From The Ashden Directory ("bringing together environmentalism and the arts"):
"In The Black Swan, Taleb writes: 'You need a story to displace a story. Metaphors and stories are far more potent (alas) than ideas; they are also easier to remember ... Ideas come and go, stories stay.'
"It's another version of Buckminster Fuller's remark that you don’t change things by fighting the existing reality, you change things by building a new model that makes the existing one obsolete. (H-t. Theatre Ideas) It's why the arts have a key role to play in the way we come to terms with man-made climate change.
"Two weeks ago, this blog noted that the New York Times had expanded its environment desk to bring in eight specialized reporters from the Science, National, Metro, Foreign, and Business desks. One day they'll bring in an arts correspondent too. It's not an add-on, the arts are critical. To quote Ted Hughes, 'What alters the imagination, alters everything.'"
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Radical Alterations
From one of my favorite writers, Robert Macfarland:
"Green politics are sometimes described as unconcerned with 'real-world' problems of poverty and hunger: the lynx and the blue whale are loved over the starving child. The MEA report [Millennium Ecosystem Assessment] proves the nonsense of such a description. It shows the deep interconnection of environmental and human well-being. 'Any progress achieved in addressing the goals of poverty, hunger eradication, and improved health,' the report stated, in an admirably forthright conclusion, 'is unlikely to be sustained if most of the ecosystem services on which humanity relies continue to be degraded ... The pressures on ecosystems will increase ... unless human attitudes and actions change. Achieving this [change], however, will require radical alterations in the way nature is treated at every level of decision-making, and new ways of cooperation between government, business and civil society. The warning signs are there for all of us to see. The future lies in our hands.'" The Guardian, Saturday 30 July 2005
"Green politics are sometimes described as unconcerned with 'real-world' problems of poverty and hunger: the lynx and the blue whale are loved over the starving child. The MEA report [Millennium Ecosystem Assessment] proves the nonsense of such a description. It shows the deep interconnection of environmental and human well-being. 'Any progress achieved in addressing the goals of poverty, hunger eradication, and improved health,' the report stated, in an admirably forthright conclusion, 'is unlikely to be sustained if most of the ecosystem services on which humanity relies continue to be degraded ... The pressures on ecosystems will increase ... unless human attitudes and actions change. Achieving this [change], however, will require radical alterations in the way nature is treated at every level of decision-making, and new ways of cooperation between government, business and civil society. The warning signs are there for all of us to see. The future lies in our hands.'" The Guardian, Saturday 30 July 2005
Why Care about the Arts?
Notice the new article listed under the Great Reads blog section (to your left). Great article from the Boston Globe. Here's the gist:
"Art creates a kind of sanctuary that, even at its most topical, takes us outside of such everyday concerns as the economic downturn, whether anyone has texted us recently, or how the Patriots could have blown the Super Bowl last year.
"The idea isn't to escape those concerns, it's to give us the wherewithal to put all those other matters in perspective. That's as true of a Lichtenstein painting as much as a Beethoven quartet.
"I can't prove it, but my bet is that wall drawings were as important as the invention of fire to getting out of those caves. That's why we talk about arts and sciences in the same breath. No person is complete without a grounding in both creativity and logic, which is one of the primary lessons anyone learns in college." {I would say grade school!}
"Art creates a kind of sanctuary that, even at its most topical, takes us outside of such everyday concerns as the economic downturn, whether anyone has texted us recently, or how the Patriots could have blown the Super Bowl last year.
"The idea isn't to escape those concerns, it's to give us the wherewithal to put all those other matters in perspective. That's as true of a Lichtenstein painting as much as a Beethoven quartet.
"I can't prove it, but my bet is that wall drawings were as important as the invention of fire to getting out of those caves. That's why we talk about arts and sciences in the same breath. No person is complete without a grounding in both creativity and logic, which is one of the primary lessons anyone learns in college." {I would say grade school!}
You Call That ART?
Ordered the new saddlebags; turned out to cost $250 instead of $140 as predicted. But I'm excited to get them. Also received the picket stake, rope and hobble I ordered two days ago. It might be too heavy to carry--heavier than I expected, although it comes in a lovely pack bag. Also ordered regular hobbles--haven't got those yet, but will be much lighter. I just don't like hobbles all that much, but I like loosing horses less!
I'm hearing through the grapevine that a number of folks don't get my trip's art connection. Easy to understand. So many writers, artists, etc., can sit home and create out of their heads, without getting out into the real world. I can't. Gotta get out there and do. See. Record. Interpret. My best writing has always come from immersion in the world, from experience with place. All my books to date have focused on the Southwest; regional books which I try to extrapolate to the larger world, but read by few. I have long wanted to do a book with larger scope, focusing on more international environmental issues--the purpose of this trip and resultant book.
Larger projects are always beyond most artists--financially, strategically, logistically--that's why we, as a culture, have long supported the arts. Many people say, "oh, I wish I could..." and when encountering a project's logistical and financial realities, talk themselves out of it. I am determined to do this project, and know I will go into debt doing it. But I'm committed to the idea. The ultimate purpose is a book that will, with hope, make a difference for the natural world. All of my efforts are focused on that, always have been, whether working for a Michigan nature center, the National Park Service, or as a freelance writer--it may sound corny and you may not believe me, but everything I attempt is in service to the natural world.
Some people focus on human health issues, some on human equality and justice, some on peace and political equanimity. My focus is health, equality, justice, peace and political consideration for the place that sustains us and its other-than-human occupants--for the place and beings that cannot speak for themselves. It may sound a lofty goal, and perhaps I am not up to the task, perhaps my efforts go unnoticed, are unappreciated or unheeded. So be it. I still have to make the effort.
In this time of economic disaster and worldwide upheaval, when we daily hear counts of the bombing dead, of invasions, kidnappings, starvation, disease and growing unrest, a project such as mine may seem trivial, a lark. But, as Pulitzer-winning author Jared Diamond so aptly explains, much of this misery results from underlying environmental problems. If all our political, economic and social ills were miraculously cured, we would still be faced with the coming plague of environmental change. I want to add another step on the stairway up from what many now call ecological despair, a step of hope, encouragement, understanding and action.
I'm hearing through the grapevine that a number of folks don't get my trip's art connection. Easy to understand. So many writers, artists, etc., can sit home and create out of their heads, without getting out into the real world. I can't. Gotta get out there and do. See. Record. Interpret. My best writing has always come from immersion in the world, from experience with place. All my books to date have focused on the Southwest; regional books which I try to extrapolate to the larger world, but read by few. I have long wanted to do a book with larger scope, focusing on more international environmental issues--the purpose of this trip and resultant book.
Larger projects are always beyond most artists--financially, strategically, logistically--that's why we, as a culture, have long supported the arts. Many people say, "oh, I wish I could..." and when encountering a project's logistical and financial realities, talk themselves out of it. I am determined to do this project, and know I will go into debt doing it. But I'm committed to the idea. The ultimate purpose is a book that will, with hope, make a difference for the natural world. All of my efforts are focused on that, always have been, whether working for a Michigan nature center, the National Park Service, or as a freelance writer--it may sound corny and you may not believe me, but everything I attempt is in service to the natural world.
Some people focus on human health issues, some on human equality and justice, some on peace and political equanimity. My focus is health, equality, justice, peace and political consideration for the place that sustains us and its other-than-human occupants--for the place and beings that cannot speak for themselves. It may sound a lofty goal, and perhaps I am not up to the task, perhaps my efforts go unnoticed, are unappreciated or unheeded. So be it. I still have to make the effort.
In this time of economic disaster and worldwide upheaval, when we daily hear counts of the bombing dead, of invasions, kidnappings, starvation, disease and growing unrest, a project such as mine may seem trivial, a lark. But, as Pulitzer-winning author Jared Diamond so aptly explains, much of this misery results from underlying environmental problems. If all our political, economic and social ills were miraculously cured, we would still be faced with the coming plague of environmental change. I want to add another step on the stairway up from what many now call ecological despair, a step of hope, encouragement, understanding and action.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
More Packing
Here we are all packed and ready to go. Essentials languishing on the floor fit into purple saddle bags on right which fit in front of the saddle for easy access. This is where the brownies go. Found some fantastic packing cubes at DI (Deseret Industries for the uninitiated--the Mormon version of Goodwill). I think they were originally for someone's contacts and solutions, anyway they are waterproof inside and out and fit a pound of coffee plus individual disposable coffee filters perfectly!! My HotShot cook stove fits perfectly in another one. Two for a dollar!! Gotta go back for more. I have most of the big ticket gear I need (sans horse). Still need a camera (I've been using my I Phone). Checked them out at about $300. Yipes. Still need waterproof saddle bags (those in photo are the cheapy southwestern version--i.e., canvas--I'm using to test size. They cost a whopping $25; waterproofs are about $140. Need to find a backup battery for the IPhone ($50) and Ordinance Survey Maps (a huge cost for me--about $250), but getting much closer. Also still looking for adventure insurance. Tried a few "travel" insurance companies on the web, but they don't insure folks like me, so have now approached high risk companies that insure diplomats against terrorists, etc. We'll see what THAT costs!!
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Packing
I am updating my blog today from the Asus computer I will carry on my trip to see if it works. The Asus only weighs 2 lbs., and is drop proof. Well, drop resistant. I doubt it's horse proof. I'm going to have to get used to its very tiny keypad. Doing my first dry run today, in terms of gear. Have everything I've accumuated spread on the living room floor, and am packing to see if it fits in the saddle bags, and how much it all weighs. Notice nicely packed pouches on right, mess of unpacked gear on left, empty saddle bags on rocking chair, and Bo nicely plopped between gear and front door. She always does this when I pack. "I AM going with you." Realized yesterday I needed a suitcase just for all the gear, so went to Sportsman's Warehouse and bought a huge wheeled duffle, a backup headlamp (Petzl), some packing cubes, and a few other misc. necessities, like neatly folded duct tape, all of which, with the exception of the duffel, fit in my pocket: $135. Amazing how fast stuff adds up. I had only been in SW once before, and left in shock, a tad appalled by all the fishing, shooting, and four-wheeling gear (along with the token women's clothing section). So I decided to give them a second chance by asking if they ever make donations/give discounts to nonprofit folk. "Why, yes," said the manager, "nonprofit SPORTS groups." "Well," I said, "I just happen to be one." "No," he replied, "I mean like Ducks Unlimited, etc., etc." Anyway, I did't fit the bill. I rarely do!
Monday, January 26, 2009
Need I Say More?
But I will. Look at that fabulous dress! Vintage 1950s, maybe early 1960s. Love it. Oh, yeah, my date was very nice too.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
