#279 Musings Beyond the Bunker (Saturday February 19)
Good morning and happy weekend,
At the risk of throwing a curveball, let’s start with art:
MARK ROTHKO
Mark Rothko is a seminal abstract artist and one which carries special attraction to the Sonnenbergs. Whenever we are in a new city, we have always found our way to a modern art museum and when we are at that museum, we always are in search of a Rothko or two. While Rothko was a Brad favorite, he also is a family favorite. Part of what makes each Rothko so engrossing and approachable is its seeming simplicity and its immersiveness. Each draws the viewer in, demanding the viewer’s complete attention. It was from Brad that we learned that Rothko wanted his large works to fill the viewer’s entire field of view, encouraging viewers to stand back from the painting at different intervals, as close as 18 inches away—in order to be enveloped by his broad color fields. From this point, with their hands around their eyes like blinders, viewers enter into and experience the work without distraction. And if one looks long enough the colors begin to move backward and forward, as the colors blend and separate.
Some of the great modern art museums we have visited recently that include Rothkos in their collection include:
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. What an amazing collection of modern art.
The Picasso Museum in Cap d’Antibes. Special for the way in which few works are displayed in each room, allowing each the “space” to be approached with few distractions.
The Pompidou Center and the Perrotin in Paris
By the way, if you’re looking for a great guide to some of the best paintings in Paris, check out Parismuse.com.
MUSIC
As most of you know, Andrea sings at our Temple periodically. The following is a beautiful adaptation of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov’s ode to nature. It is in English and arranged by the late Debbie Friedman:
POETRY
Rabbi Nachman lived in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He believed one should speak to God in normal conversation, “as you would with a best friend.” He is known for having centered much of his theology on a God present in nature. As he said:
“As often as you can, take a trip out to the fields to pray. All the grasses will join you…”
There you have it, the intellectual precursor of John Muir, the national parks and environmentalism.
And here are John Muir’s words:
“Most people are on the world and not in it.” and “This grand show is eternal. It is always sunrise somewhere; the dew is never dried all at once; a shower is forever falling; vapor is ever rising. Eternal sunrise, eternal dawn and gloaming, on sea and continents and islands, each in its turn, as the round earth rolls.”
POETRY AND MUSINGS
It’s come to this. It’s coming time to drop to five days a week in the near future (probably the end of March). I have exhausted my knowledge of short poems, so have little more on that front. Rather than struggling to find something new every week, I’ll add them when I’m so moved. In the meantime, I will be following up with a link to all of the poetry, for those who want to have a dose every week and for the many who missed the original Musings. I hope you enjoy them!
Have a great weekend,
Glenn
From the archives: