Sackler Gallery

Another trip with Vantage House.  This time to the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery.

Arthur Sackler donated his collection of Asian art to the Smithsonian Institution with the stipulation that a museum be built.  This one is attached to the Freer Gallery of Art but unlike that gallery that is above ground this one goes down several stories from the initial ground floor.

We came to see the exhibit called Turquoise Mountain.  I'll share that in my next post.

We also spent some time in the exhibit on the Art of the Quran but no photos were allowed in there.

In the center stairwell is this monkey sculpture.

Each section represents the word monkey in a different language.

It based upon the story of a monkey that looked down into a pond and saw the moon.  He got his monkey friends to make a long  chain but when the last one reached the pond and tried to pick up the moon it disappeared.

The English version looks more like monkeys that the word.

Joining Tuesday Treasures

Season Change

We have a shelf outside our apartment door.  Rather than leave the same thing up all the time I've opted to try to change it seasonally.

So yesterday the house blessing that my Mom painted years ago came down in favor of a wreath I made 42 years ago.

The pumpkins and turkey are put away for next year.

The partridge in a pear tree wreath I made the first year of our marriage looks nice there.

I downsized my Christmas decorations considerably when we moved.  I have two bins only now.  I'll be decorating for Christmas this week including the new pencil Christmas tree I bought in October.

Happy Holidays!

Food as Art

Look closely at these pictures from the Visionary Art Museum.  Do you see they are made of bread, crackers, bagels and other grain based foods?

This sculpture is made of Peeps - a marshmallow treat popular at Easter.

I'm sharing what my husband wrote today about the election results.  I wish I could share his optimism.  Maybe later.

Wednesday, November 9 2016 – The Day After

All the pundits, pollsters and press were wrong.  The greater of two evils won the election.  I suspected this could happen.  It was disappointing to my half of the country’s population, to say the least, that such a shallow man with questionable intellect and more than questionable values could convince half of us that he’s the best candidate to be the face of America.  It’s kind of embarrassing.

What I worry about the most is the impact of him following through on his vapid, simplistic solutions for our nation’s complex problems.  What will that do to the nation’s debt, the world’s environment and the advancement of civilization?

The fortunate thing is there are checks and balances – even within a one party government.  And there are probably a few level heads somewhere that will mitigate the worst possible mistakes.  But, just as with the election, no one knows the future.  So all we can do is live each day to the fullest and look for opportunities to make the world a little better right where we are.

Meanwhile, I’ve moved from despair and disappointment to distancing.  The good things are that (1) with this choice, the country didn’t break down into mobs and (2) the damn election is over.  Even with Trump, can we move forward to a better country and world?  I’m ever the optimist as I think most Americans are.

Something good may yet come out of this.   The truth is no one knows what it means for the future.

Upset!

I am totally aghast at the results of our Presidential Election.

It's as though truth and facts don't matter.

Supporters of Trump must not have heard or read what I did.  

Or they just ignored the facts of this man.

We are a country sorely divided.

We have elected a charlatan, a con artist, a liar to our highest office.

I am deeply afraid as to what the future holds for us as a nation.

From the Train Window

It's not always easy to take photos from the train but I try nevertheless.

I took the Vermonter from BWI Amtrak Station to White River Junction, VT last Sunday and was met by my son in law and granddaughter at the station.  The latter was so excited to tell me she had heard the train coming and saw me get off.  At 2 1/2 trains are fascinating for her.

Here are some of my photos on board.

New York City - I think that's the Chrysler Building.

This is in Connecticut and may be Stamford.

These tent structures must serve some purpose.

Loved the sunlight on the side of this building.

Some of the fall colors were still evident in the trees.

It was good to see one state, Connecticut, renovating their stations.

Not sure if this is Connecticut or Massachusetts.

All the patterns caught my eye here.

Another fall scene along the Connecticut River that we ride along as we head north.

Joining Through My Lens.

SaveSave

Food Facts Courtesy of Visionary Art Museum

Many of these were new to me.  How about you?

Early Voting

I am in New Hampshire with my daughter and her family helping out.  I will be gone over election day so thank goodness for early voting which started in Maryland on October 26th.  Dan and I went that first evening.

I am tired of this election and the media circus that surrounds it.  Wouldn't it be lovely to have it shortened?  No hope of that with the money maker it is for all the media no matter which way it leans.

All I can do to influence this election and get a qualified, sane candidate is cast my vote for Hillary which I did.  Hope you do your part too!

VOTE!

Incredible Art

More from the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore.

Look at this piece of art carefully.  I'll tell you at the end of this post what it was made from but see if you can guess.  Remember the theme of the exhibit is Food.

Did you see the bees, the ants, the peas, the corn, the honey comb?

Did you guess what the artist used to construct this?

If you said paper plates you'd be right!

Apparently she was bored at a picnic one time and made hats from paper plates.  One thing led to another and she found her medium to express herself.

Now go back and find the ant that is facing in another direction from the others.  It is the only one with food in its mouth.

Linking to Treasures