I am happy to have captured this photo, as it marks the return of a more vivid set of colors. To my eyes it compliments the abstract well. I hope you like it too.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
The Wonders of Difference
Ever since I stumbled across the blog Cottage Garden Studio; hosted by gifted artist Sarah Sullivan, I've read it regularly. Some of you might remember that I won one of her giveaways earlier this year. Others have yet to read her sympathetic and insightful blog-posts.
She has a returning column called the Quilting Bee, which this time cut to the core on a very serious topic, yet again with a sense of warmth and recognition of the heart of the matter that I sometimes think go amiss when some people discuss "them". I am talking about kids and grown up people that fall under different categories such as asperger, ADHD, tourettes, OCD etcetera. It reminded me why I wrote about mental illnesses last month.
"Years of working with children and adults with autism, Aspergers, ADHD, mental issues, learning disabilities, my sincere belief is…we are truly missing something amazing here. That we need to start looking at these children as “Differently Gifted” rather than set them apart as abnormal."
- Quilting Bee # 16
This is a way of looking at things that I hope will spread. A perspective guided by being able to see potential instead of a static problem. I wouldn't for the world want to dismiss the care that therapeutic treatment and modern medicine can offer to better the life's of people who share some of these traits, there is however also a somewhat disturbing tendency to view anything that breaks the norm in human behavior as a problem, all under the guise that everybody should function in the same way.
This demand for normalcy, can create an enormous amount of pressure on kids and even grown people to adjust and fall into line with a notion of what is believed that everybody else functions and does. The real issue here to me, is that the image of what is normal can never translate into the enormous richness of the human experience. Not even close. If we recognize that everybody already is unique and different, I think this should invite to a sense of wonder and excitement.
In all honesty, everything that sets you apart from others can in unsupportive settings be considered a weakness and a problem. Some of us experienced bullying when growing up, and I know that there don't need to be any good reason for bullying to happen. Any reason would be fine.
And while some cry themselves to sleep in their kinder years for not being normal enough to be accepted by either their family, school or community, they might later grow up to be able to give some of the finest gifts to that could ever be asked for. Gifts that come from their own unique experiences which couldn't have come from anybody else. That which is shaped by the depths of their own being.
She has a returning column called the Quilting Bee, which this time cut to the core on a very serious topic, yet again with a sense of warmth and recognition of the heart of the matter that I sometimes think go amiss when some people discuss "them". I am talking about kids and grown up people that fall under different categories such as asperger, ADHD, tourettes, OCD etcetera. It reminded me why I wrote about mental illnesses last month.
"Years of working with children and adults with autism, Aspergers, ADHD, mental issues, learning disabilities, my sincere belief is…we are truly missing something amazing here. That we need to start looking at these children as “Differently Gifted” rather than set them apart as abnormal."
- Quilting Bee # 16
This is a way of looking at things that I hope will spread. A perspective guided by being able to see potential instead of a static problem. I wouldn't for the world want to dismiss the care that therapeutic treatment and modern medicine can offer to better the life's of people who share some of these traits, there is however also a somewhat disturbing tendency to view anything that breaks the norm in human behavior as a problem, all under the guise that everybody should function in the same way.
This demand for normalcy, can create an enormous amount of pressure on kids and even grown people to adjust and fall into line with a notion of what is believed that everybody else functions and does. The real issue here to me, is that the image of what is normal can never translate into the enormous richness of the human experience. Not even close. If we recognize that everybody already is unique and different, I think this should invite to a sense of wonder and excitement.
In all honesty, everything that sets you apart from others can in unsupportive settings be considered a weakness and a problem. Some of us experienced bullying when growing up, and I know that there don't need to be any good reason for bullying to happen. Any reason would be fine.
And while some cry themselves to sleep in their kinder years for not being normal enough to be accepted by either their family, school or community, they might later grow up to be able to give some of the finest gifts to that could ever be asked for. Gifts that come from their own unique experiences which couldn't have come from anybody else. That which is shaped by the depths of their own being.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Freedom in Motion
I just found this music video for British musical duo Goldfrapp today, and just have to share it. Words such as beauty gets tossed around a lot, but this is really a very sweet and beautiful song where the video manages to convey the feeling of freedom in a manner that creates a lasting impression. I hope you like it as much as I do.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Birthday of me and a new Column
Did you notice a new little column to your right? Maybe you didn't. Either way from now on I will write a small piece on what kind of music I listen to at the moment being. It will cover music from the net-label scene and commercial releases in what will be a diversity of genres. Just like this blog it will be updated in a irreguar fashion.
The premier release being covered is a free one from fascinating lo-fi artist Julian Winter. Read and download if you wish.
In other news it's my birthday today. I am now officially 27 years old. My family was kind enough to give me a GPS unit a couple of days ago, which I've already used as a way to join in on the global non-competetive sport / game geocaching.
Basically you look online for coordinates to small treasures that has been hidden away by other participants, which I will take a ride on my bike to attempt to find. Its a fun and to me new way of experiencing the outdoors. Another thing that's fun is that people of all ages seems to enjoy this game. It can be as close or as far away from home as you wish. Hostess of the brilliant blog Moment of perfect clarity; Julocha, wrote about geocaching a couple of days ago.
The premier release being covered is a free one from fascinating lo-fi artist Julian Winter. Read and download if you wish.
In other news it's my birthday today. I am now officially 27 years old. My family was kind enough to give me a GPS unit a couple of days ago, which I've already used as a way to join in on the global non-competetive sport / game geocaching.
Basically you look online for coordinates to small treasures that has been hidden away by other participants, which I will take a ride on my bike to attempt to find. Its a fun and to me new way of experiencing the outdoors. Another thing that's fun is that people of all ages seems to enjoy this game. It can be as close or as far away from home as you wish. Hostess of the brilliant blog Moment of perfect clarity; Julocha, wrote about geocaching a couple of days ago.
Saturday, July 04, 2009
Some Valuable Recognition
The life of a Horse - 4 July 2009In august one of my photographs are going to be used as a record cover by the excellent free net-label Kahvi Collective. I have written about their releases both on this blog, and on Original Sound Version. I have been listening to their artists since the very beginning and safe to say I am quite honored. I definitely look forward seeing my work together with music on a label that has affected me personally to a great extent.
Another thing I've been meaning to write for quite a while is to tell you that I have been accepted with a song of mine into a compilation that is going to be released for free later this year. Since the track list isn't official yet and I submitted it as a part of a contest I don't think I should write more just now...
Musically I will soon hopefully be able to delve into a new inspirational fields. I have recently bought a used Sony Minidisc and have ordered a small stereo microphone of good quality to connect to it. While I was pondering the alternatives I was looking for much more expensive options like the Zoom H4, but settled for what in the rapidly accelerating field of technology is an almost dead format. But that matters little to me, I am happy just as long as I can work with it as I intend.
What will I be able to do with my new Minidisc then? I will basically be able to record and collect my own sounds anywhere and then use it in musical projects. Imagine the possibilities. Nature is its own symphony which easily lends itself to musical ambition.
It will be very interesting to see where this will this lead me. I hope to find this out in a not to distant future.
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