made pieces of paper that I made while taking a "Islamic World Papermaking and Natural Dye" class at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts last summer. They were in a juried alumni exhibition at my alma mater Flagler College. 

Nocturnes

                           Night shots from a recent trip to St. Augustine, Florida. Be still my heart.

The Sacro Bosco, or Sacred Wood

Gardens of Bomarzo

https://www.gardenvisit.com/gardens/sacro_bosco_villa_orsini

Of all the features in the gardens that I've found photos of, this leaning house is my favorite. It reminds me of a ride I used to go on when I was a little girl at Dutch Wonderland in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Riders would enter the house and strap themselves into a swinging bench. The house would then start turning. Even though the bench would only swing, and the house was the only thing turning, it was still pretty wild for me.

Another interesting connection that I made with this garden, is to Guilia Farnese , an historical female figure I have been drawn to in the past. Guilia was the maternal grandmother of Pier Francesco "vicino" Orsini's beloved wife who passed away, also Guilia Farnese. It is thought that features of the garden are odes to her and he constructed this garden to deal with his grief at her passing. Synchronicity.

"A Young Lady and a Unicorn," by Domenichino, c. 1602, Galleria Farnese. Portrait of Guilia Farnese

Selenography

Selenography is the science of the physical features of the moon. These include the lunar maria, craters, mountains, etc. Part of the name comes from the ancient Greek goddess of the Moon, Selene.

Selene was the Greek Titan goddess of the moon. Though she is associated with other lunar goddesses Artemis and Hecate, she supersedes them as the moon personified into a divine being. Her hair was long, milky, and flowing, and she either rode across the heavens on a horse, or was pulled in a chariot by a pair of white horses bringing light to the night sky. My Selene and her Appaloosa mount have hair/mane made from milk fiber and wear silk dyed with logwood. The celestial horses' spots are avocado in an iron after bath.

The album Selenography by Rachel's.

Providence

Uploaded YouTube video for the final segment "Providence" off of the album F#A#∞ by Godspeed You! Black Emperor (note this is included on the compact disc version. a different arrangement than the vinyl).  This album was recorded in Montreal at Hotel2Tango. The vinyl was released in August of 1997, while the CD followed in June of 1998. Suffice to say this whole album was beautiful in both its bleakness and redemptive qualities, but I was particularly taken with the Providence segment. More notably the final track at the end after a long period of silence. I had a very transcendent experience listening to the kick in of that portion one time. This was another 'song to cry to'

The previous segment on this album "East Hastings" bears personal significance as well. When I was living in St. Augustine, I used to go for long drives at night when I could not sleep. Sometimes I'd drive north on A1A along the beach, sometimes I'd drive south on A1A following the beach, but the most special drive to me was heading west on route 207 towards Gainesville. There was something really magical for me about it. The trees, the air, the land, the buildings..but on my drive I would pass through Hastings, Florida, which I think of when reading the title of this song. The town before it was called Spuds, and there were potato farms there.

I'll bring you when my lifeboat sails through the night

https://vimeo.com/205700568- "Leif Erikson" by Interpol from the album Turn on the Bright Lights

Date of Release: August 20 2002 in US on Matador Records
Recorded: November 2001 at Tarquin Studios in Connecticut
Co-Produced, mixed and engineered by Peter Katis and Gareth Jones   https://genius.com/albums/Interpol/Turn-on-the-bright-lights

She says it helps with the lights out
Her rabid glow is like braille to the night
She swears I’m a slave to the details
But if your life is such a big joke, why should I care?

The clock is set for nine but you know you’re gonna make it eight
So that you two can take some time, teach each other to reciprocate

She feels that my sentimental side should be held with kids' gloves
But she doesn’t know that I left my urge in the icebox
She swears I’m just prey for the female
Well then hook me up and throw me, baby cakes, 'cause I like to get hooked

The clock is set for nine but you know you’re gonna make it eight
All the people that you’ve loved, they’re all bound to leave some keepsakes
I’ve been swinging all the time, think it’s time I learned your way
I picture you and me together in the jungle, it would be ok

I’ll bring you when my lifeboat sails through the night
That is supposing that you don’t sleep tonight

It’s like learning a new language
Helps me catch up on my mind
If you don’t bring up those lonely parts
This could be a good time

It’s like learning a new language
You come here to me
We’ll collect those lonely parts and set them down
You come here to me

She says brief things, her love’s a pony
My love’s subliminal
She says brief things, her love’s a pony
My love’s subliminal -https://genius.com/Interpol-leif-erikson-lyrics

When I was in college and living on my own in my beloved apartment on Saragossa Street, I had songs that I listened to repeatedly. They made me cry. It was very cathartic. As I've been revisiting older work, I've felt the desire to revisit the 'songs I used to cry to' too. The first is the song 'Leif Erikson' by Interpol. The lines I felt/still feel most emotionally connected to are "She feels that my sentimental side should be held with kids' gloves But she doesn't know that I left my urge in the icebox." And "I'll bring you when my lifeboat sails through the night."