You may remember my painting Dad’s Tools for Day 330 of my Studio 365 last November. I thought for this week’s Photo Challenge: Nostalgia, in which Jeff Golinski asks, “What kinds of experiences stir emotions for the past within you?” this photograph of the tools, some of which are over seventy years old and which I still use lovingly today, would be the perfect answer to his question.
Dad’s Tools I 26.11.15
Dad’s Tools II 27.11.15
I have been struggling how best to respond to this week’s Daily Post Photo Challenge from Cheri in which she asks, “what quest means to you.”
Initially I thought, somewhat philosophically, that I would explore trying to represent the quest we all have had at some point in our lives for “the meaning of life,” but this week watching the horror and tragedy in Aleppo becoming more desperate each day, and seeing the heartbreaking images of little children, the same age as my beautiful granddaughter who is fifteen months old today, being pulled from the rubble of their homes, it is clear that the meaning of life had ended for them before it had even had a chance to begin.
Watching on my laptop one of Jeremy Bowen’s reports from Syria, one image stood out as a metaphor for all the White Helmet volunteer relief workers, first responders and medics who have lost their lives in the name of peace and humanity trying to save these children and families. This ambulance had been pulverized in targeted bombing and on its side are the words HAS YOUR HEART DIED, and hidden behind the pillar I believe the words read ALONG WITH YOUR CHILDREN?
How else to express both outrage and sadness but with pen and brush, ink and paper, as I have done too many times before:
And so you ask what is my answer to Cheri’s question,”What does quest mean to you?”It is simply that one day those responsible for these war crimes will be held accountable and brought to justice.
Aleppo 25.9.16
Here is the link to Jeremy Bowen’s report from September 14th:
Syria ceasefire: Aleppo district “pulverized”
Mirroir d’Eau, Bordeaux, France.
From our memorable trip to South West France last October one more image to add to those that I posted last December on Day 335 of Studio 365 where you can read about this spectacular landscape architectural marvel, the largest reflection pool in the world and listed as a contemporary World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
There are so many frames in this photo from yesterday’s anniversary post that I thought it deserved its own showing on this week’s Weekly Photo Challenge: Frame. After all there is the window frame, the frame around the Harvey Daniels silkscreen, the anniversary card frame, the reflection frames in the table glass, and if you look carefully you will see that I have now framed the photo itself in its own frame.
Happy Monday.
For last week’s Discover Challenge Ben asked us to show “something that stands out from the everyday.” This second submission is to share one of those rare moments to be savoured both visually and aurally. Last week on our favourite walk along the Admiralty Trail in the Pacific Spirit Regional Park the sun was illuminating the trees swaying in the warm afternoon wind creating a symphony of light and sound.
This week is our daughter and son-in-law’s second wedding anniversary and our forty second. A time to celebrate and be thankful, but this year I cannot help but think of the families and friends so callously murdered and injured at their own wedding celebrations last week in Gaziantep, near the Syrian border in Turkey, and to whom I dedicate today’s post. There are no words that can begin to understand their sorrow and pain. Not being religious I will let the wind in the trees of the Pacific Spirit Park be my prayer.
A frosty early morning walk last January was rewarded with this view from Hadden Park in Vancouver looking west to English Bay, with a backdrop of distant snow-capped peaks and the ski slopes of Cypress Mountain to the North, all bathed in a glorious rosy pink light from a spectacular sunrise in the east. A magical moment to be remembered, savoured and shared.
Just for a few minutes each day a narrow shaft of sunlight illuminates the glorious natural beauty of Upper Antelope Canyon, Arizona. It will take your breath away.
It certainly took mine.
Couldn’t resist putting a cherry on top of yesterday’s
miniature landscape for the Weekly Photo Challenge today.
she loves me, she loves me not…she loves me
With all the dandelions about at the moment I couldn’t resist
one final submission for this week’s Photo Challenge: Details.
thechangingpalette 