Looking back to Rio on the bike …
One of the best days I spent in Rio was one of the last of my holiday. My son-in-law took me for a ride on his new motorbike. His previous bike, on which they had the accident on was stolen a few weeks back, and now replaced. I am a pedal cyclist and car driver, never before ventured on a motor bike, but often dreamed that one day I would have the opportunity. Never did I expect this to happen in Rio de Janeiro, it was like a lifetime’s dream come true.
It was beautiful morning and we swerved in and out of the pedestrians down the hill of Babilonia into the streets of Rio; now swerving cars, buses and taxis, all vying position with a toot of the horn. That’s how they do it, with eyes this way and that, a toot and they move … a mighty chess game. It changed my view as pedestrian … I will be more careful. It is a shame that cities have become so dangerous for pedestrians; as a driver I do see that pedestrians do not anticipate the speed of oncoming cars and take untold risks.
However, I drift from my wonderful experience that took me to the motor mechanic where the bike is serviced and cared for and nearby by is the house where the notorious train robber, Ronnie Biggs lived, not a tourist attraction of course but it did make me smile.
So back on my journey, up another hill over one of Rio’s three tunnels. Very near the coast it has a beautiful view of the beaches north and south and inland to the city. It was a lovely setting, with cafe and picnic area and to my delight lots of healthy cats sunning themselves in the trees.
Friday snapshot …
At a social media meeting,this week at work we discussed the copyright issues involved when posting images on blogs and twitter from our archives, museum and library. I was blissfully unaware that in the last couple of years I have been holding a hot potato. I was not alone, we as a group were not consistent or knowing of the parameters of the copyright laws even though the implications should we get it wrong are clear and serious.
So I went away feeling a bit guilty that I had done something wrong and harmful to the library. I wanted to address my part in this and go forward correctly, so while I cannot undo the previous practices I can feel comfortable with each of my regular tweets on behalf of the library.
However, this was not without some practical adjustments. I usually scan any images I need ; this is not a good method as the results could be used by anyone for other means. My camera perfect for getting an instant snapshot didn’t connect to the wifi so any pictures taken this way would not upload until I got home; therefore the spontaneity of the shot was lost.
This minor hitch didn’t take long to rectify and my camera is working as it should. I can now tweet without infringing on copyright regulations.
So here goes; looking forward to next week’s theme of ‘holidays in the countryside’ I browsed the shelves in the children’s collection for a good read … not a great image as I was just practicing in the store to connect and it did! Picture in Dropbox in a flash!
Alphabe Thursday … L is for Lament
Lamento a nossa cultura
Puramente brasileira
Não tem sido divulgada
Em su potência inteira
Quem quiser saber melhor
recorre a terra estrangeira
I am having difficulties with translating this, ‘lament’ is not word we use … but the poet I think says ‘I’m so sorry that our culture, totally Brazilian, is powerful, those who would like to know more usually go to another country’
My son-in-law suggests as an example of this, is Seu Jorge, a singer songwriter unable to find stardom in Brazil, neglected his roots and found acclaim and recognition in France.
That’s sad … and the image is odd too!
from the Dicionário Brasileiro de literatura de cordel by Francisco Silva Nobre.
Wednesday’s women
During my time in Rio I went to see Tarsila e Mulheres Modernas no Rio (Tarsila and Modern Women in Rio) As the title suggests there were some of Tarila’s work on show but much more about those who had influenced her and her work, and then those she went on to influence. So you can imagine for me with little understanding of Portuguese, I was at a loss as who or what related to anything. It did not spoil the experience, in fact it gave me much to think about later when looking out for influential Brazilian artists such as Maria Martins (1894-1973) and Rosina Becker do Valle (1914-2000)
Weekly Photo Challenge … Inspiration
I cannot answer this prompt, with a word or person, also I am unable to locate a suitable image. So unless I can point to my inspiration then I will have forego this week’s challenge.
I have a wonderful life; jogging along at work, a postaday, I do art, travel a bit and have happy personal life.
However, life has not always been kind and to find this place of contentment has not been without a struggle, professional help, friends, family, colleagues at work , many alternative tools, even divine intervention cannot be overlooked, all that and very hard work and lots of tea. No image can portray that.
On Monday and drawing again …
When I began drawing and painting again, I didn’t expect to find myself sketching cups and saucers as I had done almost 60 years before . The simple act of gathering a few bits and bobs to draw was comfortable and transported me back to when I was a little girl with my dad. Now, I was hoping to be a bit more sophisticated and even tried other techniques, but always the same subject matter crept in; pots, bikes, boots and even cotton reels. However, I sold a few works but harboured a little regret in my dishes of domesticity. Until, while I was away in Rio I came across Ibere Camargo (1914-1994) a Brazilian artist of great acclaim who celebrated the ‘spool’ in his art for 6 decades …
So while I will not perhaps make such an impression as Camargo I will continue to draw the delights that surround me.
Silent Sunday
It is holiday and time to draw!
It is Saturday; it’s been almost a week since I returned from Rio and still feeling a little woebegone. My so called plans of travel and exhibitions are now complete; over, all a happy memory. The plan for the next few months has not yet begun to unfold; I am in between plans ; not such a comfortable position; but one I am familiar with. I am well aware this will change; so no need to panic!
Nonetheless the feeling at the beginning of the summer holidays after a year of work, planning and doing; it is difficult to kick off the need to ‘work’
I am not talking about my 9-5 job here, that continues and remains a joy … it is rather, my other work as an artist and taking the opportunity to just draw and rest awhile is having mixed results …
Friday from my library …
Its is Friday and although I am back in UK and been so for 5 days there is still a little part of me back in Brazil. So while I gather momentum and establish a comfortable balance at home; here are some images from a book I bought when I visited the Museu Casa do Pontal, it written in Portuguese. I will not attempt to translate it yet, but it is my plan to research more fully this beautiful yet explicit form of popular art still practiced in parts of Brazil.
Alphabe Thursday … K is for Kiss
Oh dear! ‘k’ doesn’t feature much in the Portuguese alphabet so this week I had to clutch straws; but this is a pretty story, you will find. I have been going to Brazil now for a few years and not seen many Hummingbirds; this one we saw from my daughter’s kitchen window, on a Hibiscus Tree, a couple of years back. They are called ‘Beijo flor’ which means ‘kiss flower’ … isn’t that lovely?
Coat Hanger Doll's House 