Unless you've been on retreat in a cave or on a mountaintop for the last few years, you've probably seen at least one of the episodes of Planet Earth, the fantastic BBC documentary series narrated by Sir David Attenborough (or "Dickie" as we like to call him :-). I love the fact that they celebrate what is most beautiful in this world...
Fresh as the daisy she's using on her blog banner, Marguerite Manteau-Rao is a Frenchwoman living in America and writing about life as she sees it, through the lens of what she calls "green psychology".
Her blog, La Marguerite, is a delightful and astute mix of environmental politics, broad cultural commentary, informative green news and philosophy, zen perspective, social networking and life online. I'm hooked! Have a look and see what you think...
Two absolutely stunning books appeared on my doorstep the other day, review copies of new photography books on the theme of global warming, courtesy of the high-quality publisher Harry N. Abrams.
Storm Chaser (Abrams); Photo: © Jim Reed
They are both remarkable works of art, but Storm Chaser, which depicts the extreme weather conditions thrown up by the climactic changes of global warming, immediately caught my attention with its direct visual impact.
In shot after shot, veteran photographer Jim Reed captures the exquisite tension between the beauty and the raw power of nature at its most elemental. The text is fascinating too, as Reed and his crew keep a journal of their travels through disaster after disaster.
This video of their journey has footage of the artist photographing hurricanes Katrina and Isabelle that had me perched on the edge of my seat:
Vanishing World is a bit more cuddly, with its focus on the endangered-species poster-child the polar bear, but no less spectacular; arctic light has got to be some of the most magical phenomena on the planet.
The artist, Mireille de la Lez, takes you deep into a world few have ever experienced, and from the looks of it, this key part of our global climate system is disappearing so fast fewer still will get the chance to see it in the future.
But Vanishing World leaves us on a high note, with the optimistic belief that if this book motivates just one person to take action to protect the polar regions, it will have fulfilled its mission. In my opinion, this optimism is well-founded indeed. I can't imagine anyone not being powerfully moved by this glimpse into the beauty of the region and those creatures who live there.
Kevin Duggan is an illustrator with a twist - his most recent exhibit, Roost, on view in the Mid-Manhattan Library window display case through January 2, celebrates one of the most ubiquitous of our fellow creatures on this earth, the crow.
My friend Kay was visiting last weekend. It's always amazing to be around her, but ever since she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, her velocity as a light in the world has been accelerating. For someone who knows that death may be coming soon the beauty of life is even more poignant, and being with Kay is to savor each moment we have.
I attended the 2008 Bioneers conference in San Rafael again this year, and blogged a complete report in the Beauty Dialogues for those of you who did not make it to San Rafael, or one of the 17 other Beaming Bioneer satellite locations around the US.
There was quite a lot of arts-related material this year, and you might be particularly interested in the EcoArts Strategies (1st day - 1st afternoon session) and Indigenous Arts sessions (3rd day - last afternoon session).
In addition, there was a wonderful piece of environmental art on the grounds, created from a field of leek blossoms from an 'excess crop' that would have otherwise been just plowed under.
It was a "gratitude hut", with a dark interior where you could go to sit and ponder the miracles of your life, and remember what you were most grateful for. Inside it was full of 'milagros' or little charms and notes hanging from the walls in representation of all those miracles.
I'm going to be at an online conference this Friday - October 12 - called The Art of Engagement. It's about art that engages with the community, with the environment, and with the issues of our time. There is a 'Focus on Environmental Art' session between 1 - 3pm (PST). This online conference, being produced in Vancouver, is an integral part of a concurrent face-to-face gathering on the same subject happening there on the ground.
I'm excited to see this kind of thing happening, because it shows an awareness of the environmental impact of large public events like conferences and offers a way to partake without pollution.
If you're interested, please come! The online component is free but you do have to register ahead of time. Do it right away so you have time to set up your profile and check out the wonderfully rich conversation that is already starting there.
They're using Ning to power the online conference, which is free software that looks great. I'll let you know how it worked after the conference...
Fancy a magical mystery tour of the Dorset hills this weekend, exploring the ancient hill fort of Hambledon Hill?
(photograph by Simon Pascoe)
If so, you're in luck, because RedEarth and their merry band of elemental pranksters are up to their alchemical magic tricks! Music and Art will be loose in the landscape this Sunday starting at 5:30 GMT, echoing in the largest Neolithic enclosure in Europe in celebration of the Equinox.
Have a look and see what they're envisioning for this performance installation - 'Enclosure' - on the RedEarth website and in the Dorset InsideOut pages.
Strolling down Solano for my community's annual block party - the Solano Stroll - last Sunday, I came upon something I thought was particularly interesting. In among the craft and jewelery stalls, the art cars, bands and musicians, stands for library outreach and various other community projects, there was a table for what appeared to be a Japanese spiritual organization of some kind. It was called the Shumei Center and caught my eye because the poster out in front said Shumei was "dedicated to creating an ideal state of health, happiness and harmony for all humanity" through three methods: 1) Practice Jyorei (healing Light) in order to purify your spirit, 2) Appreciate Art & Beauty, and 3) Revere nature by eating organic foods, what they call Natural Agriculture.
Well, what's not to like about that?!
Especially when I read in their literature later that two of their major concerns are fostering dialogue between religious groups, and developing programs that will ensure the health of our environment. Apparently they are working with the United Nations on 'various projects for the betterment of all mankind (sic)'.
This month's Utne Reader reviewed a German artist whose work really intrigues me. His name is Wolfgang Laib, and the article shows a close-up of this image of him squatting on the floor, sifting pollen he has gathered near his home in the Black Forest over several seasons. When he's finished, the pile will be a brilliant yellow shimmering square of pollen, 8 foot square and 3 inches thick, that makes the whole room smell like the forest.
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