Hamlet

Damian and I did some quick headshots for his BFA application to UC Fullerton. Of course he was accepted, anyone who has seen him perform knows how dynamic he is on stage. He is exceptionally talented, I loved watching his performance of Hamlet this year in the black box. 

Hamlet in the Black Box

Scarlet Slippers

Ruby slippers. Glass slippers-the stuff of fairy tales. I'll admit I'm fascinated by those stories; Hans Christian Anderson's dark story about vanity causing a girl to dance herself almost to death easily matches Grim's grimmest fairy tales. 

In the story, an orphaned girl makes herself a pair of red shoes from scraps she's found. (In some versions a cobblers wife makes them for her) But either way, she loves them and is pleased with what she's been able to craft for herself. She is later adopted by a rich woman who is tricked by the girl into buying her much fancier red dancing shoes-shoes that put the coarse, hand-made ones to shame. These shoes fuel the girls vanity; the girl begins to dance. And dance. And dance without ceasing. After days of dancing, the girl begs a man to chop her feet off (and yes, remember it's a children's story). He cuts off her feet and carves wooden feet and crutches for her. She is finally forgiven for her vanity, but she's paid a high price. The story gets darker, actually, but I don't want anyone to have nightmares. 

Anyway, I'd read several versions of this story, so I suppose it wasn't surprising that when I saw these dancers performing last weekend at Balboa park I was mostly fascinated with their shoes. I probably should've been photographing my sister and nephew that I only see a few times a year, but I was distracted by the the shiny red boots. Aren't they lovely?

So perhaps after my last post it goes without saying, but I do like the idea that vanity is born of things that are perceived as "perfect" and that we save ourselves with humble, handmade things. 

The Hand-Made Thing

Hand made. I adore this phrase. It speaks to love.

I can't help but believe if you made me something you must love me. You took your time, your energy, and your talents to CREATE something.

My friend Andrea Smith made these wonderful bowls for Dave and I. And this is what I love: Dave and Andrea, sitting in the backyard discussing the shape and size of these bowls and how the foot would be turned. When we unwrapped them I knew immediately that the texture on the outside was designed especially for me---the person most compelled to touch. Perfectly custom made. And perfect.

Andrea also designed these mugs for us. The texture on the bottom intended to mimic the underside of a mushroom and the size and shape to accommodate our morning lattes. Every time I pick them up it's like a little hug from Andr. 

Andrea has a show opening this Friday night at The Logan Arthouse & Cinema; the show's name is "Entwined" and her work is of vessels bound together-echoing what binds us together as humans, all those intricate relationships that become difficult to articulate.

I'm too many miles away to make it to the opening, but on Friday morning I'll pour my cereal and coffee and enjoy those beautiful little pieces of art that I get to use everyday.