The Illuminated Mural

I went on an urban "safari" with a group of photographers last Sunday and took tons of new photos. One of the sites we photographed was The Illuminated Mural, a public art work in Detroit. This mural is painted on the side of a nine story vacant building near Detroit's downtown.

I love the way it seems to be raining color down the side of the building, and I love the way the bricks add texture. It's really fabulous in person and it was fun to hang out there for part of an afternoon.

Friday Favorite Photo: Marie 1940s

I love this portrait of my mom, Marie, but I don't know when it was taken, or why. She was married in 1942, at the age of 19. So maybe this is an engagement photo?

Marie grew up during the depression in a blue collar neighborhood south of Detroit. There aren't any photos of her as a girl. I don't think her family owned a camera, so this portrait must have been a big deal. That's a very nice hat she has on, and quite the hairdo. But I notice she isn't wearing any jewelery.

It's fascinating to see my mom looking so glamorous. She worked in factories all her life and only got "dressed up" on rare occasions. She became my mom in 1955 when my mother was killed in an auto accident. I was only seven months old when this happened, so Marie was the only mother I knew. She died in 1994 and I still miss her.

The Super Moon

I took this photo of the "Super Moon" in Kalamazoo. It was taken from the steps of East Hall, the oldest building of Western Michigan University, which is perched high on a hill overlooking the city.

I'd come prepared with my tripod and telephoto lens, but would not have gotten such a good shot without the kindness of a fellow photographer. All my shots were coming out blurry until he told me to use my self-timer. It made such a difference! Duh.

I just happened to be in Kalamazoo visiting my grandchildren on the night of the Super Moon - the largest moon in nearly 20 years. And what fun! A small group of people gathered at the top of the hill, including a drumming circle. It was quite festive. A wonderful way to welcome Spring!

Slipstream

In the most recent edition of Poets & Writers magazine Michael Chabon, a Pulitzer Prize winning author, was asked about the importance of the time he spent at the MacDowell colony - a prestigious writers retreat.

This was his reply:

"To do your best work as an artist, whatever the discipline, takes complete immersion in the work. You need to get caught in the slipstream, to draft along behind it as it carries you forward.

You get into a state where, even when you're not writing, everything you see, read, hear; every place you go; every newspaper you pick up; every conversation you chance to overhear feeds the work, because you are so saturated in it."





Ah. Yes. I've managed to get into that slipstream now and again.
But it's been awhile. And I miss it.