tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post966788617412173123..comments2023-12-28T13:11:06.666+00:00Comments on Pics and Poems: chapels, sacred and secularDave Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-74583120842843460782008-10-22T10:38:00.000+01:002008-10-22T10:38:00.000+01:00RoxanaMany thanks for the comments. I do know how ...Roxana<BR/><BR/>Many thanks for the comments. I do know how you feel - we have all done it, stood in front of a canvas that people are raving about, people whose judgements we trust, and yet find we cannot get anything from it.<BR/>I think the trick is not to look for what we are missing, but to let it percolate somehow through our thoughts or our emotions. Certainly, not to worry about it or <I>beat ourselves up</I> as they say, about what we are missing.Dave Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-40806801752129377072008-10-21T15:24:00.000+01:002008-10-21T15:24:00.000+01:00oh dave, this is such a gorgeous post! indeed, I a...oh dave, this is such a gorgeous post! indeed, I always learn a lot when I come to you. you know, I saw a big Rothko exhibition some years ago in Berlin, and it didn't get to me, but somehow I had the feeling that I had missed something essential. now you confirm that and open new eyes for me.Roxanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05650840495095863057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-51733106595787081912008-10-18T09:31:00.000+01:002008-10-18T09:31:00.000+01:00Conda,Yes, indeed, that could certainly be part of...Conda,<BR/><BR/>Yes, indeed, that could certainly be part of it. Mostly I feel very strongly that an artist should not explain (or at least, not have to explain) a work, but with this one there are so many possibilities, I am not sure...<BR/><BR/>Much thanks for the contribution.Dave Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-65981495362257754912008-10-18T09:27:00.000+01:002008-10-18T09:27:00.000+01:00Bee,I have often wondered why Matisse did not do h...Bee,<BR/><BR/>I have often wondered why Matisse did not do his usual thing for the chapel. Perhaps he should have.<BR/><BR/>I've reminded myself that it's time I went back to the Burghclere Chapel - if you go, remeber to go on a bright day! You used to have to book - bt it's a long time; it may have all changed by now.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the feedback.Dave Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-24796455826836941312008-10-18T09:22:00.000+01:002008-10-18T09:22:00.000+01:00HopeWow! How do I answer that? I've come over all ...Hope<BR/>Wow! How do I answer that? I've come over all peculiar!<BR/>As to teachy and peachy, I've been both in my time, so I <B>really</B> have to be careful!Dave Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-47544334905044837092008-10-18T09:21:00.000+01:002008-10-18T09:21:00.000+01:00Jim,Yes, thanks for that. I was myself disappointe...Jim,<BR/>Yes, thanks for that. I was myself disappointed with the pictures and did try to find something rather more satisfactory, but without success. I had seen some of the Rothko canvases, but not the chapel. I tried, where possible, to concentrate on what I have seen.<BR/><BR/>Since posting , I have stumbled on the sort of images I was looking for!... I may post them separately later.Dave Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-19265135852672395362008-10-17T22:49:00.000+01:002008-10-17T22:49:00.000+01:00Sure beautiful spaces, Dave.And I do have a differ...Sure beautiful spaces, Dave.<BR/><BR/>And I do have a different reading of the monkeys as I've lived in Asia and one of my favorite tales from the Ramayama is when Rama, annoyed at Hanuman's (the Monkey God, who looks much like the figures)monkey antics said, "Sometimes, I don't know if you truly love me."<BR/>Hanuman said, "This is my love, oh Lord," and tore open his chest and there upon his heart, his blood, every cell of his being was written 'Rama,Rama,Rama.'<BR/><BR/>Could they not a symbol of true devotion to God?Conda Douglashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12972790965426924941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-30400670881315070992008-10-17T21:12:00.000+01:002008-10-17T21:12:00.000+01:00We were staying in Vence this summer, and everyday...We were staying in Vence this summer, and everyday I would walk by the Matisse Chapel on my way to buy bread. My eagerness to see inside grew and grew, but sadly, I was disappointed when I finally did enter it. I didn't feel that sense of awe, those stirrings of God, that the little boy describes.<BR/><BR/>There is a lovely place near us called the Douai Abbey -- and we often go to concerts there. We heard the Monteverdi vespers last Saturday night, in fact. The atmosphere has a great -- profundity? -- about it. Curious why the aesthetics of some places are more moving to us than others.<BR/><BR/>I am very near the Burghclere Chapel -- thanks for alerting me to it. And thanks, too, for this thoughtful and thought-filled post.Beehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02375981493145612394noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-18901190712068313742008-10-17T14:58:00.000+01:002008-10-17T14:58:00.000+01:00Professor, I meant that as a compliment of the hig...Professor, I meant that as a compliment of the highest regard...there is a difference between "teachy" and "preachy". ;)<BR/><BR/>I think of you as an enthusiastic Tourist Guide for the Brain... I appreciate being enlightened without being made to feel ignorant.<BR/><BR/>Write on, kind Sir.hopehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03306622656461205674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-40854619741972631802008-10-17T14:52:00.000+01:002008-10-17T14:52:00.000+01:00Interesting as always, Dave, but I was surprised y...Interesting as always, Dave, but I was surprised you chose not to cover <A HREF="http://www.rothkochapel.org/" REL="nofollow">The Rothko Chapel</A> itself. There's a wonderful 360° tour too but it's a bit on the small size which is the real problem with your article - the photos didn't really do the locations justice. Not your fault of course. We work with what we have.Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-81537973221023167572008-10-17T10:53:00.000+01:002008-10-17T10:53:00.000+01:00Rachel,Thanks for that - you say the nicest things...Rachel,<BR/>Thanks for that - you say the nicest things!Dave Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-17236595030679628202008-10-17T09:47:00.000+01:002008-10-17T09:47:00.000+01:00Teachy doesn't have to be bad! In your case it is....Teachy doesn't have to be bad! In your case it is...what it should be...interesting, enlightening, full of enthusiasm. <BR/>xRachel Foxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11803852725693518924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-79869991562740803552008-10-17T09:00:00.000+01:002008-10-17T09:00:00.000+01:00Acorn MoonOne of my most favourite stories, that. ...Acorn Moon<BR/>One of my most favourite stories, that. Thanks for the comments.Dave Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-43926496429066217242008-10-17T08:59:00.000+01:002008-10-17T08:59:00.000+01:00Hope,In which case I will accept your comments in ...Hope,<BR/>In which case I will accept your comments in lieu of the traditional apple - though I have to say I do not intend to be teachy. An occupational hazard, I guess. I do agree with you though, about the silence, warmth, light and peace. Beautifully put.Dave Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-29811675876447620402008-10-17T08:55:00.000+01:002008-10-17T08:55:00.000+01:00The Weaver of GrassI don't think there can be any ...The Weaver of Grass<BR/><BR/>I don't think there can be any doubt about it: the Matisse chapel does give off that air of peace, certainly more than any of the others. It is also unlike his usual work when it comes to the outline drawings - of which, alas, I could find no usable images. They are, to my mind, reminiscent of Medieval drawings, illuminated manuscripts etc. You can just see one in the general image I have posted.<BR/>Thanks for the comments.Dave Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-73198896036193469882008-10-17T08:25:00.000+01:002008-10-17T08:25:00.000+01:00Although I have studied Matisse, I don't think I e...Although I have studied Matisse, I don't think I ever saw the stained glass window before. Thanks for a very informative post. So glad to hear that God does a bit of hoovering!Acornmoonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14982884920388966786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-81119109753630688822008-10-16T23:44:00.000+01:002008-10-16T23:44:00.000+01:00Visiting with you is like sitting with a favorite ...Visiting with you is like sitting with a favorite teacher...minus the exam. :)<BR/><BR/>I'd never heard of the Matisse chapel either and found it the most "peaceful" of them all. I agree with Weaver of Grass...such a space calls for silence not so much in reverence as in the feeling of being wrapped in warmth and light...silent peace, as it were.<BR/><BR/>Nice job!hopehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03306622656461205674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-86840209219411718652008-10-16T16:05:00.000+01:002008-10-16T16:05:00.000+01:00Good and interesting post Dave. What struck me ab...Good and interesting post Dave. What struck me about all the photographs is the sense of peace. I did not know of the Matisse chapel - it is stunning and so unlike Matisse's work - using neutrals with just that blue stained glass window and letting the sun and the breeze on the trees create the pattern is very beautiful. So much of his work has such a zest for life and colour and this is somehow the opposite of that. I would certainly want to lower my voice in there - no, on thinking about it, no-one should be allowed to speak in there - the silence would add to the beauty.The Weaver of Grasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13947971556343746883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-45403363091249236422008-10-16T14:44:00.000+01:002008-10-16T14:44:00.000+01:00DickMany thanks for the feedback, and especially f...Dick<BR/>Many thanks for the feedback, and especially for the link. I did not know of the site, but shall be exploring it further before long.<BR/>Fascinating, I always think, the way one art form can feed off another.<BR/>And yes, the Spencer context is unorthodox - extremely so - but there is no doubt that medium and message were of equall interest to him.Dave Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-57749662352702998892008-10-16T13:46:00.000+01:002008-10-16T13:46:00.000+01:00What an impressive post, Dave. Fascinating comment...What an impressive post, Dave. Fascinating commentary on art in the service of religion, produced in the main by artists more concerned with the medium than the message (although in Spencer's case the Christian context is unorthodox, to say the least - the 'mediated sacred', as John Durham has it - http://www.bytrent.demon.co.uk/spencer.html). And we get an excellent poem slipped in unannounced. A fine example of that difficult feat that poetry occasionally pulls off - drawing from a work of art and going further. Thanks for such a good read, Dave.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com