SeoulStreetSong

This afternoon
while rummaging in the vast metropolis of my computer
in the neighbourhood of the suburban district of I-photo
I found this image

I came across this man
writing in the street of Seoul

He arrived with a roll of paper
and a small bucket of ink
unrolled his empty scroll, wrote upon it
and when finished left the writing in the street
picked up his ink bucket
and walked off

One of the daily surprises while writer in residence in Korea

'make your work movements as unhurried as caresses'

WelcomeToAutumn

welcome to autumn
with cool mornings
warm days
and fresh evenings
but first, before that celebration, a few more fire alert days
Like tomorrow here in Victoria Australia
the forecast is for low humidity, stormy wind conditions
and high temperatures
A recipe for potential disaster
Bushfire plan in order
stay safe
no panic

'After each event, take some time off'

FIREfriendFIREenemy

Kiln firing

It is well to remember
that the fire which is our friend
is also our enemy

It is well to remember
to treat it with respect
and because fire is careless
it is well to remember

to treat it with great care

'Be vigilant for negative thoughts in your head'

WeHaveStillNotLivedLongEnough

"There is something sinister also about this dreadful tragedy of 2009, although the character of it is different. Those of us who know and love these forests and the people who live in or near them are especially haunted. In 1939, some of the ignorance and innocence was forgivable, perhaps. “Black Friday” was a late, rude awakening from the colonial era of forest exploitation and careless fire use, and it demanded that people confront and reform their whole relationship with the bush."

from an article which recently came my way. If you would like the whole of the article, which explains events in a different way, email me on art@petrusspronk.com and I'll forward it to you
stay safe and don't panic

TheBeautyOfTheTerror

If you are able to remove the emotional aspect of these fires
fanned by memories of Black Saturday
there is great beauty to be found in these recent fire events

'Restore your sense of wonder'

An Image I received from an email correspondent
It may help the local bloggers (Victoria/Australia) cool
during the present heatwave

Be cool

Ceramic Prize Exhibition

My work was recently accepted as finalist
In the 209 Manningham Ceramic Award Exhibition

Above, an image of the selected work
It is from my ‘Inner Landscape” collection and titled:
‘Lutea’s imaginary cloudscape’

“If I think, everything is lost” Cezanne

Daylesford Dharma School

While trying to work out my connection to broadband
In relation to my entree into the (still confusing) world of AppleMac
I have been working on some tiling mosaics
At the new Daylesford Dharma School
A new primary school based on the philosophical Buddhist principles

‘Art is not what you see, but what you make others see’ Degas

ColdMemoriesOnAHotDay

This Fabulous image
was send to me by an email correspondent

The image is from Holland
And reminds me of many winter adventures
During my youth
Skating
It also reminds me of the painter
Pieter Breughel

‘The things we see but don't marvel at anymore’

NewY

image by Alison Pouliot www.alisonpouliot.com

Notes from New year’s Day ’09.
The silence of the heat of the day shimmers through the forest.

Busy bees drone in the key of G
for the golden load they carry,
like love, from the hearts of flowers.

The air is filled with the swish of swift swallows
flying fast from nest to sky, from sky to nest.

A Christmas lily which popped its bud on New year’s eve
today bleeds its vermilion red into the intense blue of the summer sky.
So much detail. So much delight.

And more delight to you dear reader,
may 2009 be filled with magic
and many surprises of the positive kind

‘At the cosmic filling station ask for a "full Tank"’

ForWithYourMorningCoffee

Each year, a while before my birthday,
I allow a few weeks of space
For a word to find me.

Words such as listen, courage, kindness, discipline,
Have been part of this annual project
A word concept for the year
This year’s word, which knocked on my door, is ‘fearless’

The reason for this project is that when the going gets tough
I call upon the word and apply it to the situation
This usually results in a little movement
And where there is a little movement, a lot more is usually possible

In most cases this is enough to turn the situation around
To dig yourself out of the hole
And to lighten the load
At least that is what I found

A few years ago I marked the concept word of ‘discipline’ with a project
I called my mother and asked what time I was born
The answer was 10 minutes to midday
I named my project that
And for a year, exactly each day at Ten to Midday,
I took a photograph of where I was at the time.
This resulted in 365 images
Of which the above was one

‘You must be the change you wish to see in the world’

BeingHere

When I was an artist in residence at a Korean University and, as a result of my curiosity, I used to visit a Buddhist temple each Sunday evening. The temple presented a weekly meditation plus talk in English for foreigners. This was followed by a discussion and cup of tea. Since most foreigners were tourists they would come to this evening maybe once or twice. However, I kept up my visits for half a year. This is how I came to the attention of the head monk. And he, sensing my interest in Zen Buddhism, invited me, at the end of my stay in Korea, to a one-to-one audience with the Zen Master.

This, I knew, was very special. The head-monk prepped me on what to do, how to sit and behave. He also told me I was able to ask just one question. (It is useful to pause here and consider what it is you would ask) I would have to go in, sit down in front of the Master and not say anything, until he indicated that I could ask my question.

The day arrived when the Zen Master held his audiences. There were a number of Korean people waiting in line. One after one they went in. Some took longer than others. When it was my turn I entered the space with due reverence, bowed and took my seat on a cushion in front of the master. I sat as properly as I could with my legs knotted into a pretzel shape and waited. After a while the master gave an almost imperceptible nod with his head, indicating that I could now ask my question. I asked: “How may I become a better artist”. Nothing happened for a period of time. “Attention” he then barked at me, upon which I sat up even straighter, thinking I was not sitting properly. Then with a small gesture of his hand he dismissed me. A one word answer to my one question.

It took me a while to figure this advice. But I now know, that we are able to make anything special by giving it our attention. If, however, we are able to give something, or someone, our concentrated attention we are able to find the magic which is inherent in all things. (think here of being in love, for instance)

To test this theory, if something is not working for you. Give it your total attention and see what happens.

Make your work movements as unhurried as caresses

shhhh....

Why is it so uncomfortable to be still

This sign

at the entrance to my garden

speaks (quietly) for itself

a couple of years ago, or longer, I made a sculpture.

It consisted of two grave stones,

one had the word

'listen'

and one the word

'silent'

engraved on it

two different words made up of the same letters

Death comes as a messenger of joy

Boots

This year marks the 25th anniversary
Of the making of these boots

At the time I was working in Chania, Crete, Greece.
When I would occasionally visit the leather workers street
(it was near my favourite PigBalls Café)

The boots were tailor made for me
They have lasted all this time

The poet and the baker,
(and in this case the boot maker)
both nourish the world

'The Supremes'

‘The Supremes’

When recently my friend Nel brought her friend Rose over

for a cup of tea
Rose, spotting my three black chooks/chicks, said:

I’d call them ‘The Supremes’

And here they are newly named