I could blame the Toronto traffic.
ARRROOOOO
OR – a lot of other stuff.
Still, when I found this wolf, I felt a happy thrill.
Nothing makes me feel better than art, all art, all of the arts.
Even in a nasty alley, I feel great!
Pics taken by Resa – March 25, 2024
Toronto, Canada
The Artist:
Ecila looked up at the hot summer’s sun.
She was on her way to Teagan’s Christmas in July blog party, in a beautiful new gown. Blinded by the light, she accidentally turned left into a mural. Ecila looked around at the black and white world, and saw no way out.
Suddenly there was a black and white cat looming before her. “Who are you?” she asked.
“Why I’m Tac Tac the Water Cat,” he replied, “and you can’t get out the way you came in. You’ll have to go through the Purple Pink Rabbits’ door, in the pink alley.”
“Take this!” said Tac Tac, and he handed Ecila a gold rabbit coin. “Use it wisely. It’s your one chance to get out of here.”
Ecila wandered black and white curves until she saw a pink alley. In the alley was a Purple Pink Rabbit. “Hello! What’s your name, and can you please show me the door out of here?”
“I’m Tibbar,” the rabbit replied, “and yes, the door is at the top of the stairs.”
Ecila looked up some stairs guarded by three Purple Pink Rabbits. The door was there!
“But first you’ll have to get past Bugsy, Mugsy and Thugsy. Bugsy and Mugsy charge 5 gold rabbit coins each. Thugsy gets seven.”
“But I have only one gold rabbit coin,” Ecila said looking up at Bugsy.
“Not my problem,” replied Bugsy.
“There’s only one way to make gold rabbit coins here,” offered Mugsy. “You’ll have to play poker with the dogs! The game’s around the corner on an old red wood sliding door.”
Ecila found the dog’s game, draped her tail up to look like a gambler’s cape and threw her gold rabbit coin on the table.
“Chips please!” she demanded cooly.
The dogs howled. They figured she was just a human, and they would relieve her of her gold rabbit coin faster than the first day of winter. A chick in a bolero hat put a small stack of chips on the table for her.
Ecila thought of the wise words from her non uncle Kenny.
After many hours of holding, folding and not counting her chips, Ecila cashed in for 17 gold rabbit coins. She left the extra chips on the table, let down her tail and walked away.
Once out of sight of the dogs, she began running to the Purple Pink Rabbits’ door.
Ecila ran up the stairs tossing gold coins to the rabbits.
She threw the last 7 coins to Thugsy, and fled out the door. Elica ran all the way toTeagan’s blog hop party, where she made a grand entrance in her new Winter Solstice gown.
“Sorry I’m late everyone! My hair is mess and well, I can’t even begin to tell you what I’ve been through,” Ecila lightly panted. “Let me just say some cats are water cats, there’s such a thing as Purple Pink Rabbits and the the dog days of summer really are dog days.”
Teagan is holding a Christmas in Summer blog hop party. It doesn’t have to be Christmas, just a winter celebration around that time. Click on her badge above, and read the guidelines!
Winter Solstice gown created © by Resa – July, 2024
Pics of gown and street art © Resa McConaghy- June & July 2024
Story © Resa McConaghy – July 2024
Street Artists:
&
When Math Meets Art 2023 by Sasha Q
A Rock Star in the world of Rooftops, he single pawedly mutilated a humane mouse trap for the dime sized bit of peanut butter inside of it.
Chillio is known to screech a mean Rap in your yard during mating season, organize climb by garden raids and gain weight.
Works as a chimney supervisor, advertising attics. It’s a stressful career, which leads to overconsumption of peanut butter cocktails before wiping out on a branch office.
Mr. Draper is wildly adept at chewing electric wires, gnawing at support beams and building nests out of insulation.
A gourmet raccoon chef, Julia Childe is first cousin, several times removed by evolution, to Julia Child. The garbage can lid has not been invented that can keep this whiz with a whisk out.
Famous for scraping up a meal from the leftover peanut butter on the insides of a tossed jar in minutes flat, she is a must to cater any raccoon repast.
Pics taken by Resa – July 21 & September 23, 2023
Toronto, Canada
Garage door Artist:
This honest exposé of Africa’s nature highlights Robbie’s love for all flora and fauna.
Writing a review for this book of poetry, photography and art is truly like sticking a square peg in a round hole. It defies categorization. Yes, it is well crafted, entertaining and informative. However, it strikes out beyond those adjectives. It teaches, with heart.
Resa – Near the beginning of the book is a heart touching & humorous free form poem – The Visitor. What bird is depicted, and did you really have this visitor?
Robbie – The visitor is our semi-tame hadeda, Eleanor. She lives on our property with a male bird, although he disappears sometimes and she is always around. I feed her occasionally but not often enough for her to lose her independence as a wild bird. She will wander into my house if she gets the opportunity. I don’t mind her visiting but she can get a little upset if she can’t find her way out again. Then I have to help her. The information in that poem about the loerie birds is also true. We don’t net our fruit trees anymore.
Robbie – There is another poem in the book about our loeries being the fattest birds in the city.
Resa – I was going to ask about that poem. It makes me feel happy. I love it!
Fat Birds (shadorma)
Mangled fruit
Product of guzzling
Plump loeries
Eat and eat
I'll have to build a runway
Fattest birds in town
Resa – Growing up in Canada we had an American TV show called “Wild Kingdom”. Often it depicted the animals of Africa. They were wild, free, mysterious and dangerous. Did you have a nature show like that? Or, how did you learn about African animals?
Robbie – I have never really watched TV. It was late coming to South Africa and I never developed the habit. I always read a lot though, and one of my favourite series was Willard Price’s animal adventure books. I became very interested in the plight of wild animals as a result of these books, although at that time they mainly focused on poaching and the illegal animal trade. Interestingly, Willard Price was a Canadian.
Robbie – Later in my life, National Geographic magazines came to South Africa and I bought them every month. I had piles and piles of them and ended up giving them away each time my family moved house (21 times during my pre-marital years). After I met my husband, we started going to game farms whenever we could afford it. I’ve learned a huge amount from the various guides and game rangers.
Resa – Then, there’s climate change.
Robbie – Climate change started coming to my attention in the ’90s, but I never really thought about it in connection with our wild animals until the early 2000s. Over my adult life to date, more and more animals have become endangered to a point where the list of ‘least concern’ animals is much shorter than the endangered list. Many ‘least concern’ animals are actually in danger of disappearing due to habitat loss. Over the past 15 years, I’ve become a lot more involved in promoting the plight of our animals and doing what I can to help support them.
“To a Lion” is a contemporary poem, that travels, with images, over 6 pages. The reality of the plight of this majestic animal is beyond what people want to comfortably know. I say the truth hurts, especially when one confronts “Canned Hunting”
Resa – When did you learn about “Canned Hunting”?
Robbie – I despise hunting. I don’t understand it and I don’t support it. Canned hunting came to my attention about 15 years ago when I overheard a few of the guides at a game farm talking about it. I didn’t know the term prior to that. According to World Atlas, there are approximately 7,000 lions held in captivity in between 160 and 200 canned hunting breeding farms in South Africa.
Excerpt from To A Lion
You've seen your peers shot - their heads stuffed and mounted
Victims of canned hunting
Perpetrated by fools who do not appreciate your beauty
Or the vital role you play
In the maintenance of the African ecosystems
And all its amazing creatures
“The Story of the Desperate Salesman” (99 syllable double ennead) and “Nest Selection” (freestyle) are of intrigue to me. The male Weaver bird builds a nest to attract a female. If a female doesn’t accept his nest, he dismantles it. Then he builds another more elaborate than the preceding nest.
Excerpt from The Story of the Desperate Salesman
He's been building for days
King of construction
Improving his intricate weaving techniques
Working from dawn to dust
Then comes marketing
This building and dismantling is repeated until a female moves in. Somehow this parallels certain thoughts I have about societies, ergo nations. Lots to say about what this “little bird told me”, but then I’d need to write an essay.
Robbie’s poems & photos took me on a journey that was visual, emotional and introspective. A bonus to the entire experience is I learned a lot about poetic form through example. In brackets beside her poems are the types of poetic structures they are written in.
Robbie winds up her poetic offerings inspired by the wildlife photos of Wayne Barnes.
Resa – The tone of the poetry is similar to the first part of your book, but takes on an “I want to be free” vibe, with positive suggestion and encouragement. Am I right to think and feel that?
Robbie– Wayne’s photographs are wonderful. You are exactly right in your summary of the poems written in combination with Wayne’s pictures: they are “I want to be free” expressions and do include positive suggestion and encouragement.
Resa – You’ve used mostly Wayne’s bird shots. Is there a reason for that?
Robbie – I believe that is why I chose so many birds for these combos. I see birds as being free creatures that move about and have the compete freedom of the skies. I’ve always though being a bird would be delightful.
One of Wayne’s stunning bird beauties is at 10 seconds in the video below.
The opening words on the promo video above are from one of Michael Cheadle’s nine poems at the end of the book. His work stands on its own. He is a terrific writer, and I felt his pain. He sent this quote, when I asked about it.
Michael – “Writing poems about my anxieties helps clear them out of my mind.”
In the photo below, Robbie holds one of her novels, “A Ghost And His Gold”. This book is a superlative read. Read my review! There is so very much to say about Robbie, that you should just go to her about page!
Robbie is a prolific writer. You can find her books on Amazon sites around the globe. Just search “Robbie Cheadle” for children and youth books – “Roberta Eaton Cheadle” for adult books.
Some of her books are also available on KOBO.
Visit Robbie on her blogs:
Roberta Writes and Robbies Inspiration
The videos in this post are from Robbies YouTube Channel On her site there are all kinds of videos of African animals and more.
The stills in the post are by Robbie and you can download them for free on Robbie’s Unsplash Page
The stunning Lion art is © Robbie Cheadle
This is a post about Peace, Love, Smiles & a song Trent wrote & recorded..
It began with the John Lennon post I recently did. Trent had selected a Lennon song for the event.
Then it grew into a song and video written and produced by Trent.
The lyrics are poetic, and hold a message inspired by John.
V1
I thought I saw Lennon’s face
From a trolley rocketing by
It disappeared without a trace
Did the vision also die?
His words come tumbling back
From a far off distant land
A great message on each track
A utopian dream so grand
V2
I read the news today (oh boys)
Children-human shields were killed
Drones and bombs made some noise
More innocent blood was spilled
Why is making war so appealing?
Why is love considered quaint?
I think our attitude is revealing
Our devotion to guns a taint
Chorus
So let’s all join in
Sing of peace and love again
For we all belong
In a Lennon written song
It can’t be wrong
So sing along
Let us all join in
All join in
Bridge
Such an imagination!
He made us dream
The world stood as one
Our actions could redeem
Can we remember
Perhaps even enhance
And once again
Give peace a chance?
V3
Today people gave power to the rich
A billionaire grabbed more
We’re told advancing is a cinch
Just give the billionaires more
John trusted the People’s voice
Today that seems absurd
I think that we have no choice
But to make our voices heard
(Chorus)
V4
I found the face in a doorway
Faded into nostalgic hues
The simple picture’s seen better days
Reflecting Lennon’s views
Although the decades whizzed past
Never believe that it is too late
John’s message will always last
Hold my hand, let’s temp fate
(Chorus)
(Chorus)
(Chorus)
Once a week there is usually a Weekly Smile post on Trent’s Blog, He tells about something that made him smile. He asks what made you smile.
This week I’m smiling because a street art post of mine, inspired a beautiful song about “give peace a chance” to be written & video to be made.
I’ve always believed in peace and love.
Resa – Welcome back to “Making Her Mark” – Self Portrait Series! I’m your host, Resa with special guest host Rebecca Budd – curator of Chasing Art.
Resa – So Rebecca, today we’re shining the spotlight on another accomplished female artist once buried by history, Amalia von Königsmarck.
I “fell in love” with our last artist, Sarah Biffen. Amalia von Königsmarck does not inspire the same “fell in love” in me, yet hers is nonetheless a valuable contribution to the world of art, and art remembering us. Can you speak to that?
Rebecca – Amalia von Königsmarck’s contribution to the world of art is indeed remarkable, especially considering the complex, perilous and politically charged environment in which she lived. The intricate dynamics of the royal court, especially during the Great Northern War, as well as her spouse’s involvement in the service of Augustus II the Strong, led to dire consequences. Given her status as a dilettante painter and her involvement in painting as a hobby or pastime, it is likely that her primary motivation for creating art was personal enjoyment and creative expression. I believe that in the midst of uncertainty, Amalia chose to follow her creative spirit, which is a reminder to me that art generates positive outcomes. That thought resonated with me when I viewed your photographs.
Resa – Okay, now I’m “fell in love”with Amalia, too! So, Rebecca, let’s check out the details on what you’ve said and what else you have discovered about Amalia von Königsmarck!
Amalia von Königsmarck (1663–1740) hailed from a distinguished German-Swedish noble family. Her paternal grandfather, Field Marshal Hans Christoff von Königsmarck, notably served on the Swedish side in the Thirty Years’ War and was subsequently honored with the title of a Swedish count. Meanwhile, her father, Conrad Christoff von Königsmarck, held notable roles in the Swedish possessions of Bremen and Verden, among others.
Amalia von Königsmarck married Carl Gustaf Lewenhaupt, a Swedish nobleman, in 1686. Their union was a significant aspect of her life amidst the complex dynamics of the royal court.
Resa – The above photo I took is from the “Making Her Mark” exhibit. I was lured in by its richness. This painting was not behind glass, and on close inspection I gasped when I saw the 335 year old cracks in the oils. I thought – Rebecca would love these cracks.
Rebecca – I do love those cracks, Resa!! This is a 335-year-old painting!! I believe that those delicate cracks add to overall aesthetic appeal of the artwork by providing a sense of history and authenticity. The cracks, also known as craquelure, can be seen as a unique feature that showcases the passage of time and the natural aging process of the artwork. I find that the presence of cracks enhances the texture and visual interest of the painting, giving it a distinct character that sets it apart from newer, flawless pieces.
Amalia von Königsmarck was known for her literary and intellectual achievements as well as for her artistic endeavors. As a member of the royal court, she delved into the world of painting and portrayed various notable figures of her time. One of her renowned paintings is a self portrait dating back to 1688, offering a personal glimpse into her life and artistic expression.
In addition to her accomplishments in visual arts, Amalia participated in the amateur theatre of the royal court, an endeavor encouraged by Queen Ulrika Eleonora of Sweden. This involvement in the theatre highlighted her multifaceted interests and contributions to the cultural life of the royal court.
In the painting, Amalia holds her portrait of Queen Ulrika, a bold nod to her relationship with the queen.
One of her hands holds paintbrushes, depicting herself as a painter. (see full painting)It is the first known image of a Swedish female painter.
Although Amalia had studied under David Klöcker Ehrenstrahl, a Swedish nobleman and portrait painter, Amalia was a dilettante painter. This refers to an individual who engages in painting as a hobby or pastime, without pursuing it as a serious or professional occupation.
Dilettante painters typically approach art with enthusiasm and interest but may not have undergone formal training or dedicated extensive time and effort to develop their skills to a professional level. Their works are often created for personal enjoyment or as a form of creative expression, without the intention of displaying or selling them in a professional art context.
In 1695, amidst the intricate dynamics of the royal court, Amalia Lewenhaupt (Königsmarck) persuasively influenced her spouse to enter into the service of Augustus II the Strong, who was at that time engaged in a romantic relationship with her sister Aurora. However, this decision led to dire consequences, as her spouse faced the confiscation of property and a sentence of death in his absence by Charles XII of Sweden in 1703, during the tumultuous Great Northern War. Tragically, her spouse passed away in exile in Hamburg, Germany, in the same year.
The other 2 women in this allegorical portrait:
Left – winged and holding a trumpet is likely Fama, goddess of rumour and fame.
Right – The woman points to the queen while gazing out of frame.
Resa – So Rebecca, I add the thought here that the pointing indicates that Amalia is saying that Queen Eleonora is of rumour and fame?
Rebecca – While the specific meaning of the painting, “Allegory with self-portrait and profile portrait of Ulrika Eleonora the Elder” is open to interpretation, the inclusion of the self-portrait alongside the profile portrait of the queen suggests a significant personal connection between Amalia and Queen Ulrika Eleonora. The portrayal may convey Amalia’s admiration for the queen and her acknowledgment of the queen’s reputation and prominent status. Queen Ulrika Eleonora was renowned for her religious devotion, patience, mild demeanor, and charitable nature, which endeared her to the public. Her modest beauty and dignified presence further enhanced her image as a symbol of hope and lasting peace. Embraced with enthusiasm by the public, she was perceived as a beacon of optimism, and her personal merits bolstered her popularity, solidifying her status as a beloved and influential figure in her time.
Following the upheavals and challenges she encountered, Amalia Lewenhaupt eventually journeyed back to Sweden in 1722. Notably, her return to her homeland was accompanied by the fortune-teller Höffern, perhaps seeking guidance and solace after the tumultuous events she had endured.
In 1740, at the age of 76, Amalia Lewenhaupt peacefully passed away in Övedskloster, thereby transcending the trials and tribulations of her lifetime. Her final years were marked by the tranquility of her surroundings, providing a contrast to the tumultuous events she had previously experienced.
Regrettably, Amalia Lewenhaupt’s poignant story was further shadowed by the tragic fate of her firstborn son, Charles Emil Lewenhaupt, who faced condemnation for treason and was ultimately executed in 1743, thus adding another layer of sorrow to her enduring legacy.
Resa – Rebecca, I can’t thank you enough for being here with me to present Amalia von Königsmarck. It’s somewhat jolting to realize that she was on earth 361 years ago.
Rebecca – Thank you, Resa, for this extraordinary opportunity to collaborate with you on “Making Her Mark”. It is truly fascinating to unravel the multifaceted contributions of remarkable women from past centuries and to witness the enduring impact they have on the world of art and culture. These women have left a profound legacy that continues to inspire and shape our artistic landscape today. By delving into their lives and artistic endeavors, we gain invaluable insights into the richness of history and the enduring influence of these visionary individuals.
Thank you again and again Rebecca!
You can visit Rebecca on Chasing Art! Also for links on the research, just click on the above banner!
Several years ago I thought I saw John Lennon’s face painted in a doorway, as the streetcar I rode trundled by at full throttle.
Making a mental note of the area, I vowed to return and find it. Since, I have been in the area quite a few times, but could never find it.
One day last week was the last time I would search for it, having come to believe I dreamt it. Suddenly it was there, obvious for all to see and almost exactly where I thought it would be. Why hadn’t I seen it all those other times?
Thrilled to the point of growing an extra toe, I blathered the whole experience in the first comment I made when back on WP. The victim was Trent from Trent’s World, and I asked him to pick a song.
Trent’s reply the next day:
“Hmm, my first thought was Instant Karma, but I just went back and listened to a few and I think it has to be Mind Games”.
“Even when it was released, it was deemed nostalgic, a feeling that comes across even stronger now. And it has all of the classic Lennon philosophies about peace, love and being positive – “YES is the answer” with that it’s up to the individual to change the world philosophy. “
“Part of the nostalgia is that it has an almost Beatles feel to it while being 100% a Lennon solo work – almost like those two songs from The Beatles Anthology in the 1990s that were Lennon demos finished by the other three, only this is 100 times better. “
“It is also odd (to me) that it is a super simple song musically – the music is just the road John’s ideas ride on to get to their destination. Anyway, “Mind Games” is my pick “
Pics taken by Resa – June 3, 2024
Toronto, Canada
The Artist: Unknown at this time
Thinking about it today, the song is amazingly perfect. After all, the painting had been playing mind games with me for years. I actually came to believe I’d dreamt it. Maybe John is laughing?
🌟 THANK YOU TRENT 🌟
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