Positively ...

by Mauverneen 

  "Be joyful / though you have considered all the facts." Wendell Berry

I came across this line the other day - I don't remember where - but it intrigued me and I immediately thought 'Yes! The perfect thought for today's world.' And a good line to remember when things begin to pile up. We all have those seasons of comfort, when life is smooth and everything is hunky-dory, as my mom used to say, and then we have those seasons of grief and pain, when NOTHING goes right and everything hurts. 

"Be joyful / though you have considered all the facts." It doesn't mean to ignore the facts, to pretend the bad things aren't there, it means to keep a brave face, to try to look beyond the current discomfort, to try to keep a positive outlook. Some days, I'll admit, it's harder than others but it helps to have someone in your corner whispering encouragement in your ear. "Be joyful / though you have considered all the facts." 

Wendell Berry is an American novelist, poet, essayist, environmental activist, cultural critic, and farmer and may just be my new hero. He is the author of several books, which are now all on my to-read list. In fact, I may have to stop at the library on my way to the dentist for my two root canals. I know something to read will get me through the aftermath of watching my bank account balance go down and that the pain in my jaw is for my eventual good, and thank goodness the weather has cooled off since I have to live on soup for a few days. 

Those are the facts. But see? I'm practicing the joyful part.

As always, words and photos are my own, and require permission to reprint.

                                       However, feel free to share the blog in it's entirety. In fact, I encourage it!

  Interested in photo prints? Contact me! maureenblevins@yahoo.com

See more photos at http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/1-mauverneen-blevins.html

and visit my website: http://mauverneen.com

 

Positively Hokusai

 by Mauverneen

Sometimes, when you can't get away, a day trip can almost feel like you've had a short vacation. 

Last week I met a friend at the Cleve Carney Museum of Art at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, IL to see Hokusai and Ukiyo-E:The Floating World. Billed as a "multi-faceted exhibition experience" it did not disappoint. 

Hokusai is the artist who created "The Great Wave off Kanagawa," more commonly known as "The Great Wave." The first section of the exhibit delves into his life and works, and additional portions of the exhibit contain paintings and woodblock prints by the masters of ukiyo-e, including original works on loan from the Edoardo Chiossone Museum of Oriental Art in Genoa, Italy.

I learned not just about the artist(s) but also a bit of Japanese history.

Moving through the separate rooms and exhibits takes one through a collection of works of local landmarks done in the ukiyo-e style by local artist Richard Lo, a life size street scene, a fun room of Manga and Anime history and backdrops, a kids area, where one can create Japanese inspired crafts and even a woodblock, some costumes used by Warner Brothers, an outdoor garden, and on weekends, Edo Eats - a taste of Japanese food. And of course a gift shop with all sorts of temptations.

My friend and I spent several hours there, immersed in the beautiful culture. Check the website for times, special rates, and all that good stuff. And if you go, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

As always, words and photos are my own, and require permission to reprint.

                                       However, feel free to share the blog in it's entirety. In fact, I encourage it!

  Interested in photo prints? Contact me! maureenblevins@yahoo.com

See more photos at http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/1-mauverneen-blevins.html

and visit my website: http://mauverneen.com

Positively Poetry

 by Mauverneen

It's here! My new book. Titled Poetry and Pixels, it's a selection of my photography and my poetry. It took a while to put together. Picking out the photos was especially hard. Mostly because I have sooo many and secondly, I wanted something to fit the poem it accompanies. And I had to get several proofs before I was satisfied with the quality of the photos. At one point I realized I had the same photo in there twice. That would never do, so it was back to searching my files. 

I've never really considered myself a poet, but realized one day that I actually have written more poems than I thought. Truth be told, I don't really consider myself a writer, either. A photographer? Maybe, since I was rarely seen without my camera hanging around my neck. I was always stopping to take a picture of something or other - just ask my kids. It's easier now, with a camera phone, so I still stop to take lots of pictures. Of course, everyone these days has a camera phone so we all stop to take lots of pictures. And it's fun to share!

I like looking at other peoples' photos, especially ones from their travels around the globe. I like looking at old photos. I like going through art galleries and photography exhibits. AND I like reading. I like writing. I am just as awe stricken at a well written book as I am at an exceptionally good photo. I'm striving to be good at both of those endeavors. It's not easy, it takes work, but I would never discourage anyone who wants to, to not try. You owe it to yourself. 

Here's a couple of snippets. Hopefully, you'll want to see more! Have a Positively Poetic Day!

As always, words and photos are my own, and require permission to reprint.

                                       However, feel free to share the blog in it's entirety. In fact, I encourage it!

  Interested in photo prints? Contact me! maureenblevins@yahoo.com

See more photos at http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/1-mauverneen-blevins.html

and visit my website: http://mauverneen.com